Pressure washing roofs just gives me the heebie-jeebies, honestly. I’ve seen way too many folks end up with bare patches or, like you said, a pile of granules in the gutters. I get why people want to blast off the moss and gunk, but those shingles are a lot more delicate than they look. Even the “low pressure” settings can do more harm than good if you’re not careful.
The baking soda thing is interesting—I’ve heard mixed reviews, but I know a couple of neighbors who swear by it for moss control. Seems like it’s one of those “can’t hurt, might help” deals, especially in places where moss is relentless. Just gotta be careful not to overdo it near plants or gutters.
I’m with you on being skeptical about those sealant sprays. The marketing makes them sound like a miracle fix, but I’ve read the same thing in warranties—use an unapproved product and you’re basically out of luck if something goes wrong. Plus, I’ve seen cases where the spray actually trapped moisture under the shingle and made things worse over time. Not worth it for me.
Regular checkups and spot repairs are boring but effective. Here’s what’s worked for me after a couple of nasty windstorms:
1. After any big storm (or just once every spring/fall), I grab binoculars and do a visual scan from the ground—missing shingles, popped nails, anything weird.
2. If something looks off, I’ll get up there (carefully) and check for soft spots or loose flashing around chimneys/vents.
3. Any cracked or curled shingles get swapped out ASAP—patch jobs never seem to last long in our wet climate.
4. Gutters get cleaned out twice a year, minimum. Clogged gutters seem to cause more leaks than anything else around here.
It’s not glamorous work, but catching stuff early has saved me from bigger headaches down the line. My neighbor waited until water was dripping into his living room before he called anyone... ended up needing half his roof replaced. That was enough motivation for me to stay on top of it.
Anyway, just my two cents—sometimes slow and steady really does win the race with roofs.
Not gonna lie, I’m actually a fan of pressure washing in some cases, but it’s gotta be done right and definitely not on every roof.
That’s true, but with the right nozzle and technique (think wide fan, keeping it at a distance), you can sometimes clear off moss without stripping granules. The key is knowing your shingle type and age—older roofs, I’d skip it. For newer ones with stubborn moss, a gentle wash followed by zinc strips has worked for a few clients around here. Just my two cents—sometimes it’s not the tool, it’s how you use it.“Even the ‘low pressure’ settings can do more harm than good if you’re not careful.”
I’m right there with you on the “it’s not the tool, it’s how you use it” idea. I was super nervous about pressure washing anything on my house at first—especially the roof. I’ve got a 12-year-old asphalt shingle roof (Pacific Northwest, so moss is basically a given), and after reading horror stories about granule loss, I almost didn’t touch it. But after talking to a couple of local pros and watching way too many YouTube videos, I tried the wide fan nozzle at a distance, like you mentioned. It actually worked out okay for me—no visible damage, and the moss came off in sheets.
I totally agree that knowing your shingle type and age is huge. My neighbor has an older roof, and his shingles are way more brittle. He tried pressure washing last year and ended up with a bunch of bald spots... not fun. For me, I followed up with zinc strips too, and so far, the moss hasn’t come back nearly as fast.
Honestly, I think a lot of people underestimate how much regular checkups can save you. I caught a cracked vent boot during one of my “just looking around” sessions up there—fixed it with a $10 part before it turned into a ceiling stain or worse. It’s wild how something that simple can make such a difference.
I do get why some folks are totally against pressure washing roofs though. If you’re not careful or if your roof’s already seen better days, it can go sideways fast. But with the right approach and some caution, it’s not always the villain people make it out to be.
Anyway, glad to see someone else who’s found that balance between maintenance and caution. It’s definitely been a learning curve for me, but catching stuff early has saved me from some major headaches (and bills).
Couldn’t agree more about those regular checkups making all the difference. I’ve seen folks ignore a little moss or a cracked boot, then a year later they’re dealing with leaks and mold. The zinc strips are a smart move—those Pacific Northwest roofs need all the help they can get. I’m with you on the pressure washing too... it’s all about the right nozzle, distance, and knowing your roof’s limits. Sometimes people go in too aggressive and end up with more trouble than they started with. You definitely saved yourself some headaches by staying on top of things.
Yeah, skipping those little checkups is like ignoring a slow leak in your car tire—eventually you’re stranded. I learned the hard way after a few winters here... moss city. Now I’m up there every spring, looking ridiculous but at least my roof’s dry.
