Roof Moss in Anchorage: Brush It, Then Zinc It

Moss loves a shady, damp roof

If your roof has a fuzzy green carpet, you are not alone. Moss loves shade, moisture and cool weather, so north slopes and roofs under trees are favorite spots. It holds water against the shingles and can lift their edges, which is not what you want on a roof.

Why we brush instead of blasting

We do not pressure wash or soft wash roofs. Washing can strip the protective granules off shingles and push water where it should not go. Instead:

• Moss is brushed off by hand, always working down the slope
• We target the moss with our brushes, and we often hold the brush at an angle
• We collect what we can in bags
• We blow off the remainder (downward, never up under the shingles)
• Then we clean the gutters, because moss and shingle granules end up in there

Then comes the zinc

After brushing, we treat the roof with zinc. Zinc discourages moss from growing back. Two ways to use it:

• Zinc treatment, applied to the roof after brushing, especially on shaded and north-facing slopes, ridges and hips
• Zinc strips, installed near the ridge, where rain carries a little zinc down the slope below them

What zinc will not do

We like to be straight with you:

• Zinc does not remove moss that is already there. Brushing does that.
• It does not remove stains. Some light staining can remain after moss is gone.
• It is not a permanent fix. It slows regrowth for a season, and your roof may need another treatment later.

Light or detailed

Depending on how much moss you have, we can do a lighter clean or a more thorough, detailed brushing between the shingles. We will talk you through which one makes sense for your roof.

Why not just let it be?

Moss that stays can hold moisture against the roof year after year, shortening the life of your shingles. Catching it early is easier than dealing with a thick mat.

Moss on your roof? Request an estimate and send photos, and we will tell you what we see.