Why Does Moss Grow On Your Roof?

Moss is one of those irritants that most homeowners will have to deal with at some time in their lives. Many homeowners think that moss is just a visual problem that takes away from your property’s overall look and kerb value, but the reality is much different.

In a worst-case scenario, moss can lead to structural damage to your home, which can cost thousands of pounds to repair. And yet, some homes appear to suffer from the growth of moss on their roof, much more than others. So why exactly does moss grow on your roof, and what is the best way to deal with it if and when it does happen? 

What Exactly is Moss? 

Moss is classified as a non-vascular plant. This is one of the main reasons why it causes so much damage to a roof. Non-vascular plants absorb water through their leaves rather than via roots. Once moss has established itself on your roof, it stores the water it absorbs in its leaves. In the winter months, when temperatures drop below zero, that water then freezes, expands, and then has the potential to crack your roof tiles, which then lets water into your property. 

How and Why Does Moss Grow On Roofs? 

Moss starts off life as a seed. These seeds, or more correctly spores, are extremely small one-celled reproductive units that are transported onto your roof, in the wind, or by birds, squirrels, and other small animals. Once they land on your roof, they tend to settle in the grooves between your roof tiles, where they then establish themselves and begin to grow into the green spongy moss we recognize. 

Moss flourishes in damp environments, so whichever areas of your roof that is exposed to the least amount of direct sunlight form the perfect location for moss to grow. This  itself is not a serious issue, provided you keep on top of it. The issue becomes a problem when the moss is allowed to establish itself, as it then begins to grow exponentially. Moss will also grow quicker in areas surrounded by lots of trees or in locations that suffer from a large amount of rainfall. 

Don’t Let Moss Establish Itself On Your Roof. 

Prevention, as they say, is better than cure, and while you may not be able to stop moss growing on your roof, you can with relative ease prevent it from becoming established. The key here is to clean your roof regularly.

Our advice would be to use a professional roof cleaning company, as working high up on a roof is highly dangerous. Our team will use professional equipment to wash down your roof, removing any trace of moss.

We never use a pressure washer on a domestic roof because this has the potential to cause your tiles to lift and break, or alternatively, water could be forced under the roof tiles into your attic. Commercial roof pressure washing is the only perfectly fine on pre-fab commercial premises.

If you have a moss problem on your roof or want to get your roof professionally cleaned to prevent this type of issue, call us today on 01908 596009.