Moss Removal
- The most common way to deal with moss is to first kill it with a chemical treatment. There are a wide variety of commercial moss treatments for residential roofs. Active ingredients include a whole range of zinc-based products, potassium salts and bleach. Some of these treatments are organic. They are usually dispensed through a sprayer or a reservoir attached to a hose. Moss-impacted areas are usually sprayed with the treatment before attempts are made to remove the moss.
- Once moss dies, weather will remove most if not all of it. It may take some time. The amount of time will vary based on the weather and time of year. But, repeated winds and rain will do most of the job for you. If you have a very large quantity of moss, this may not be a good approach as the moss may clog gutters and downspouts or cause other problems when it is washed or blown from your roof or other structures.
- A stiff bristle push broom is very effective. It's not the most thorough means of removal, but it can be done as soon as the moss killer has had time to work. And it can be done in one day. It can be hard on a roof, so it may not be the best choice for older composition roofs or any other kind of roof you're reluctant to walk on.
- Spraying your roof is perhaps the best way to immediately remove dead moss. You have to be careful though how much pressure you use. A pressure sprayer can cause significant damage to some types of roofs. Use an adjustable attachment or even a sprayer wand using normal water pressure. Use the least amount of pressure required to remove the moss. Consider using a hand whisk to clean out areas that have soil or mud buildup.