Roof Moss Removal in Spokane, WA

What is Moss Anyway?
   Moss consists of a mass of small plants called Bryophytes. Mosses grow on rocks, tree bark, and soil, and as you may have noticed, roofs, driveways, sidewalks, lawns, and decks. They are often yellowish, green, or greenish brown in color. They prefer shade and moisture, so they are right at home in maritime areas. Curiously, mosses don't actually have roots, but instead underground structures called rhizoids.

   A number of other similar-looking plants such as algaes and lichens also like the same conditions and so may be found along with mosses, possibly resulting in some confusion. Some kinds of mosses and moss-like plants are considered desirable garden plants, and people even grow moss gardens. However when they grow on structures, mosses are problematic because they can cause damage and decay to wood and other surfaces.

   Some folks don't like mosses in their lawn either, apparently because the color and texture don't match the grass and so are perceived as flaws. Moss is most likely to be found where conditions are shady and moist. This means on the north sides of buildings and roofs, on heavily shaded roofs and decks, and in poorly drained and shady lawns.

Damage to Roofs.
   It seems that the general public is really not aware of what roof moss can do to a roof. It can cause damage to a roof if allowed to grow. I have literally driven through neighborhoods and have seen the shady and/or northside of roofs literally eaten away by moss and moisture. This is no joke, drive through your neighborhood ( if moss is a problem in your area ) and look at where the damage is on roofs - it's usually where the moss is.

   Although it takes quite a bit of moss to damage the roof, if it is heavy in just one area of the roof this can be all it takes. You see, when moss is on a roof it is acting as a sponge and as we all know - sponges hold water, and that's what can damage your roof. The water can collect under the roof shingle and dampen the shingle and the roofing paper underneath it and then the dampness can go to the wood sheathing underneath that and that's where you can get roof damage. The moss can actually lift the edges of your shingles up and break the tar seal and allow water in.

   It's not enough to just kill the moss, the majority of it should be removed after it is killed, because it can still act as a sponge and hold water, not to mention that it will start attracting more moss spores. Just remember that moss holds moisture and dirt against the roof allowing more moss and other plants to grow on the roof. When I have removed moss from roof alleys and other spots on the roof where moss likes to grow, it was unbelievably wet and dirty. Also, if the moss is allowed to stay on the roof and go through the freeze and thaw of winter, the composite shingles can loose granules. When I have picked moss up ( with my fingers ) off of some of these roofs the alot of the granules were missing. When the roof is free of moss, this is not a problem.

   Just remember, roof moss holds moisture that can lead to roof damage and subsequently water damage to your house.

What We Do.
   We kill the moss with the use of biodegradable chemicals and hot water and then remove it off of the roof.

   We do use a hot water presure washer but we use low presure as to not damage the roof. Also, the moss is often easier to remove when it is first killed. After we remove the moss, we treat the roof again with a moss preventative and this will retard and kill any existing moss for 1-2 years.

Roof Moss Before Removal	Moss Killed with Treatment	Roof After Removal - Looks New!
View the "Before and After" pics of this particular job here.

Your Alternative to Removing the Moss:
   Reroofing sooner than you should. Leaving moss on your roof can reduce the life of the roof by 5-10 years, depending on the extent of the moss. Moss removal can extend the life of your roof and give you the years you would expect to have from your roof.