Zinc strips are a decent call, especially if you’re in a spot with constant shade and damp. I’ve seen them slow down moss, but not stop it completely—nature’s persistent, gotta give it that. Pressure washing is brutal on shingles, totally agree there... I’ve had to fix more than a few roofs after someone got overzealous with the sprayer. If you’re set on keeping the “fuzzy blanket” look for the zombie apocalypse, just be ready for some patchwork after a couple wet seasons. Malarkey can take a beating, but moss is sneaky.
Pressure washing is brutal on shingles, totally agree there... I’ve had to fix more than a few roofs after someone got overzealous with the sprayer.
Yeah, pressure washing seems like a shortcut but it’s just asking for trouble. I tried it once on my old place and ended up with granules all over the driveway. With Malarkey, I’ve noticed they hold up better than the basic 3-tabs, but moss still finds a way in the shaded corners. Anyone tried copper strips instead of zinc? I’ve heard they last longer, but not sure if that’s just marketing. Also, does anyone actually leave moss for the “fuzzy blanket” look, or is that just a joke? I couldn’t stand the idea of water getting trapped under there...
Copper strips actually do seem to work better than zinc, at least in my experience. I put copper up on the north side of my roof about five years ago and the moss has barely come back, whereas the zinc I tried before needed replacing after a couple seasons. Not sure if it’s just the weather here (PNW, lots of rain), but the copper’s holding up. It does get a bit of a patina, which doesn’t bother me, but some folks might not like the look.
As for leaving moss, I’ve seen a few neighbors who just let it go wild—maybe they’re into that Hobbit aesthetic, but I can’t imagine it’s good for the roof. Every time I’ve pulled up moss, there’s always dampness underneath, and that can’t be great for the shingles long-term. Malarkey does seem tougher than the cheap 3-tabs, but I still wouldn’t risk it. The “fuzzy blanket” thing is probably a joke, but hey, to each their own. I’d rather spend a Saturday brushing it off than deal with leaks down the line.