I get the concern about pressure washers, but I’ve actually seen them work well if you use the right nozzle and keep the pressure low. The trick is staying at a safe distance and never aiming up under the shingles—just a gentle rinse, really. Brushing can be risky too, especially if you’re dealing with older or brittle shingles. Sometimes, a mild moss treatment (like potassium salts) followed by a soft rinse does the job without all that scrubbing. Just my two cents... every roof seems to have its own quirks.
Interesting take. I’ve always been a little wary of pressure washers on roofs, mostly because I’ve seen folks get carried away and end up blowing off granules or even loosening shingles. But you’re right, technique matters a ton. I usually walk people through a checklist—start with a super low setting, pick the widest fan nozzle, and test a small area first. If the roof’s already showing signs of wear or curling, I tend to steer folks toward chemical treatments instead, like you mentioned with potassium salts.
One thing I’m still trying to figure out is how different climates play into all this. In our area (lots of rain, moss everywhere), even the gentlest cleaning seems to need repeating every couple years. Anyone notice if certain shingle brands or types hold up better to these soft washes? Or maybe there’s a trick to getting moss to stay gone longer? Always feels like a moving target depending on the roof’s age and what it’s been through…
We get the same moss problem here—Pacific Northwest, it’s basically a losing battle half the year. I switched to architectural shingles last time and they seem to handle soft washing better than the old 3-tabs, but moss still creeps back. Tried those zinc strips near the ridge? Mixed results for me, but maybe it slows things down a bit. Honestly feels like as soon as you finish, the next rainy season just undoes all your work...
Honestly feels like as soon as you finish, the next rainy season just undoes all your work...
That’s exactly how it feels here too. I’m curious—do you think the zinc strips are worth the hassle? I keep hearing mixed things. I’ve only tried scrubbing so far, but it’s exhausting. Has anyone actually seen a big difference with those strips, or is it just a tiny slowdown?
I’ve wondered the same thing about zinc strips. I put them on my north-facing side last year—honestly, there’s less moss than before, but it’s not a miracle cure. Still had to scrub some patches, just not as much. Maybe it depends on how much rain you get or the roof angle? Has anyone tried copper strips instead? I heard they’re pricier but supposedly last longer.
