How do I get moss off my roof?

Kathleen Werner
by Kathleen Werner
  8 answers
  • Estell Davis Estell Davis on Jun 28, 2017

    You can buy a spray that is designed to kill it but I can't remember the brand.

  • LJ LJ on Jun 28, 2017

    Good old fashion Tide. Works like a damn. Sprinkle generous amount of Tide and leave. Over time with the elements it kills it.it takes awhile but it sure works

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jun 28, 2017

    Use Wet and Forget safe for all surfaces

  • Loi14134901 Loi14134901 on Jun 28, 2017

    You can have a copper piece added to the peak of the roof length, this can fix the problem. The copper creates a chemical reaction that stops moss from growing. Also the moss only grows on shaded roofs that don't receive enough direct sunshine to dry and stop the mosses ability to grow.

  • Amanda Jane Woods Amanda Jane Woods on Jun 28, 2017

    There's a spray you can buy to kill the moss, but that can damage the roof. The best bet is installing a zinc strip at/near the peak that will, over time, kill the growth, but will not damage roofing material.

  • Wash it off or hire someone to do for you.

  • Kathleen Werner Kathleen Werner on Jun 28, 2017

    Thank you..Will the runoff hurt the moss on my lawn..I love that!

  • William William on Jun 28, 2017

    The black mold-like stains and streaks that appear on roofs, particularly light-colored asphalt shingles, is actually a blue-green algae (Gloeocapsa magma). Commonly found in climates with warm, humid summers, it does no damage to the roofing, but it certainly does looks bad.


    The less expensive solution is to spray wash the roof with a 50 percent mix of water and bleach to get rid of the algae. (No pressure washers, please. They're likely to damage the shingles.) Just be sure to wet your foundation plantings first, and rinse everything in clean water when you're done. Plants don't like bleach, and wetting them with plain water first protects them. You can also cover them with tarps or plastic sheeting, which will protect the soil around your plants as well. Make sure that you create a wide radius around your home to be safe.

    Allow the solution to soak into the shingles for at least 15 minutes. If they are severely molded, you may want to give it a little longer. Next, rinse the shingles thoroughly with a garden hose at low pressure. Start from the top shingle and rinse downward to prevent water seepage.


    To keep the algae from coming back, insert 6-inch-wide strips of zinc or copper under the row of shingling closest to the roof peak, leaving an inch or two of the lower edge exposed to the weather. That way whenever it rains, some of the metal molecules will wash down the roof and kill any algae trying to regain a foothold on your shingles.

    You can probably see this same principle working on roofs in your neighborhood. Look for chimneys with copper flashing; the areas directly below the flashing will be free of any algae stains.

    The strips also work on roofs suffering from moss buildup. Just scrub it off first with a brush, then bleach as above.