Most people don’t spend a lot of time looking at their roofs. However, an occasional glance up at that thing keeping the rain and snow off your head might be beneficial as there may be something lurking in plain sight that could be taking years off your roof’s lifespan.
A Mossy Situation:
Often, on the north-facing sides of the house and in areas that don’t receive much sunlight, you may see that moss has started to grow on the shingles of your roof. Moss is a type of plant life that thrives in shady and damp locations such as a forest. A forest is a great place for moss, but it is problematic for it to live on your roof as it can damage both the shingle itself as well as the sub sheathing below by trapping in moisture.
What To Do:
The easiest and probably safest way to remove moss from your roof is to have a contractor deal with it. They can spray the roof with chemicals that will kill the moss and remove any debris. Often they can also chemically treat your roof to prevent future growth as well. If you are more of a “DIY homeowner” you can purchase moss removal solutions at most big box hardware stores. If you choose to handle it on your own be sure to follow the manufacture directions and use proper caution and safety protocol in all phases of the process. Additionally, if you have trees that overhang your roof, it may be beneficial to trim them back as that will allow more sunlight to reach your roof allowing it more opportunity to dry out after rain or snow. When in doubt, reach out to a pro for help.
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