Moss or asphalt shingles

[Dan Steele]

I was wondering who has cleaned thick moss off of asphalt shingles, and how did you do it without damage to the roof?? I have alot of clients in my area with this problem and I tell tell them that I dont mess with it, but I would like to.

Thanks, Dan

[GymRat]

The grit will come off with the moss leaving dark patches. Remember the moss is growing in the base of the shingle,and has already pushed the grit off the shingle.

[Barry M]

My experience is, it is very hard to clean off without damaging the shingle. Hitting it with love only turns it white, water pressure does nothing unless you plan on blowing the shingles off. I relied on a stiff broom and a soft wire brush but was still removing a lot granuals and lessening the longevity of the roof I'm sure. Good thing it was only my shed......hehhe

[Katy Contractors]

Hi Dan,

Your probably better off if you still tell people that your not interested. The price you could charge will not justify the headaches you will face when the client wants you to repair the roof - and the potential resulting leaks at a later date.

Unless you get some sort of hold-harmless agreement signed by the client - stay away.

Chris Rivademar

Katy Roofers

[calltodd]

Don't run from this work. There are guys around here that clean roofs all year long. I haven't cleaned one that didn't have moss. Tip down your surface cleaner. It won't hurt a good roof. The moss will hurt any roof more than you. Treat it with Zink sulfate b/4 you leave. And return as needed to treat and keep it down. "Moss Kills - Not PROFESSIONAL Pressure Washers.
There is a recent picture on my site under "Picture of the Week". Cleaned it last week.

[alvisishere]

how do you soft wash guys deal with this problem?

[Mike Williamson]

Originally Posted by calltodd

Don't run from this work. There are guys around here that clean roofs all year long. I haven't cleaned one that didn't have moss. Tip down your surface cleaner. It won't hurt a good roof. The moss will hurt any roof more than you. Treat it with Zink sulfate b/4 you leave. And return as needed to treat and keep it down. "Moss Kills - Not PROFESSIONAL Pressure Washers.
There is a recent picture on my site under "Picture of the Week". Cleaned it last week.

Sorry, gotta speak up here...A surface cleaner has no business on a roof...You're doing much more damage than the moss.

[copgib]

How are you doing this time of year? I have tried to contact you by phone, email and even on your website, but for some reason you do not want to respond back. Take care Hugh

[814jeffw]

The best thing to do with moss on shingles is to kill it and walk away. The initial color of the moss will be white when you kill it, but after it dries the moss will turn brown and become very brittle, it will disappear over time, and from my experience the shingles remain undamaged with this method because the brown , dead moss just falls away from the granules. The thing you have to remember to tell a customer is, it's not an instant process, and that is all that can really be done when it gets to this point. You need to charge only for killing the moss, and get paid after that, because you don't know how long it will take to completely disappear. You need to sell the job for what it is.

Jeff

[calltodd]

Mike, I'm sure you have lots of knowledge on roofs. But any damage I've seen on a roof has been done by a wand or moss. Can you tell me why you think a tipped down hand held surface cleaner would hurt a roof?

[Mike Williamson]

Originally Posted by copgib

How are you doing this time of year? I have tried to contact you by phone, email and even on your website, but for some reason you do not want to respond back. Take care Hugh

Sorry, Hugh, nothing personal, just unbelievably busy. What little free time I have I've been spending with my wife and Michael. Keep saying I'll get back with you but then I get busy and just don't think of it.

[Mike Williamson]

Originally Posted by calltodd

Mike, I'm sure you have lots of knowledge on roofs. But any damage I've seen on a roof has been done by a wand or moss. Can you tell me why you think a tipped down hand held surface cleaner would hurt a roof?

Depends on what you call "tipped down". More pressure than you'd get with a garden hose? I just can't imagine putting any kind of pressure on a roof that's already been damaged and had the surface layer loosened by moss.

I certainly have no experience in dealing with the quantity of moss you deal with in Washington...I grew up there and have been back many times since we moved to Florida, but I've never run a pressurewashing company there. I've dealt with light quantities of moss on some roofs, and straight 10.5% has always done the trick. Shrivels it up and off it comes with a garden hose.

I've also seen damage from a wand, and I've also seen damage from a surface cleaner.

[Whorner1]

I kind of agree with Jeff. However, I have done a few really bad moss homes and garages. See my website, under moss. (Roof-washers.com.) In a couple of weeks, I'll have an unreal house on it! I have had very good success, charge accordingly and advise the customer that I will be using more pressure then just roof wash. They are more then happy to even find someone that will do it. A couple of them are well over two years old. No complaints or problems to date. There is money in them there hills--but for most people, I'd agree with Jeff. Kill and chill.

[calltodd]

I know Apple Sauce at 6% really doesn't kill it for real. Haven't tried higher.
I recommed treating with zink then coming back(5 weeks later) to clean lightly.
Unfortunatly the roof is usually a few days before they want the house painted. So clean it the best you can without damaging it then throw
the zink down to kill the roots. Maintain it every year with zink and you could triple the life of your roof around here.(Espicially if there are trees near by).
Fear not the hard jobs...... That's why we get paid.

[calltodd]

Mike, Thanks for you advice. I've been a little scared to hit a roof with 10.5 or 12%. You don't think that will dry out the roof ar anything else? If not It is definitely worth trying. I'm always learning (slowly).