Pressure Washing Moss Off a Roof

Have you ever noticed moss growing on one side of your roof or the other? This can take away from the roof and cause damage over time. There are a number of things one can do to keep this down. The most inexpensive way of course is to bleach it from time to time using a pump up sprayer. This will work as long as the problem has not gotten out of hand.

Here is how to get rid of moss or simple roof discoloration easily and inexpensively:

Tools needed: Extension ladder, pump up sprayer, small pressure washer and bleach.

Before starting any roof project always have someone around to hold the ladder and to retrieve things as needed. The fewer trips one makes up and down a ladder is easier on the knees and will hold down on accidents. Safety should always be everyone’s concern when doing any project especially when one does not do it professionally.

• Step 1: Put one gallon of bleach inside pump up sprayer add one half gallon of water. Be sure there were no other chemicals inside the sprayer prior to use, bleach is very unstable and can have bad reactions when mixed with other chemicals.
• Step 2: Take sprayer onto roof and spray down problem areas with the pump up sprayer. Wait fifteen minutes before removing. Now get the pressure washer this will only require between 1200 and 1500 PSI to complete this job.

Note: If the areas are not bad you probably will just have to rinse the bleach off when done not using the pressure washer.

• Step 3: Take the pressure washer and lightly hit the areas that are the heaviest do not stay in one spot too long as this can also remove the sand from the shingles. Keep the pressure washer wand moving from spot to spot this can be done around chimneys as well to remove the black discoloration from the shingles.
• Step 4: after the bad areas are removed lightly hit the rest of the roof when finished the roof will look like new.

Warning: Do not pressure wash annually on the roof as this can remove the sand from shingles shortening the life of the roof. After the initial removal one will find that bleach or another cleaner made for this will work just as well. There are many excellent cleaners on the market I chose bleach because it is inexpensive.

Doing things oneself will always give you a feeling of satisfaction knowing the job is done right.