Roof Moss...Bleach Dilution Rate?

Glenn F.

Member
I have a moss problem developing on the north side of my house roof. I figure I'll sweep on a bleach/water solution with a broom & rinse off after a bit. Do any of you have suggestions for me? Moss is not very heavy.

Thank you,
Glenn F.
 
Glenn,
I use a swimming pool algecide in a hose end sprayer. I spray the roof from the ground and let it dry. It dies and comes off with the rain after a few months.
 
I have lichen on my roof under an oak tree on the west side. I talked to my roofer and he said it's no problem, - leave it be because in his opinion any chemicals and physical work on the roof will damage the shingles and shorten their life. Moss may be a different issue. I think I would talk to a reputable roofer before applying chemicals and power washing.
 
I have had good luck with a product called Wet N Forget available at Menards and other stores. Just mix it to the recommended amount in a hand sprayer, spray on and let the rain wash it off. I've used bleach in the past couldn't tell that it affected the shingles any but bleach didn't work nearly as well as Wet N Forget. Good luck and be careful on the roof.
 
That algeside I bet has copper sulfate in it . Easy thing to do is go on ebay and buy a couple of pound bag of copper sulfate. Cheap. Take your one gallon milk jug of hot water and pour in about 1/2 cup of sulfate. Shake it up and let it sit an hour or two. Pour just the pretty blue water into your sprayer. This works on Your roof just fine. Pump it up and have at it. Works the same as having a real copper roof. Kills all of moss, molds, etc. For you sideing you can buy that other stuff.
 
Spray and forget is another brand name product. I think I got mine from Home Depot. Works good.
 
I've used bleach every year for the past 5 years on asphalt shingles and it does not hurt them. Regular Clorox by the gallon cut 50/50 with water. Let it soak for 10 minutes then hose off. No problems. Asphalt shingles are just that -- asphalt.

I spray it from a Northern Tool 2.2 gpm 16-gallon sprayer. Does not hurt the pump, takes 2 minutes to spray then flush with clear water.
 
Hi jeffcat;

Aside from online, where do you buy copper sulfate? A quick look online showed only larger amounts, and not particularly cheap.

Stan
 
go to a garden center, they sell copper sulphate wettable powder for fruit trees and vegetables. bonide is one brand name.
 
On the roofs of our cabins we use tide laundry soap (phosphate), sometimes just pour the powder on and sometimes mixed with water and applied with a hose sprayer set on high, then let the rain wash it off.

We also nail a zinc strip or bare copper ground wire on the ridge
 
Go on ebay. Copper sulfate the fourth listing was 2 pounds for $13.oo. Sale number 172235333729. Cheaper in larger quantity. Many feed stores and hardware used to carry it. Beleave it or not you can't get it in some states in loose form. Very pretty blue crystals. Also sells as tree root killer. Read the lable on the bottle to see if it is listed as active ingredient. Works great on roofs too. For crying out loud all the stuff is , just some copper with a little sulfuric acid mixed in. Government is a bunch of idiots. Used to spray it on the farm pond to kill algae. One pound mixed in five or six gallons of water and just spray with a hand pump. The pond was one acher. On a pond you must mix and spray it. If you throw it around it just sinks to the bottom. What is even more fun. You have a row boat? Just row around a little and spray DOWN Wind.
 
Zinc or copper strip near the ridge is the permanent fix. Bleach works to get the stuff off that is on there now. zinc strip, or even good heavy galvanized strip will work. a 3-4 inch piece tucked under the ridge or first shingle course about a couple of inches will do the job. Ever notice the light colored strip below galvanized vent flashing on an otherwise moss/lichen stained roof?
 

I used time. It was pretty bad 4-5 years ago, now there is just one strip.It went away by itself.
 
Neighbor has a zinc strip. Paid hundreds to have it installed. Says it is a waste of money and does not work. We are in a mountain valley and get lots of mildew on the north facing side.
 

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