The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

gleamingtheview · Guest

New roof moss cleaning video

Iannacchione · Guest

Tim,

Very professional. Great job.

Iannacchione · Guest

Are those hoes that you are using?

Roof Cleaning Missouri 417-230-8103 · Guest

Is that an asphalt shingle roof you are scraping? if so , ummmmm we here at Elite roof cleaners never ever scrape , pull or sweep a asphalt shingle roof.... trust the Love my friend

PS if that is an asphalt roof please remove this video, it is putting out the wrong info on Roof cleaning!!
Thanks for understanding..

KID

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Branson/Springfield,Mo (417) 230 8103 on Monday 16th of November 2009 10:18:02 AM

gleamingtheview · Guest

In this area of roof there were 2-4 inches of needle debris and 3 or 4 inch thick areas of moss.

I respect the opinions above and would like to hear alternative methods to handling a project like this!

My company handles projects like this daily in Oregon. Doing our roof cleanings we always strive to be as gentle as possible especially on composition asphalt roofs. There are many guys out here that would brush and pressure wash with NO care to the surface there cleaning. I assure you we have our customers best interests in mind.

This is my blog I started on projects we do daily in Beaverton, Or. http://www.gleamingtheview.com/gtvblog

RCIA Founder

I used to live in Seattle.
DEAD Moss is easier to remove.
KILL it first with copper or zinc sulphate, wait a few weeks for it to DIE and loose it's grip, then try a blower, making sure to blow DOWN the roof, not UP against the shingles.
Sometimes a LITTLE Pressure from a high FLOW Pressure Washer works.
FLOW is the Key, not pressure.
I admit, SOMETIMES you just have to brush or use a Hoe, etc, etc.
It sounds cruel, but the alternative is Moss that will actually crack the shingles wide open!

IF you kill it first, it is a lot easier job removing moss, but you need to charge a bit more.

gleamingtheview · Guest

This is a pic from this same project during the bidding of it 3 weeks ago. I do an evaluation of every roof to determine first and foremost the customers needs and wants. I then inspect the roof to consider its condition and cleaning method. I totally agree that the best way is killing the moss first then return to more easily and gently remove it, we do that alot. Now as you can see to the left the moss is so large and loose it was easily coming off the roof with no harm. The brushing action we use in this case looks worse then what you may think. We lost granules, yes! but the needs of the customer ie. Home is for sale dictated the slightly aggressive approach. The roof was restored to looking like new again. The customer was extremely happy. Perhaps this post belongs in a ROOF MOSS CLEANING thread that we in the North West deal with on every home.

RCIA Founder

gleamingtheview wrote:

This is a pic from this same project during the bidding of it 3 weeks ago. I do an evaluation of every roof to determine first and foremost the customers needs and wants. I then inspect the roof to consider its condition and cleaning method. I totally agree that the best way is killing the moss first then return to more easily and gently remove it, we do that alot. Now as you can see to the left the moss is so large and loose it was easily coming off the roof with no harm. The brushing action we use in this case looks worse then what you may think. We lost granules, yes! but the needs of the customer ie. Home is for sale dictated the slightly aggressive approach. The roof was restored to looking like new again. The customer was extremely happy. Perhaps this post belongs in a ROOF MOSS CLEANING thread that we in the North West deal with on every home.

Roof Moss Cleaning is a necessity in the Pacific North West.
I know, I lived in Seattle for 15 years!

NJ Roof Cleaner · Guest

I did a house (not that bad) and it did come off by it self, I know now if they want fast results ...is more money!!

Roof Cleaning Collegeville PA · Guest

I understand that there will be times when the customer can't wait for for heavy rain. I just want to be sure that "trusting the LOVE" is going to be enough for a roof like what is in that video...?

PrestigePressure · Guest

Moss is no fun. The video is great and very professional Tim. Sometimes you got to do what you got to do, huh.

Roof Cleaning Collegeville PA · Guest

After all the reading that I've done, I didn't realize that moss was such a pain in the azz. I realy thought that we would treat it exactly the same as the algea - "squirt and go".
Clearly, I'm a moron.

gleamingtheview · Guest

Man I heard Seattle has some species of moss there that will swallow you whole if you get to close! lol

gleamingtheview · Guest

Well ya you gotta do what you gotta do but always keeping in mind the surface your cleaning. Asphalt roofing I think is the most delicate of the bunch.

Ive been getting the jist of the Safe Non-Pressure ways. Its definately the wave of the future!

Its good to see some fellow window cleaners on here!!!

bigragu714 · Guest

I dont care if you live in seattle, new mexico, florida or maine, you never brush a asphalt roof with anything ever. if you do get it in writting from the customer after you tell them of the potential problems that could occur in a year or two after your done.....

gleamingtheview · Guest

OK...So heres a couple questions for you!

1. What problems would those be from this job?
2. How would you clean it?

I know and see problems on roofs daily that suggest to me what cleaning method we will use. You guys got to understand that theres more than one way to clean a roof. Ok heres another approach I would have preferred doing on this project.

Blow off loose debris from roof
Clean and flush the gutters
Apply a Zinc Sulfate treatment
Return in 1-4 months (depending on the moss)
Blow off roof again
brush dead & mooshy or black & crusty remaining moss off especially visible areas.
Re clean gutters

Possibly retreat, sometimes the treatment doesn't all take.

In fact often times after application after application of treatment, the dead moss is still there, dead.

My company is all about aesthetics and managing the appearance of our clients homes and building.
They want a clean roof & They want the roof cleaned safely without harm. Our customers trust what we recommend based on our reputation in the Portland area.
It's Obvious if you start brushing a roof and your left with black asphalt then I wouldnt be in this line of work. I would have destroyed there roof and I would have bought them a new one.

Im on here to explore all cleaning methods. I am a professional that thrives on knowledge and the ability to produce what we sell.

To get on here without a signature even and say "I will never brush or sweep or walk on or no whatever" is really defeating the purpose here. For my sake and others looking for a solution to this moss issue on composition asphalt roofs... WE GOT TO PUT OUR MINDS TOGETHER AND EXPLORE SOLUTIONS" Put our ideas and products to use, share the knowledge and discover a safe, non aggressive cleaning method to rid roofs of moss & algae.

Venting a bit....Thanks guys!!!

Roof Cleaning Collegeville PA · Guest

Interesting post Tim (gleamingtheview). I'm unfamiliar with the zinc sulfate treatment. I'll assume that it's safe, practical and effective for asphalt roofs and does it work on all that yuky stuff on the roof or mostly on moss? I wonder if it profitable ? I thought that everybody used SH and only SH..? I love the discussion but, man... I'm starting to think that there is some gray area here. Perhaps there is more than one way to skin a cat eh? Could/should you explain the zinc sulfate thing?

I find it tough to get any work done in the fall because of the weather. I can't imagine how you get any work done up there in your part of the country. Hang loose window guys!

gleamingtheview · Guest

http://bryophytes.science.oregonstate.edu/page24.htm
This is a local study on moss control, full of useful information on managing the roof moss. It explains the different methods and chemicals.

Zinc is not environmentally friendly which is one reason I need to explore alternative moss control methods. Oregon is a very "Green" state!

Most states require you to carry a pesticide license through the department of Agriculture.

Roof Cleaning Collegeville PA · Guest

Thanks for the link Tim. I noticed that you said moss "control". I recognize that your climate is perfect for moss growth but, do you mean "kill" the moss OR do you use the zinc to keep it from coming back after you've killed it with SH?

gleamingtheview · Guest

SH is from what I know of the most environmentally safe methods of killing & controlling the moss but from my experience not as effective as the Zinc.

I have to take into consideration the surrounding of the home or building ie. water ways within 500 ft., plant life, the homes drainage system whether its a dry well, runs to the grounds or out to the street, and especially the trees canopying the roof that either casts shade, foliage / debris, roof type, pitch, North facing sides and of coarse the customers input.

All these conditions & more play a huge factor in which chemicals we can use. My daily saying is if you have conditions for moss growth...Moss will grow! When we need or are requested to take a more aggressive approach, I always say we only ever want to do this once if at all!!! Then implement the control solutions based on conditions again for frequency of treatments. For homes with optimal conditions for moss growth I may suggest an annual visit or I request the customer contact us immediately with the first site of regrowth. Other homes with maybe a slight sloped North side we may not have to do anything for another 5-10 years. The key to control is treating the roof or surface when the moss is minimal or not there at all (preventative maintenance) this keeps the moss tamed at least and not growing out of control, which is usually why were called out to begin with...lol.

I tell ya I love doing just the algae & mildew areas.... A little blast of cider and the algae and mildew stains are POOF! Gone!!!

This is a pic I took today of a Zinc treatment we did about 4 months ago. The moss has shriveled, turned black and nearly completely went away.

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"