How To Get Rid Of Lichen On Roof Shingles

It holds moisture and can cause roofs to bend and bow inward and eventually collapse if left untreated.

How to get rid of lichen on roof shingles.

An application of vinegar kills lichen. Whatever you do don t power wash an asphalt roof. Inspect the roof shingles visually. When leaves and other material collect on your roof a perfect bed is formed for moss and lichens to grow.

Moss itself is a plant while lichen conisist of a fungus and a photosyntheizing plant living together. Usually the strips are installed at 5 ft to 8 ft increments up a roof slope depending on how severe the moss lichen mold threat is. Lichen can be really tricky to remove because it grips strongly onto the surface. How to remove lichens moss from asphalt roof shingles.

Sweep off dirt branches and debris and then wash down the roof surface with a garden hose with a pressure nozzle. Roof lichen or more regularly recognized roof moss or algae is a very common sight on many shingled or tiles roofs whilst appearing more like a cosmetic problem the roof lichen can cause serious harm to your roof. As rainwater runs over the metal strip it washes some of the metal ions over the roof shingles below inhibiting growth. Several companies make strips that slip under a shingle course leaving a band exposed.

Avoid scrubbing because that will remove the sand like aggregate from the shingle and reduce its life or even damage it. Step 2 clean the roof annually. To remove lichen and moss from the roof try the least toxic method for moss and lichen removal first oxygen bleach before moving on to a harsher method chlorine bleach. Mosses and lichens grow in damp conditions.

Removing shingles one of the first steps to installing a new roof involves removing the nails or staples securing the shingles in place along with tarpaper and any valley or ridge shingles. Lichen avoids galvanized steel copper and zinc because these metals work as a natural biocide. After the lichen has disappeared you can use wet forget as maintenance to keep your outdoor surfaces clean and lichen free. Reapply the product on a yearly basis or at the first sign of new growth.

Oxygen bleach fill a. So if you attempt to remove it with a hand tool you may accidentally remove the protective top layer of your roof shingles as well. Cleaning removes materials that trap water on the surface of the roof. Lichen will build up on the north side of buildings and in areas shaded most of the day.