How To Remove Roof Moss - And Keep It Away

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Removing Roof Moss
There are a bunch of cleaning products for removing roof moss, that allow you to spray and forget. [In fact, I think that is a brand name]
The most effective method I’ve seen for cleaning algae and moss from a roof is with a 50:50 mix of laundry strength liquid chlorine bleach and water. See below.
DIY Roof Moss Remover
If you’re the type of person who like to do things yourself then try this cleaning method. It takes some time to work. The roof moss will loosen over time and may be removed with a leaf blower, remember to direct the blowers airflow down the slope to avoid driving debris under the edges of the shingles.
Here’s how remove roof moss:
Apply with a sprayer and allow the solution to soak in for 15 to 20 minutes
Rinse thoroughly with low pressure water
You may need to reapply and leave on longer but avoid letting the solution dry completely
Remember to protect landscaping below the roof run off and to wear personal protective equipment when working with chlorine bleach.
Never use a pressure washer to clean an asphalt shingle roof as
this will cause granule loss and very likely premature failure of the roof system.
In severe cases, it may take more than one bleach treatment to kill all of the moss.
Preventative Measures to Eradicate Roof Moss
If you want to be more proactive there are some additional things you can do to discourage Moss growth, there are some steps that can be taken to discourage moss and algae growth:
Trim tree branches back to allow more sunlight to reach the roof
Reduce debris accumulation on your roof - I see this a lot on low slope [low pitch] roofs. Leaves and branches tend not to blow off.
Use a a hose or leaf blower to clean the roof, direct the airflow down the slope to avoid driving debris under the edges of the shingles.
Keep gutters clean to promote water drainage.
Do not allow gutters from an upper roof to drain directly on a lower roof; extend the downspout from the upper roof into the lower gutter.
Add zinc or copper strips to prevent both algae and moss, or applying asphalt shingles that incorporate algae resistant copper granules.

[@wildgoose6596]

A simple solution to a common problem. Thanks for the tip!

[@ronh9384]

Excellent tip video!

[@meishajames7273]

Good video and glad you went with the softwashing method compared to more abrasive methods people use.

[@rogozzy1]

Great Video! Very Informative and it works, Thanks.

[@raywest3834]

Useful information, Thanks!

[@TheDirtyBirchTrails]

Great info Bobby !!

[@keithparady2594]

Good tips I do metal roofing for a living in Maine and I am constantly telling homeowners to remove branches and let the air and sun in

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Ronald Parady I love metal roofs

[@MountainSalsa]

Straight to the point thank you

[@adamsmith3996]

DONE AND DONE RIGHT ! Thank you brother.

[@jimwilleford6140]

Thanks you are very helpful. I am elderly and needing to rid my roof of light moss. I also want to install the copper or sink strips. Do you have a video on that? Thank you...

[@richardhogben3776]

Nice video, thank you

[@jerryjohnsonii4181]

Thanks for the knowledge Sir !!!!!!!!

[@jloretta88]

Thanks for the video! And yeahh my north facing part of my roof is the issue, huge maple overhanging doesn’t help!

[@hosbny]

Excellent video. Thank you!

[@rust8860]

Thanks Rob...north facing roof on the Atlantic coast of Ireland....needs some attention. Moss.... can't shoot it!💚

[@rbondy008]

love the tip about copper under the shingles. Think we'll try that here in the UK under the roof tiles

[@antonyd8623]

fyi - you want to make sure the copper is exposed to the rain - else no runoff, no leaching, so the cooper must get wet for the chemical reaction to take place

[@alecstewart3611]

Copper ridge has been here in the UK for the last 20 year 🤔

[@Shitstain44]

Great info.

[@forcewashing3648]

I’m a professional roof cleaner. In northwest climate. Zinc strips work only for 4-5 years and cover about 10-15 feet because they are only 2 inches vs chimney flashing that’s 6-8 inches. Shingles with zinc could go about 8 years without moss infection and then I get phone calls for moss treatment. Annual roof maintenance is the only way in the great northwest!

[@nathanmurray1011]

I'm also a professional roof cleaner. I agree. Those zinc strips are useless. They curl at the edge and create more of a gutter. Also ,as you said. They don't last or kill more than 15ft down for only a few years

[@Harlow_Khmer]

Where are you located? I'm in Seattle.

[@BahianoReno]

Great job my friend, thank you for sharing, keep safe

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Thank you, I will

[@paulceppetelli9473]

A real professional here, information is thorough.

[@ricodinero4926]

Rob rocks sound legit info and free what hell i juts need you to come and do my roof, thank you sir.

[@terrysummer1336]

I enjoyed the video. It would have been better to put stand-offs on the ladder because when you place it against the gutter metal to metal you are scraping the paint off the edge of the gutter. This is very noticeable especially on darker gutters.

[@iceplant1]

Great video!

[@FixItYerself]

thanks for idea. im probably not going to put bleach in my yard though. info on the moss resistant shingles is interesting

[@ConcordCarpenter]

No worries!

[@j.w.503]

Thank you very much! very helpfrl

[@garymohler4436]

Excellent video ( from a roofer)

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Gary Mohler wow now that’s a compliment- thanks brother

[@loktom4068]

I use a long handle lightweight gardening back hoe to scrape off all the large chunky moss as much as possible. Then use a lightweight extension paint pole and use electrical or hockey tape wrapping a metal utility scraper ( the types use for spreading mud on drywall) to finishing it off. Then use commercial premixed de moss chemical and spray the entire roof. More applications if nesesary. Then it all done.

[@EricBrunoBorgman]

Thanks!

[@df56gh4d5h]

What about using zinc granules?

[@artnos]

i have moss under my shinges near the edge, do you know what is causing this? is my whole roof compromised or jut the edge?

[@speeddhiman7686]

Thanks for the tip, KEEP IT SIMPLE is the way to go.

[@martik778]

do you have a link for your safety harness? How is it attached to the other side of the roof?

[@willphule]

Baking soda mixed in water works just as well (but you have to give it a couple of days to work) and is easier and less toxic to work around.

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Good to know!

[@telemarkskiguy]

thanks for the helpful video. one point of feedback, it might be helpful to mention that your synthetic safety rope and harness would also be degraded with a bleach solution. It would be wise to try to avoid contact of the bleach with the rope if possible, and be aware that the life-span of the rope will be shortened by exposure to bleach. I've been a climbing and outdoor instructor for over 25 years.

[@johndeggendorf7826]

Thanks for that point….one of those things that can degrade over time, without noticing.

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Great tip thanks

[@johnedwards4715]

Harnesses should be changed out every 2 years with normal use

[@calartian85]

How long can the bleach safely sit and can I broom off the dead moss? I’m not keen on dragging a hose around up there or broadcasting bleached moss into the garden.

[@jontheroofer1968]

Excellent video sir! One caveat. The reason roofs are clean below chimneys, skylights, pipe jacks etc. isn't lead. It's the zinc that has been electroplated on the steel flashing (galvanization). Lead is only used in tile roofs

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Jon the Roofer not where I live we use lead flashing all the time , and your correct about zinc

[@jontheroofer1968]

​@@ConcordCarpenter Wow. I stand corrected. I've never seen lead on anything but tile. What state are you in? Didn't mean to talk poo:)

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Jon the Roofer mass

[@jontheroofer1968]

@@ConcordCarpenter Right on!I 'm way over here in Cali.. Glad to know you!

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Lead flashing is used on chimneys in the NE

[@michaelramby2249]

does it lighten dark shingles?

[@justinallen5231]

you shouldn't use a fall arrest lanyard at

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Great point thanks

[@Jv9319]

What’s a good chlorine bleach? Will my pool chlorine work fine?

[@peterfong8777]

Thanks 🙏

[@hairylarry6167]

First time in 5 years I power washed a large area of our roof. It was really bad thick moss. Mold what ever. I used Bleach after that and just left it on there. We'll see if it comes back. That corner of the roof get's no sun light. Anybody know how to keep it away for ever?

[@ChrisWalterAquaManiac]

To avoid having to do this again, I'd recommend installing copper roof tape. It prevents future moss problems and damage to the roof surface in a safe, chemical-free way.

[@Cole_Douglas]

I do this for a living...Go a step forward and get liquid pool shock. (Cheaper) and It has the same components as bleach just a tad stronger. -

[@hankandrox]

Pool shock is cheaper than regular bleach? I always thought any chemical for pools had a higher price tag.

[@onedoneonedone1788]

Is their any good chemicals that would work that are safe for plants and grass

[@wildflower2092]

Great information! We’re about to put our home on the market and will be doing this. Also moving into my grandparents very old farmhouse it gets all sun. The tin/ metal roof is old but not leaking (yet) . My question is , is there a product we can put on it to give it a even more life? Thanks ahead of time.

[@wildflower2092]

Ps. We are open to it being a white color if needed. It’s a rust color now from natural aging.

[@JUAN120484]

What laundry detergent

[@Marine-iu3ev]

I would not recommend bleach. What will bleach do to the lawn or plants. OxiClean 15 oz with 2 gallons of water.

[@olgajoachimosmundsen4647]

What can you do to make the shingles themselves last longer? Can you use some sort of asphalt-stuff, and smear it over the shingles?

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Joachim Osmundsen O they all have a serviceable lifetime. The only thing I’ve seen keep shingles protected is solar panels as they cover the singles from the sun and elements

[@thecloneguyz]

EASY NEVER PRESSURE WASH SHINGLES You wash away all of the aggregate and make it thinner every time you do it

[@debatebore1057]

Will the bleach stain or discolor the paint on the house? Worried about overspray or runoff getting on the house.

[@ConcordCarpenter]

if left on probably. Wrt house first and keep it wet. Wash off after

[@boredmillionaire9914]

How does that roof harness work? Where is the "master" rope hooked to?

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Great - its looped around a 24" radius tree - other side.

[@chrisgraham2904]

I have a 16' diameter gazebo with cedar shake shingles that have developed moss. The gazebo has no gutters, so runoff of a bleach solution would destroy the surrounding landscape. When spring finally arrives, I'll attempt to powerwash the roof from the top down and apply a moss resistant stain to the shingles. Some tree pruning to get more sunlight down to the roof will hopefully prevent a re-occurrence. Any other suggestions?

[@aaronantcliffe8951]

Never had an issue using pressure to rinse with a 40 degree tip.

[@jackcase1081]

Where can I buy the cooper or zinc strips to add to my roof?

[@ConcordCarpenter]

look online

[@gnarcky6ix6]

I am a shingle installer. I was always told using bleach to clean the moss is really bad for the shingles. Basically eats away at them. Is this true? Have the roofs youve cleaned ever had problems after ?

[@ConcordCarpenter]

None

[@parker9646]

you need to use an anti algaecide to treat moss lichen like wet and forget. bleach will do just that rather than kill the moss. A active algaecide baste will take a few weeks to work but will do a more through job in the long run.

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Great tip - this roof is still moss free 2 years later

[@suzyrottencrotch5132]

How does bleach interact with shingles ... does it prolong the lifespan of your shingles.

[@garymohler4436]

The bleach doesn't harm the shingles, this is a tried and true method.

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Suzy Rottencrotch no if anything the water pressure from my “sweeper nozzle” removes some granules

[@SciaticaDrums]

Make sure you use liquid pool chlorine. When he talks about the copper infused shingles pay attention. My roof is guaranteed for life with a transferable warranty.

[@shanew7361]

Does wet n forget work to remove roof moss on roof and siding?

[@ConcordCarpenter]

I’ve used it - it worked just ok

[@shanew7361]

@@ConcordCarpenter I actually just used 3% bleach and diluted it, rinsed,.sprayed rinsed again worked like a charm!

[@regularguy9264]

I've found that the bleach and water doesn't work as well as Zinc sulphate solution. The zinc sulphate can be purchased at an animal feed store and you can just spray and leave. As for the bleach, in the past, I found shingles that had been treated this way (as well as the Tide with Bleach) were brittle over several years and had their lifetime shortened.....not sure about the newer shingles though.

[@ConcordCarpenter]

N. Johnsoh great tip 👍🏻 thx

[@loktom4068]

@@ConcordCarpenter Use a lightweight gardening backhoe and a metal paint scraper attached to a long painting stick with electrical or hockey tape to scrape all the large and visible chunky pieces off first. Then use a stiff broom sweep and brush it loose & off the roof. Use store premixed de moss chemical and spray it on the roof. kill moss in 5-25 minutes. Repeat if necessary. Way better than bleach .

[@salsalocofrance1]

@@loktom4068 Sorry, what do you call bleach ?

[@rogerluli]

We live in the woods and our East facing roof is a problem...Next time we reroof it will be with metal...

[@shep3942]

Can bleach discolor shingles?

[@ConcordCarpenter]

probably is applied directly and NOT diluted

[@DiffEQ]

Algae and moss are not the same thing. Buying AR resistant shingles with Titanium Dioxide as the active photocatalyst will not prevent moss from growing. Buying AR resistant shingles with copper or zinc impregnation will help retard the growth of moss, but it won't stop it. Keeping the roof clean and dry is the solution for moss on the roof. Algae, on the other hand, is airborne and nothing will stop the spores from finding your roof. (most likely Gloeocapsa magma) If one were to maintain their roof instead of just thinking it doesn't need maintenance then moss/algae wouldn't be hard to keep at bay. Neglect anything and it's much harder in remediation. Zinc/copper/lead strips work to SOME degree, but they're not a panacea and it would take more than just one strip near the peak of the roof to be effective downstream. Even in your example (4:57), you can see that the LARGE surface area of the chimney flashing doesn't have an effect all the way down the roof; Imagine how ineffective a narrow strip near the top would be. Putting water on moss is defeating the purpose even if you use a sodium hypochlorite solution (bleach) as the oxidizing nature of bleach doesn't work below the surface. This is why it's ineffective against mold infestations since it only works on the mold you see. Same with moss.

[@ConcordCarpenter]

That is for the clarification.

[@dfu1685]

Would Mixing borax into the concoction help keep it free from moss longer? And would this harm the shingle? Any ideas?

[@salsalocofrance1]

Lead is toxic (rohs regulations)

[@meetmeangel143]

Its a simple solution

[@jonathan711]

I use use one part mustard to one part ketchup. Brush on and let sit for 30 minutes, then spray off.

[@scottmungo8444]

Not uh forreal ? 😂 genuinely asking bc I gotta get it off my roof

[@billydarico6180]

I get on the ridge twice a month and piss on it no more moss!

[@fredytay2122]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@RyanRoga]

Okay.... 1) if you're using a ladder, use stand-offs. This simple add-on will keep the ladder from scratching the hell out of your gutter exterior as you climb up and down the ladder with material & gear, and it will create a wider stability to prevent sliding left or right if, for any reason, your ladder shifts as you climb/descend and/or as you mount/dismount the ladder at the top. 2) the "50:50" method is usually a SH dilution of about 3-5%. Different brands of bleach can have different dilutions of SH, so you need to be very careful about the mixture you're putting together. Over-concentration of chemical can result in shingle damage and is far more likely to burn trees, bushes, plants, and even lawn with overspray. Professionals will typically buy 12% SH bleach from their supplier for the most cost effective application. 3) most sprayers are NOT bleach safe, so make sure that it is specifically designed to accept SH. The bottle is typically not the problem - it's the gaskets & seals. This is important if you don't want to buy a $40 sprayer only to use it for a day and then throw it straight into the trash because the seals and pump have melted. You're probably looking at a $65-100 pump for this application. 4) zinc strips are garbage. Don't waste your money. Invest in regular preventative maintenance with yearly spray treatment if you've got a problem area. 5) the "lead" can also be galvanized metal - which is the current standard in building material because lead is obviously extremely toxic to everything and that rainwater is either going into your lawn, garden, storm drain - it might even be going into rain catchment systems used to water your garden. Galvanized metal is also pretty toxic, which is why things don't grown down-stream of it on your roof, but lead is a horrific idea to be putting on your roof if you care one iota about the environment or your family's health. 6) if this seems like a lot of information to absorb, it is. That's why people do this professionally. Call a company in your area that does "roof moss removal" or "soft wash treatment" and don't risk your roof...

[@deerhunter6133]

2:38 to get to the useful info

[@cristianm2361]

can anyone that tried this provide some feedback on the result?

[@marknowlin8356]

The moss did not foam at all when I put the bleach solution on. I tried full-strength bleach and still no foam. I don't know why, but I was disappointed. It just seems that the appearance of foam would indicate that something positive is happening. I ended up just using the garden hose with a spray attachment. It got rid of most of the moss, but it took a long time, and I used a sh*tload of water. Not all parts of the country could even use this method, because of the water usage.

[@pedrothegravycatmanandkoal6132]

3:40

[@alanhinkle4953]

shit fire

[@pedrothegravycatmanandkoal6132]

3:35

[@organicvids]

No lead flashing,, poisons yard n ground water. Use steel or copper.

[@michaeltrivette1728]

Anyone who listens to Elton John knows you just sit on the roof and kick off the moss.

[@maynard1234]

✌️

[@rooferkyc9179]

When you remove moss from shingles you're also removing the granules the moss was attached to which it weakens and affects the performance and lifespan of shingles.

[@jaynaforsgren4755]

Second

[@lukedavis1481]

Lol

[@guntherhartung5736]

Wear long pants!!! It really hurts to slip and slide down the roof on your unprotected legs. Common sense!!

[@markmccastle7932]

Well let me say That fancy Zinz strip did Not do a bloody thing

[@ConcordCarpenter]

disagree on that - have used them sucessfully

[@tinman1955]

@@ConcordCarpenter Zink strips didn't work for me either. Part of my roof has them and part does not. Roof got mossy about 15 years after installation. Zinked areas got mossy same time as non-zinked.

[@gregorymacneil2836]

I don't recommend lead as a deterrent unless you have a lot of money - Oh My God did inflation hit that material. Zinc and copper work fine - I did copper because it was cheaper than lead

[@kazsador]

Wrong information and the singles still are dirty .

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Dcazs Cazs I disagree shingles cleaned up very nice and are still clean, please let us know WHAT the right information is?

[@Crimson_Hawk_01]

So now to address the safety harness BS. He says anything over six feet. So seven is over six. The harness must be able to arrest your fall over 3.5 feet and the rule of thumb is you have three feet of slack before the harness starts to arrest. So if you had it tied perfect and you are lucky you won’t hit the ground on a seven foot fall. Sorry I work in safety and know how useless a harness is at seven feet :)

[@ConcordCarpenter]

A harness is required on anything over 6-feet. I have mine set to NOT let me go over the edge.

[@beatthedevil1396]

spray old motor oil up there.. Little trick I learned

[@jeffquinn5653]

Vanilla Face Bet that makes it real safe the next time you access the roof. Lol.

[@DukeLaCrosse20]

@@jeffquinn5653 he can't respond, he fell off the roof and...

[@scottfarley3670]

LMAO Wrong PRESSURE WRONG!!!!!!

[@thecloneguyz]

"HOW TO DESTROY YOUR ROOF IMMEDIATELY"

[@richardbinkley8487]

This is almost exactly how professionals treat roofs. His method is definitely preserving the life of those shingles.

[@tysonford1613]

And you stain your roof with bleech, kill your plants, and stain your siding with any part that blows off. Great advice buddy. You really know your stuff. Lol

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Tyson Ford if you paid attention we covered plants and wet building. NONE of what you mentioned happened buddy!

[@Kgio-2112]

Bleach does not stain siding.

[@derylminnich2489]

Wholly crap...too frustrated to finish. I want to know how to get rid of moss on my roof and I have to listen about how moss gets there...then I have to listen to what it does to the roof...finally when your done with that and I think I can finally get the info im looking for...I get, lets talk about roof safety instead. I guess you think 16 year old home owners are looking for this info or you like to hear yourself talk....moving on

[@Rantandreason]

A better solution is to spray the bleach/water mix, and leave it. Don't rinse it off Also, you need a higher strength bleach. 10% is the kind you will find in the pool section at Walmart etc. 12.5% is the kind you will find at a pool supply store. You don't want "bleach" specifically, because it's only 3-5% depending on the brand. Look for pool shock, chlorine, chlorine bleach, in the pool section, and go with the 50/50 mix Also, you didn't really get into it but you did mention it. In order to protect your property from runoff, wet down the areas you want to protect. So if you have plants or trees, or you just don't want the grass to get killed, water it down AAAAAAALOT!!!! Flood the area if you have to. Wet down the plants before you spray the roof down, and after. By leaving the bleach up on the roof, it will continue to work long after you've sprayed. It will continue working for hours, maybe days after you're sprayed it, and will just wash off the next time it rains. By that point, the moss will be brown and dried out, and will come off super easy

[@pedrothegravycatmanandkoal6132]

3:30