Roof moss advice needed.....

[Rocketman]

Yes I agree with Paul frost damage will greatly increase with all that moss holding water in cold weather. The other problem is those concrete tiles, they are far from smooth so dirt gets a grip so easy, as soon as the dirt gets a grip along with the tree problem it's a sure fire way of having a roof full of moss. Would be interesting to see if a house in the same position with rosemary or slate tiles would have such a bad problem.

I Think copper is about the only way to go other than chopping down the trees which I don't think will make the council happy.

 

[malcolm]

We're having our roof tiles lifted and re-seated in a couple of weeks. The roofer didn't seem all that clued up on moss but I was wondering if some copper sheeting under the ridge tiles might be a fix for me. I like the copper pipe idea too. Copper does work according to the internet. The chemical spray alternative needs repeating every 6 months to be effective.

 

[Paul99]

Forgot to mention copper sulphate is meant to be the best moss killer - and you can buy it it made for the purpose. We found though that the acetic acid based patio cleaner to be more effective and easier to get hold of at local garden centres etc.

 

[brightspark]

brick acid works a treat and kills the spores but not verry enviromentaly friendly

 

[Cobbler]

You can see the effect of copper on moss, just look where bare electricity wires pass over a roof, they leave a clean stripe across the tiles.

 

[Dean Duncan]

I've spent the last week...and the week to come ...clearing the moss off my bungalow roof. We have very large overhanging (council owned) trees that seem to make the moss worse on our roof than anyone else nearby....yes I know it doesn't do any real harm but it looks bloomin awful.

The previous owners of the house spent nearly £900 having the roof cleaned and then 'sprayed with fungicide' to stop the moss coming back..a complete waste of money!!

Now my question...I have read that copper flashing across the ridge tiles will form a dilute solution of copper sulphate when rained upon which will keep any future moss at bay. This will cost around £200 if I fit it myself View attachment 63429 View attachment 63430 and I'm happy to pay that if it means I don't have to spend another two weeks scraping...

Has anyone used copper or can give any advice - other than moving house!!

roof cleaning is a very hard job that is why it costs so much you will find that it typically costs around £10-15 per sqm to clean a roof. if they are using a pressure washer is can get very dangerous for your roof if there is unseen damage as water can flood your roof. what most reputable companies do is they will scrape the moss off using a roof scraper **LINK REMOVED** and then apply a biocide to kill any remaining growth and also prevent any moss from growing back. if moss has grown back then you should definitely call back the company as there should be a guarantee if you paid for treatment. this video may help you he has quite a few videos on roof cleaning

 

[123hotchef]

Moss is killed off with Ferrous Sulphate - often included in lawn treatments. Often sold at exorbitant rates when it is easy to make a suitable solution oneself.

just save all the swaff from the lathe right as long as it is steel

 

[Screwdriver]

Bicarbonate of soda. Get yourself set up with a compressor as if you were going to sandblast it and just use it to spray on the roof and for doing an amazingly good job soda blasting...

Note, I am not suggesting you soda blast the roof per se, just needs a light dusting of bicarb. Might be better in slightly damp conditions

 

[brightspark]

if your not fussed clean it all off then spray it with a watered down solution of brick acid then wash off. it certainly kills the spores

 

[Ross365]

As suggested above, I'm convinced that any form of spraying on moss will be effective for quite a limited period of time. Metal on the roof is probably the best long term solution (no pun intended ).

 

[pcwizme]

I mean.... This thread was last updated (till the spammer turned up) in 2015.... I expect the most is either dead and gone... or has taken over the house by now

 

[Arc Tourist]

Hi Dean, Welcome to the forum.

 

[Brad93]

Don't waste your money.

Get someone in who will scrape or blow the moss off the tiles, then apply a biocide.

A pal does this full time, if you want his number.

oops, 6 years too late

 

[stuvy]

I mean.... This thread was last updated (till the spammer turned up) in 2015.... I expect the most is either dead and gone... or has taken over the house by now

OP has probably moved

 

[selectedgrub]

Don't blame him

 

[gerrymoore]

No ...still here and, after paying over £250 for copper ridge covers a few years ago, I now have a roof full of moss!! Decided not to let it bother me..... it doesn't look great but also does no harm that I can notice.

Will be selling soon so hopefully the buyers might like the look of it!!!

 

[123hotchef]

No ...still here and, after paying over £250 for copper ridge covers a few years ago, I now have a roof full of moss!! Decided not to let it bother me..... it doesn't look great but also does no harm that I can notice.

Will be selling soon so hopefully the buyers might like the look of it!!!

Tell them it's a eco roof great for the environment and it adds insulation . Hell u would even put the price up

 

[badabec]

Ferrous, not ferric.

What's one ion between friends?

 

[Farside]

I've spent the last week...and the week to come ...clearing the moss off my bungalow roof. We have very large overhanging (council owned) trees that seem to make the moss worse on our roof than anyone else nearby....yes I know it doesn't do any real harm but it looks bloomin awful.

The previous owners of the house spent nearly £900 having the roof cleaned and then 'sprayed with fungicide' to stop the moss coming back..a complete waste of money!!

Now my question...I have read that copper flashing across the ridge tiles will form a dilute solution of copper sulphate when rained upon which will keep any future moss at bay. This will cost around £200 if I fit it myself View attachment 63429 View attachment 63430 and I'm happy to pay that if it means I don't have to spend another two weeks scraping...

Has anyone used copper or can give any advice - other than moving house!!

I power soaked my roof (from the ground) with a copper sulphate solution years ago and the moss has barely come back in the odd bits, so it definitely works. If I could easily get a naked copper wire along the apex, I'd do that as well. Note, that I didn't get up there and powerwash it in while I was on it, I just hosed it from the ground but with a bloody good power jet.
Copper sulphate crystals are sold here in the local farm shop as 'bluestone' - dirt cheaply.

 

[Chris Snow]

Spraying with DDAC solution does the job.