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The problem with Moss
Michael Borrill • 12 January 2022
Some people can live with moss and others can’t but when is the the time right to remove moss?
One of the many enquiries and questions I get asked is about moss, when to remove moss, or what problems does moss cause, is moss a problem?
The most common problem I come across over the years with roof related issues with moss is that the gutters get blocked, also moss blocks the down pipes which restricts the rainwater flowing from the roof which can then fundamentally cause other problems elsewhere.
It can also fall onto the drive and this means you are constantly getting that broom out and sweeping the drive or path clean.
Some people can live with moss and others can’t but when is the the time right to remove moss?
Well, if you are getting problems with the gutters and down pipes or you look at the roof and you can’t see it only a big blanket of moss, this I when you should be considering to remove the moss.
In all the years that I have been removing moss I tend to find that moss mostly appears on more north facing properties or roofs that are surrounded by trees or in the shade.
There are many ways in which you can remove the moss but the most effective and safe way is by hand, this maybe labor intensive but this makes sure that the moss is carefully removed from what ever roofing covering you have clay, slate concrete etc., this will also ensure that no damage has been created in carefully removing the moss especially if you have an older roof this will definitely make sure that the roof covering continues to protect and makes your house water tight.
There is also another option that I always get asked about and that’s jet washing, power washing it can come under many names, these are ways in which I would avoid, one of the main reasons is that the high pressure water which will remove the moss but will also remove and damage the tiles underneath and not know about it until the jobs done and you start to see a leak/stain on the ceiling, especially on older roofs, I have also seen roofs that have had moss removed by power wash and taken of the top layers of the colour and loses its outer layers i.e. the colour and drastically change the look at the roof.
Although this is a quicker method but a method that a lot of people don’t understand it.
There are also chemicals that you can spray on the roof, I would avoid this also as this also doesn’t always work and also could effect the wild life, there are company’s that generally do spray an anti-moss spray but if your roof is a much older roof generally speaking moss generally returns regardless, the most effective way that we have found is by hand removing the moss by hand not only does this ensure the integrity of the roof but also ensures that the roof coverings are not effected by doing so.
When is the right time of year to remove moss?
Well, I always tell my customers to avoid winter as this time of year the temperatures are very low and it is cold and the moss tends to freeze and this makes it harder to remove, it is also very dangerous and slippery on the roof, the right time of the year in my opinion is spring or summer time as moss generally dies back in the summer months.
Should you remove the moss?
Well, this depends on the problems it is causing. Do you have a few millimeters of moss that is fine or a few inches of moss that can be a problem, it will also hide that the fact that you may have a broken tile and you wont be able to see it. This can be causing more problems for the future, it also blocks your gutters and down pipes as previously mentioned above.
Maybe next time you step out take a look at the roof and see how much moss you have, if your uncertain give us a call.
Stevenage futsal club was founded in 2020 primarily with boys youth teams to play futsal, the UEFA recognised 5 aside indoor football variant. The club now has 5 boys groups ranging from U6 to U16 and 2022 sees the introduction of a female pathway with an adult women’s team being initiated for the 22/23 season and the aim of gradually adding girls youth teams starting with an U12-U14 group this season and more to follow in time. The introduction of this female section is hugely significant as there are currently no adult female futsal teams within Hertfordshire. The women’s team will compete in the national futsal series, tier 2 south this season with aspirations to progress to the highest division in the country with games televised on BT sport. Stevenage futsal are delighted to partner with MRB roofing on this extremely exciting project.
I bet the answer is I don’t know. In all the years that I have been doing roofing I can only think of a few occasions where people have had their roof checked. You may have the car serviced once a year and your boiler, but the roof that protects your house kind a gets ignored and left to the elements. MRB Roofing offers a service where we give a brief inspection or a roof check, this can save you a lot of money in the long run from a simple broken tile that is left un attended can cause a lot of damage in the future to the felt and batten underneath, to a loose ridge tile at the top which may have become loose from the recent winds and storms earlier in the year. Book a roof service today don’t delay.
Make sure you’re in the know, if so read further! Under the new government guidelines of building control any works that exceeds more than 25% of your house roof wherever it’s a repair or partly a new roof will fall under building control regulations. What does this mean? This means before you even have that shiny new roof you must inform building control of this new roof and the contractor, if you don’t this can impose a nasty fine and get you into trouble when it comes to selling the property which I have often seen on my journeys. Just a few hundred pounds can save you a large headache later on during or after the project. Why is this? The reason for this is to make sure that any roofing contractor or roofing company or roofer that aren’t part of the competent roofing scheme are abiding by the current building control 2022 this is so that they abide towards these regulations this can mean many factors what type of tile, what style and one main key is insulation, if you are having your roof replaced the chances are that your insulation will not be up to standards so this will also have an impact. All these things are easily dealt with and what we deal with on a daily basis, we also find that many people are not aware of this situation.
With winter fast approaching and the weather changing, we need to take care of what protects our home and helps keep it warm, the roof. Generally speaking, people don’t know what to look out for when it comes to maintaining their roof or if any works are required. We all service our cars every year, complete an MOT, but no one really does anything to their roof, why is this? Not everybody is a professional roofer, but is there anything that looks out the ordinary? A simple little check of your roof when you leave the house in the morning, turn around and take a second look, a broken or missing tile, spotting this early can save you a lot of money and disruption down the line, preventing a leak from occurring if left to long. How is your guttering looking, is it overflowing, blocked up with leaves, bird nests, broken away from the property? The best advice we offer is to take a look at the roof from ground level does it look right, if unsure get it looked at, a quick check over now can save you a lot of time, money and disturbance.
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