Remove Lichen From Slate Roof

Choices include metal and slate.

Remove lichen from slate roof.

To remove lichen and moss from the roof try the least toxic method for moss and lichen removal first oxygen bleach. Lichen is a hardy growth known to firmly. Both tasks work hand in hand to ensure the longest possible lifespan for your roof. You also risk the potential of accidentally damaging the protective top layer of your roof shingles while trying to remove it with this method.

It holds moisture and can cause roofs to bend and bow inward and eventually collapse if left untreated. The lichens and moss don t hurt anything. As with all maintenance prevention is better than cure. Moss itself is a plant while lichen conisist of a fungus and a photosyntheizing plant living together.

Removing lichen fully using this method is nearly impossible not to mention time consuming especially if you are dealing with a large surface like a roof. When leaves and other material collect on your roof a perfect bed is formed for moss and lichens to grow. Less easy but of far greater importance is the next step of removing the dead moss from the roof. Copper oxide does kill the lichens and moss.

So if you attempt to remove it with a hand tool you may accidentally remove the protective top layer of your roof shingles as well. Lichen avoids galvanized steel copper and zinc because these metals work as a natural biocide. Most professional roofers advise that it is possible to do more damage to the roof by trying to remove lichen than the lichen will ever do to harm the roof. Lichen can be really tricky to remove because it grips strongly onto the surface.

Some factors may require you to get your roof cleaned more often. After you have killed the moss on your roof you must remove the dead moss manually or it will act like a sponge and soak up water further promoting decay. Always use a stable ladder and safety harness when climbing on the roof. Remove moss and lichen from your roof with vinegar.

After just 16 years lichen and moss have taken hold on the surface of the asphalt roof shingles on the north side of the house. Roof lichen or more regularly recognized roof moss or algae is a very common sight on many shingled or tiles roofs whilst appearing more like a cosmetic problem the roof lichen can cause serious harm to your roof. Removing these things manually can lead to a lot of damage to your roof mostly by people walking on the roof or power washing scraping etc. That s why i call it a pandora s box you may end up with more problems than you started with.

Lichen accumulation on roofs is really a minor problem that will not hurt the roof.