If you see those green bushy plant-like growth on your roof, they are mosses, and if not handled carefully, they may prove detrimental to your roof. If left unnoticed, the moss can expand all-around your roof and create tons of damage from your house’s integrity to its aesthetics, meaning it will cost a lot. Moss is the most common form of subtle, degrading growth on your roof, but also be aware of and knowledgeable about algae and lichen, as well as the buildup of organic, decomposing debris – which includes dead leaves, petals, stems, rotten sticks, or rotten fruit – which will proliferate the moss’ buildup.
Algae, moss, and lichen can thrive on your roof because of mainly two things: fertilizing organic material and water. These are two of the bare necessities needed for the sustenance of the living organisms of this world essentially. The higher the amount of humidity and decomposing materials, the more it encourages the growth of these organisms in the area. Another problem that you have to worry about is the amount of sunlight your roof gets. A not-so-coveted roof increases the chance of evaporation of moisture, creating a less ideal environment for moss to multiply on and vice versa. A well-shaded roof will make it more prone to humidity and thus create better living conditions for them.
Usually, moss is found from the ground, but most roofs can also nurture moss accumulation that can stay invisible for a really long time. It is due to the moisture that enters under the roof shingles, making way for moss to develop out of the sunlight. For this reason, evaluating moss growth on your roof takes more than just glancing up and taking a look. You need to know the problem and where it is located. Be informed about its degree and consequences, so you won’t just ignore it.
Here are 7 horrible damages that moss causes to your roof.
1 – CRACKS AND CREVICES WHERE WATER MAY COME OUT FROM
If it keeps building up, moss can slowly but surely crawl all the way under your tiles and slates, resulting in them getting ripped from your roof, which will definitely create a lot of harm and damage. The uprooting will certainly lead to a myriad of headaches, ranging from cracks and Roof Leak Repair structural incompetence. Something that’s even worse is that even if you remove the moss that grew under your roof, it could just not stick anymore.
2 – MOSS CAN INVITE ITS BUDDY, MOLD, TO COME AND GROW WITH HIM.
When the moss stays longer than it should in your roof, ten out of ten it will grow abundantly, die, decompose and repeat. This cycle creates a heavy, gross sheet of rotting debris on your roof that is probably wet and will continue to be. More, unfortunately, this leads to even more moss growth, bacteria, and even more decomposing.
It does not do anything to you personally, but it does decrease your roof’s effectiveness of performing its function properly. With all that blanket of dead plants, it will, of course, invite other players to the game, such as mold. And this also is something that attracts cheeky critters and rodents like mice, shrews, cockroaches, and termites who look at these materials like a buffet.
3 – DAMAGES TO THE ROOF’S PROTECTIVE COVER
If left unattended, moss will flourish and eat away everything on the surface of your roof including its protective oils and chemicals, making them prone to brittleness, thermal shock, and UV light from the sun’s rays. With these things being absorbed by the moss, it will formidably cut down its lifespan to just a few years.
4 – AS MOSS ABSORBS WATER, YOUR SHINGLES DETERIORATE.
Moss absorbs water similar to how plants do it. Every time it rains, the moss continues to absorb even more moisture for it to grow underneath your shingles, resulting in its destruction in the form of cracks and probably making it even more malleable. This will cost you quite a hefty amount to repair so this is a good reminder to remove the moss on your roof if you don’t want your cash snuffed out of your wallet by the stressful roof repairs it will demand from you.
5 – THE WRECKAGES CAN REACH INTERIORS.
Of course, the moss doesn’t just end there, it never would have been satisfied to be just in your shingles. If they can fill up crevices when the conditions are right, it absolutely is able to go into your nice and cozy home.
When your house gets a bit too humid and the walls start to become wet, it leads to wood rot. This is considered as one of the worst cases as this tot can reach into the innermost parts of your foundations, causing hurtful problems to your pockets. Bacteria, mold, termites, and tons of other stress-inducing life forms may just destroy your house if this doesn’t get taken care of immediately.
6 – MOSS CAN ATTRACT PESTS TOWARDS YOUR ROOF.
As if moss wasn’t enough, count all of your favorite creepy crawlies to join the gray into giving you even more reasons to whiten your hair. There goes the not picky mice, the terrifying cockroach, the wood churning termites, and other pests that get attracted to moss. A lot of these things can wreak more havoc on your roof.
MOSS ON ROOF
No matter how big or small, you have to get the most out of your roof as soon as possible. Avoid the health issues, home quality issues, and financial issues that it can bring. Moss on the roof should be eliminated and prevented while you can!