A green carpet may be nice in the garden but when it begins to creep up your roof it becomes cute and frightening. To the homeowner, in particular to those with a damp climate, moss in the roof is a typical aesthetic nuisance burdens on the front porch but what lies under the mossy surface is the possibility of a structural weakness in your home. Protecting your investment would first involve understanding the biology of this strong plant and how it reacts with your roofing materials.
The Biology of a Roof Invader
You cannot tell us why moss predominates on your roof before you know what it is. Moss is a non-vascular plant, that is, it does not have a complex internal plumbing system that the majority of plants use to transport water and nutrients. Rather, it is wickedly moist as it absorbs temperatures through its leaves almost as a sponge. It demands constantly damp, dark, places. Your roof will therefore become a perfect home when it can provide two conditions; moisture and surface to stick to. Moss propagates by the wind through the microscopic spores. Upon falling on a surface which is still wet, as on the north side of a roof-pitch, or under the shade of trees, these spores germinate and start on their growth. Whenever a roof is old it is even more vulnerable. Asphalt shingles are also covered with granular minerals which shield against the UV rays. This coating is eroded over time to form more porous and rougher surface, which can trap material debris and retain moisture, as well as which creates the ideal environment of moss to form its root-like features, known as rhizoids.
The Blame of the Evil What Moss Lifts Shingles
Although the moss rhizoids are not what is known as roots, the roots that burrow deep into solid materials, they are so tenacious that they can utilize even the slightest cracks. When you are looking at the best roof cleaning near me in Lacey Washington, you are searching after those technicians who are aware of the local climate and needs of roofs in the Pacific Northwest. When moss grows in between and under the roofing material, it causes the greatest structural destruction.Moss will fill the spaces between the overlapping roofing material. The moss once it has grown, will create thick mats of moss that will physically lift up and cause shingles to be separated. This is a process that is not fast but persistent. When the shingles are forced out of place, the protective layer around your roof has been compromised and the underlying underlayment and roof deck is exposed to the elements.The physical pushing out causes avenues of water to enter in during rainstorms. A small hole that was previously only a point of minor concern turns into an opening to the water that can cause rotting of the rafters, cracking insulation, and internal house leaks.
Moisture Retention and Freeze Thaw Cycle
In addition to physically pushing moss away shingles, moss provides reservoirs, where it retains water even after a rain has fallen. This permanent humidity also increases the rate of weathering of roofing materials. Asphalt shingles may crack and lose their protective granules and wood shake may rot. The water that is held in moss freezes and thaws naturally. The absorbed water gets frozen and expanded when the temperature decreases. This growth causes enormous stress tearing roofing materials and expanding cracks in tiles or the asphalt shingles matrix. With time this cycle might lead to great surface erosion and breakage that would drastically reduce the life of your roof.
The Nightmares of Drainage created by Moss
Although it is direct damage that is easy to see, the damage on your drainage system is equally devastating yet in most cases you do not see the damage until it is too late. The slope of a roof is designed in a certain way, that will automatically force the water back into the gutters and down pipes, preventing water gathering at the base of your home. Moss colonies interfere with this whole mechanism.The spongy, thick overgrowth of it is like a dam, like a dam reducing the velocity of the water. This stagnant water has additional time to creep under shingles, yet they also cause debris to accumulate at the back of the moss, only to be wrenched away by strong gusts of wind and downpour, thereby increasing the blockage even more. Leaves and twigs and bits of moss come sliding down the roof slope and directly into your gutters. This forms a loop of obstruction Moss debris blocks gutters and water does not flow freely to the down-spouts. This water drips down your side of the house, this may end up damaging the siding, landscaping and even your basement or crawlspace. The moss on the roof is a beauty bother to the owner of the house especially to those who live in a damp environment but it is not only a question of the beauty of the landscape that is very beautiful. The first thing to do to protect your investment is to familiarize yourself with the biology of this hardy plant and the manner in which it would correlate with your roofing materials.
The Biology of a Roof Invader
You have to know what moss is before you can know why it is taking out your roof. Moss is not a vascular plant and does not have a complex internal plumbing system like those of the majority of plants to enable them to move water and nutrients. Rather, it drinks water in directly through its leaves like a sponge biological trait defines the locations where moss can survive. It needs the constantly damp, shady conditions. As a result, your roof would be a perfect dwelling when it provides two important conditions, which are moisture and something to stick on. Moss propagates by microscopic spores which are transported by wind. When such spores fell upon a surface which is kept wet, as on the north side of a roof or a place constantly shady by trees, they sprout and start to develop.Roofs get more vulnerable as they get older. The asphalt shingles are covered with granular minerals which shield them against UV rays. Weathering, with time, exfoliates this coating making the surface more rough and porous, catching debris and holding moisture, which is the ideal foundation of the moss to grow its root like structures, referred to as rhizoids.
The Genesis of Evil How Moss Raises Shingles
Although the moss rhizoids are not actual roots that dig deep into hard substances, they are tough enough that they can use the slightest of the gaps. The last major structural damage is an occurrence when moss grows between and under shingles or tiles.Moss will fill the spaces between these roofing materials in their search of moisture and anchorage. The moss becomes thick and dense as it grows in the form of mats which are able to push up and separate shingles physically. This is a gradual process that is sometimes tedious. After so doing, the protective layer of your roof is weakened, leaving the waterproof layer and the roofing exposed to the elements.This physical lifting leaves channels that allow water to run through and infiltrate your roof during rainstorms. A small crevice turns into a hole through which moisture might enter and cause rotting rafters, ruined insulation and even leaks in your house.
Moisture Retention and Freeze thaw Cycle
On top of moving the shingles physically, moss serves as a reservoir which traps water against the roof even after the rain has ceased. This incessant wetness increases the wear and tear in the roofing materials. Asphalt shingles may get brittle and lose their protective granules and wood shakes may be affected by rot. The moss collects water that is subjected to a natural freeze-thaw cycle. As the temperature falls the water that was caught freezes and expands. This growth puts an enormous strain, tearing apart roofing sheets and widening cracks in the tiles or the network of asphalt shingles. This cycle may lead to great surface erosion and breakage and will greatly reduce the life of your roof over time.
The way Moss will cause Drainage Nightmares
Though the destruction of shingles is very plain and obvious, the impact it has on your drainage system is also devastating, but in a way, it is usually not seen, until it is too late. The slope of a given roof is done to effectively move rainwater into gutter and downspouts so, it does not pool around the foundation of your home. Moss colonies interfere with this whole mechanism.The spongy thick growth is like a dam and slows down the flow of water. This stalled water allows more time to creep under shingles but it also causes debris to accumulate behind the moss which in turn leads to an even greater clog.Moss colonies being washed away by heavy winds and rain do not just fade away. With moss-flakes, leaves and twigs caught and blown down the roof-slope, into your gutters. This is a vicious cycle where Mossgbuilds up in gutters thus blocking the free flow of water to the downspouts. This water will flow off the sides of your house and may damage your siding, landscaping, and even leak into your basement or crawl space in winter, it will cause an ice dam that causes water to force its way back under the shingles and into your house, resulting in the expensive damage of water dams. winter, water trapped in clogged gutters by moss debris can freeze, forming ice dams that force water back under the shingles and into your home.The result is a compromised drainage system that can no longer protect your home’s foundation, leading to costly water damage repairs far beyond the roof itself .
Prevention and the Role of Professional Intervention
Since there is a risk of damages, it is much more efficient and cost-effective to prevent moss growth instead of addressing its outcomes. The simplest way of prevention is the change of the environment that moss prefers. To allow the sun to dry the roof, trimming hanging tree branches to expose the roof to the sun will hasten the drying process and lessen the amount of shade that moss needs to live.In the case of existing moss, moss has to be removed. This however is a very careful undertaking. It is very unsafe to walk on a roof that has a moss as it is very slippery. Moreover, high-pressure power washers are an easy and expensive error; they may blow protective granules off shingles, thrust water deep into framing and nullify producer warranties.That is why numerous homeowners resort to the services of the professionals. Such professionals apply soft wash methods which are low-pressure spraying of the growth using eco-friendly, moss-killing solutions, to the shingles to remove them safely without damaging the shingles itself.
Learning to Identify when to seek help
When do you know that the moss on your roof has become a small patch or a major problem? The warning signs can be noticed by regular ground-level visual inspection. The thick and raised moss mounds, particularly on the edges of the shingles, should be sought. Within your house, check if there is any evidence of water, that is, any stains on your ceiling or walls, and in the event your roof is steep, has a lot of moss that might be a sign there is a leak.In the event that you see any scars or broken shingles they are also indicators that there is a leak, and you need to call a professional. In most situations what seems to be the issue of a mere moss might be a sign of an older roof requiring further consideration. A professional examination will be able to define whether the moss has inflicted damage under it which needs to be repaired.
The Takeaway
Moss is not merely a patch of green on what would otherwise be a uniform roof. It is an organism and when not controlled, it will be able to home in on your homes defense against the weather in a systemic way. When you know the way it proliferates, the way it destroys shingles, and the way it ruins your drainage system, you are well equipped to make decisions on maintenance. Regardless of whether you do it yourself using safe practices or have a professional, keep in mind that it is not only a cleaner roof, besides a drier, safer, and more long-lasting home in years to come. To the Pacific Northwest people whose area is characterized by wet weather, roof maintenance is a mandatory task rather than optional. Next time you see that green patch then you will know that the best roof cleaning near me in Lacey Washington could be the best money you spend on your house in 2014.