Maintaining a roof is important to keep your house properly waterproof. When and how to remove moss from your roof? What products to use? Our answers.
A dangerous foam. Is your roof black or green? Is moss taking hold or has already invaded a large part of the roof of your house? You must act by cleaning it, either by yourself or by a professional craftsman.
Why remove moss from your roof?
Ensuring that you keep your roof in good condition prolongs the longevity and effectiveness of your home’s roofing. Regularly clearing moss and removing all plants helps maintain the waterproofness of the roof and prevent infiltration. It is therefore important to maintain the roofing materials in order to avoid any deterioration and degradation (cracks, bursting during periods of frost). Lichens and moss make the tiles porous and fragile by retaining rainwater. Moss proliferates easily because it has no roots.
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Removing moss, cleaning, treating your roof protects your home and avoids having to do major repair work. This is a preventative action. This moss removal operation also beautifies the appearance of your house.
When should you remove moss from your roof?
You can remove moss from your roof either at the end of autumn, when the leaves have all fallen, or in spring, in order to check the condition of your roof after winter at the same time.
Also choose a period when there is no rain or wind expected, for 2 or 3 days, to allow the products to penetrate the tiles and dry.
If you regularly maintain your roof, you will save money by not doing complete moss removal. Ideally, it is recommended to clean your roof every year.
The frequency of moss removal also depends on the condition of the roof, the covering materials and the age of the roof.
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How to remove moss from your roof?
Moss, leaves and algae present in the gutters and on the roof must be removed. Unblock gutters and water drains.
There are two techniques for removing moss from a roof:
Scrub the tiles using a stiff brush and water to remove all plants present. Then remove the waste by rinsing the roof, starting from the top of the roof.
This technique, without scraping the tiles, is less aggressive for the roof. But the foam should not be too encrusted.
Depending on how dirty you are, you can use black soap or baking soda.
- The high pressure washer method
Using a pressure washer is effective but is not suitable for all tiles or slates. Proceed delicately or contact a craftsman.
Make sure you clear the moss in good safety conditions: with a harness, work in pairs. And check that you have all the necessary equipment (roof ladder, gloves, glasses, brush, high pressure water jet). If the conditions are not met, or if your roof is too steep, do not hesitate to call a professional.
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What products should I use?
- An anti-foam product
- A water-repellent treatment
Once cleaning is complete, apply preventive treatments to maintain the moss removal from your roof.
It is an anti-foam product (with or without rinsing), or an algicide or fungicide. Choose an organic, environmentally friendly product. Start at the ridge and work your way down to the gutters. Then let it dry.
Then apply a water-repellent treatment, in one or more layers, depending on the product chosen. Either by spraying or with a brush. It helps fight against humidity and infiltration. Be wary as it may not be suitable for all types of coverage. Do not hesitate to seek the advice of a professional to choose the right water-repellent solution.
If your treatment is with rinsing, carry out the operation a few days later, to allow the product to penetrate.
