Removing Lichen and Moss From Your Roof is a Necessary Pre-Winter Project
Before the ground frosts over and ice encapsulates the forests and homes of NH, it’s important to add the removal of lichen and leaves from your roof to your annual checklist.Â
Every year leaves collect in the gutters, valleys, and corners of roofs, becoming a breeding ground for moisture and bacteria to form. This creates a damp bed of debris on top of asphalt shingles. Fungus and photosynthesising plants living together are the ultimate cause for this lichen and mold to form and grow. The longer a roof goes untreated, the higher your chances are of serious roof damage and need for an expensive repair.
For proper and long-term conservation of your home’s structure and asphalt shingles, you will want to add lichen removal to your to-do list before the snow falls. This allows time for a thorough clean, before any damage is caused by moisture accumulated from fallen leaves onto the lichen and moss.
How Lichen and Moss Damage Roofs
The growth of lichen and moss causes rapid deterioration in asphalt shingles which affects how the roof holds up to sunlight and weathering. When asphalt and fiberglass materials are exposed, the granules that protect the base of the asphalt shingles from weathering become less effective. This process of deterioration effectively shortens the lifespan of your roof. To prevent this from happening, it’s important to take precautionary measures.Â
We want to make sure that your roof is properly cared for, which is why we highly recommend using roofing service professionals who have years of experience. Conde Roofing can provide the expertise you deserve, to help make roof repair and replacement a well-thought out and hassle-free experience.Â
Step into the holiday season with spirit and pride knowing your roof will hold up this winter with the help of the Conde Roofing team.Â
You can perform annual roof maintenance yourself. But to ultimately save you time, allowing a professional to come check out your roof can help save you from the headache of an expensive repair down the road and provide the reassurance you need. That way you can focus on your family and get ready to enjoy the holidays.Â
Conde Roofing of NH can help alleviate your roofing concerns starting with an inspection and answering any questions you may have.
You Could DIY It with WikiHow, But it Can Be Risky
There’s generally an eight step process when it comes to removing lichen from your roof. Starting with cleaning any and all organic material (leaves, twigs, dirt, and debris) using a stiff brush or push broom.Â
Take a long ladder, start from the top, and work your way down to the eaves. Be sure to pay caution that you’re far enough from the edge of the roof. Use the broom/brush and add a distilled white vinegar solution (acetic acid strength should be no more than 5%) to your bucket, and then add 30 ml of washing-up liquid before pouring the mixture into a spray bottle. Make sure to check all corners of your roof for accumulated debris, and don’t forget to clean out your gutters separately as another pre-winter project.
The process of scraping and scrubbing the entire roof can be highly tedious. If efficiency and quality are key, the best thing to do is to hire a professional. That way you’re sure, the job will be risk-free. In some cases you’re better off having roofers put in a new roof entirely, if there’s a serious amount of roof damage already affecting the structure of the house.Â
Vinegar spray is not enough unless step 1 is finished to perfection. Otherwise the asphalt shingles may rot from moist conditions.
Using bleach is another way to clear the lichen. However, this method is not recommended as it can cause the surface you’re working on to become corroded, lighten the colour of the area, and ruin fabrics. Many people are concerned with the level of danger and discomfort of clearing the roof themselves. It’s always better to have an insured roofer come in just to take a look and see what you’re working with.
In the end, choosing a qualified professional for your roofing needs can save time and work. If any step feels too dangerous or uncomfortable, consult with a roofer and have them check it out.
Cost of Cleaning a Roof of Lichen vs Cost of Damage if Left Untreated
Though many people try and pressure wash their roofs at first, Conde Roofing does not recommend this option because it damages roofs. The average cost of lichen and moss pressure wash removal ranges from $450-$700, costing the typical homeowner an average of $612 for a 1,500-square-foot roof. Depending on how deep the moisture from lichen and moss have penetrated your roof, it’s often better to replace it. This is because as lichen and moss grow, they’re getting under the asphalt shingles.
Average cost of irreversible roof damage repair if pressure wash removal is not done properly can be on the high end of $1,000 to $3,000. It could cost even more if most if not all of your roof needs to be replaced. The picture above is a good indication of why lichen and moss pressure wash removal is so difficult. In this case scenario, there is significant rot under the shingle eating through the decking which puts your home at risk of leaking water damage.
Catching the early signs of deterioration and damage is vital.
Lichen Roof Repair in New Hampshire
It’s simply better to replace lichen infested roofs rather than trying to scrape or spray it and risk damaging the roof.
Lichen, leaf, and moss removal doesn’t need to be a chore. Even though it’s an annual project, that doesn’t mean you have to carry the weight of roof care by yourself.
Meet the Conde Roofing Team – Conde Roofing offers Roof Inspections and on-site quotes. As a fully insured CertainTeed ShingleMaster company, they will tackle even your toughest roofing issues and concerns.
Get rid of lichen now, schedule an inspection here.