I hear you on the shade—algae resistance only goes so far when your roof’s basically a moss farm. I’ve tried copper strips on my north-facing low-slope section, and honestly, they seem to slow moss down more than zinc did. The upfront cost stings, but for me, less scrubbing is worth it. Just wish I’d put them up before the moss got established...
I actually tried copper strips last year, but didn’t see a huge difference compared to zinc—maybe my roof’s pitch or the amount of rain here messes with it. Ended up just pressure washing and sealing, which was way cheaper. The moss keeps coming back, though...
Ended up just pressure washing and sealing, which was way cheaper. The moss keeps coming back, though...
Pressure washing works fast, but it’s actually a bit rough on shingles over time—can wear off granules and shorten their life. Have you tried potassium salts of fatty acids? Less harsh, and I’ve had better luck with that for moss. The copper and zinc strips only seem to help if there’s enough runoff, and a low-pitch roof just doesn’t move enough water for them to be effective. Sometimes, shade from trees is the main culprit, no matter what you do.
Had to laugh at the zombie apocalypse angle—if the undead ever start chewing on my roof, moss is gonna be the least of my worries. But yeah, pressure washing is like giving your roof a facial with sandpaper... quick results, but not exactly gentle. I tried the potassium salts route last year and it knocked back the moss for a while, but with all the shade from my neighbor’s monster maple tree, it’s like a spa day for spores up there. Sometimes I think my roof is just destined to be fuzzy. At least it’s eco-friendly insulation?
I get the appeal of letting the moss do its thing—nature’s own fuzzy blanket, right? But I’ve seen too many “eco-insulated” roofs turn into leaky messes after a few wet seasons. Even with shade, maybe try zinc strips at the ridge? They’re not perfect, but they slow down the green takeover without blasting your shingles. Pressure washing always makes me cringe a bit... seen more granules in gutters than on the roof after that.