Kill/prevent moss on deck, patio, roof

[Spook50]

Our deck and patio are on the north side of our house, and along with the north side of the roof are absolute havens for moss. Even in the 90*+ dry heat of summer, it doesn't die off. Not having gutters on the house I know is a big cause of it, but we just couldn't pull off the cost of having gutters put on this year with our tax return.

Either way, this spring I intend to hit it like the fist of an angry god using any means necessary. The deck will be washed and have the worst areas sprayed with some Copper Brown before being restained with a redwood color lacquer stain (to match the original stain color), so I think that'll help towards prevention in the future. As far as the roof and patio, I'm in a quandary as to the best method to kill it off enough to make it lose its grip on the surfaces. I've tried the Lilly Miller Moss Out on both and it didn't do dick. Saturated it but good when I did it, but it didn't even turn brown. I think it even grew into the shape of a middle finger, but that might've just been the scotch.

So what've you guys used with success to get rid of moss and keep it gone?

My lawn's another issue entirely, but at least I know the Moss Out for lawns will work here, and I've got a dethatcher to actually remove it once it's dead.

 

[Joe_E]

Look up using copper and zinc strips to prevent moss.

 

[PAToyota]

Look up using copper and zinc strips to prevent moss.

This. Typically a copper strip under the ridge cap shingles so that it is exposed an inch or more and then strips every ten feet or so down the roof.

 

[Spook50]

Aye, zinc strips are a definite for preventing new moss growth on the roof, but I need something to kill and remove the stuff that's already there. It's grown enough to cause damming when it rains, so I need to get rid of that. I've read that using a brush or any kind of scraper can damage the shingles, so that idea is out. I was hoping to find something that would kill it and loosen its grip enough to just rinse away in a heavy rainfall (or better yet, literally dissolve the s***, but I suspect anything that can do that would damage other surfaces).

 

[Frankencruiser]

I have a friend that swears by sprinkling powdered laundry detergent all over the roof. I don't know if it works, but his roof is moss free.

 

[cruiserpilot]

X2! Tide powdered laudry soap, sprinkle all over the moss. Wait and then when it's brown, get a broom and sweep it off. I live on Vancouver Island, under a 120' maple tree. This works great! Not having gutters has nothing to do with it.

 

[Spook50]

X2! Tide powdered laudry soap, sprinkle all over the moss. Wait and then when it's brown, get a broom and sweep it off. I live on Vancouver Island, under a 120' maple tree. This works great! Not having gutters has nothing to do with it.

Not with the moss growth on the roof, but I would expect definitely on the patio, deck and grass around that area of the house. About 3' out from where the eve there's no moss anywhere.

The powdered detergent sounds like a good idea, except again, no gutters and I have a feeling it would damage the grass where it drips down (or just as bad, encourage that moss to grow even more hardy)

 

[JohnVee]

You might want to look into this http://wetandforget.com/index.html. It's been working pretty good on my brick house for the last year. I'm not sure how it will do to kill rooted moss but it might be worth a look.

--john

 

[climber8483]

Just get on the roof with a propane powered weed burner. Burn that s*** down Dan. Shingles don't burn so you have nothing to worry about... Just make sure the wife and kid aren't home while doing this. Other option is move to a sunnier environment. Spokane with only 189 days or so of sun breeds moss.

B

 

[Spook50]

Just get on the roof with a propane powered weed burner. Burn that s*** down Dan. Shingles don't burn so you have nothing to worry about... Just make sure the wife and kid aren't home while doing this. Other option is move to a sunnier environment. Spokane with only 189 days or so of sun breeds moss.

B

That sounds like a great idea Britt. Hell it'd probably go quicker if I just use my MAPP torch. Imma give it a shot!

 

[Weedhopper]

If your roof will withstand the force of a pressure washer you can be done in no time.