The Easiest Way to Remove Moss from a Roof
Removing moss from a roof is a job you can do yourself if you have the necessary safety equipment. For minimal moss, all you need is a soft-bristled brush and hose. You can purchase a roof-cleaning chemical or whip up your own roof moss remover for bigger jobs.
Why Moss Grows on Your Roof
Moss spores spread through the air and can land anywhere, including your roof. These specimens thrive in moist, damp areas with plenty of organic matter to feed. Because areas that face north and west receive the most shade, these roof spots are where you’ll deal with the most moss growth.
Unfortunately, widespread moss can damage your roof. Moss eats the outer layer of asphalt shingles and absorbs excess moisture in the shingles and air, allowing it to spread. If moss spreads underneath your shingles, it can get to your roof decking and inside your house, leading to wood rot.
How to Remove Roof Moss
You’ll need a roof safety harness, garden hose, soft-bristled brush, and a moss-killing solution to remove roof moss.
Step 1: Put on Your Safety Gear
Put on your safety gear and harness. Then, grab your garden hose and climb up to the roof.
Step 2: Manually Remove the Moss
Spray the mossy section of the roof so the water flows at a downward angle. Then, take your soft-bristled scrub brush and scrub the shingles downward so that you don’t lift them. Keep brushing until you’ve removed the moss.
Step 3: Rinse
Rinse the roof. Give the area a second brushing and rinsing if needed.
Step 4: Kill the Moss Spores
After scrubbing the roof, wait a day or two before applying a product like Wet & Forget that will kill any additional moss, mold, and algae spores. The roof needs to be fully dry. You should also plan this on a cool day but above 32 degrees F and when rain is not in the forecast.
Note: You can choose the moss-killing product of your choice. We like Wet & Forget because it’s simple to use and works on many surfaces.
- In a garden pump sprayer, add 2 ½ cups of Wet & Forget Concentrate and then fill with water to the 1-gallon line.
- Saturate any moss left on the roof and areas where the moss was before you cleared it.
That’s it. You don’t need to rinse. The spray will work to kill any remaining moss over the next several days to weeks.
You can spray the roof anytime you see moss starting to form to kill it and keep it from taking over.
Homemade Roof Moss Remover Spray
If you’re looking for a DIY roof moss spray, you can make your own. These are the most popular remedies. We suggest using them after you’ve manually removed as much moss as possible with a soft-bristled brush.
- Bleach and water. Mix half chlorine bleach with half water and put it in a garden pump sprayer. Spray bleach solution on the problem area, allow it to sit for 15 minutes, and then rinse with a garden hose.
- Baking soda and water. Mix ½ cup of baking soda with a liter of water in your pump sprayer. Apply it to the mossy area of the roof, allow it to sit for 15 minutes, and then rinse it off.