Roof moss and algae control powders

Joined
Oct 28, 2002
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Location
Everson WA - Pacific NW USA
Lots of lore about Tide powdered detergent. It kinda works.

I know what works: copper sulfate. But can leave stains on lighter colored roofs and copper in the runoff? Can kill vegetation

Zinc sulfate should work. Ordered a couple pounds.
 
One of the best ways to reduce moss is to periodically clean organic matter off the the roof. No food, no moss. A lower power blower is a great tool for this, though be sure to blow from the top down only.
 
One of the best ways to reduce moss is to periodically clean organic matter off the the roof. No food, no moss. A lower power blower is a great tool for this, though be sure to blow from the top down only.
Definitely helps but doesn’t prevent completely. Works great with newer shingles with zinc impregnated
 
Doesn’t work. At all.
The "Spray and Forget" linked by @Lubener is not the same product as "Wet and Forget". Wet and Forget does work, but it takes a week or two, not immediately like bleach.
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Removing any tree that is overhanging your house helps.
Yeah some we can't cut - neighbors fenceline trees on shop side - house has no trees overhanging but when wind blows unpreventable from the forest the amount of small debris. For sure though, cedar trees and other evergreens are worse than any deciduous tree around here.
 
The "Spray and Forget" linked by @Lubener is not the same product as "Wet and Forget". Wet and Forget does work, but it takes a week or two, not immediately like bleach.
Yes that IS a completely different product it looks like. May try if the zinc doesn't work. I have copper sulfate and borax and the cheapest Mexican detergent powder mix in a couple test spots, man that works GREAT. No one here has done this apparently. The only worry is if the copper gets on concrete, it's a real pain to remove (went through this in the spring - citric acid and H2O2 removed the stains) and the copper sulfate are big crystals I have to crush.

Zinc should be here tomorrow. Rain today. 2.5" forecast tomorrow.

Bleach is not suitable and all wet products so far do about negative zilch.
 
You can get rolls of zinc in strips to run along the ridge.
Yeah that kinda works. Worst I've seen, it looks kinda poopy crooked and stuff. Frankly the ridges are just fine. The problem areas are the downspouts from the second story roof meeting the lower roof. Basically the downspouts pour right on the roof by design and the junk builds up there and near there.

I had the brilliant idea of lining or putting pure zinc sheet metal at the bottom of those downspouts, but the roof if just too much pitch for this 66 year old man. I'm too chicken to go up there. I bought the zinc metal but ended up using it for my eave rafter overhangs (different thread) -working great!
 
Yes that IS a completely different product it looks like. May try if the zinc doesn't work. I have copper sulfate and borax and the cheapest Mexican detergent powder mix in a couple test spots, man that works GREAT. No one here has done this apparently. The only worry is if the copper gets on concrete, it's a real pain to remove (went through this in the spring - citric acid and H2O2 removed the stains) and the copper sulfate are big crystals I have to crush.
FYI, I get the Wet and Forget in 2-packs at COSTCO for a better price than Amazon. It is stocked seasonally, mostly Spring through Fall.
 
I have one spot that gets moss. It's a bit shaded which I try and keep trimmed back. A couple years ago I ran a piece of scrap 1/2" copper tube along the ridge above it. Haven't really had enough rain though to move the copper as we have been in drought conditions for the last couple years.. The shingles have the copper in them too. When it gets bad I just shoot some bleach and then rinse.
 
Yeah some we can't cut - neighbors fenceline trees on shop side - house has no trees overhanging but when wind blows unpreventable from the forest the amount of small debris. For sure though, cedar trees and other evergreens are worse than any deciduous tree around here.
Would it be easier to just relocate to Southern New Mexico? No more roof cleaning. At your age, cleaning.moss.off the roof is actually a unnecessary risk.
 
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