Has anyone actually had luck finding a crew that does a legit eco-friendly cleanup? I’ve only seen it advertised once, and they wanted a pretty big upcharge. Also, for those in moss-heavy areas—what’s worked for you besides just scraping it off by hand?
I’ve seen a lot of companies slap “eco-friendly” on their ads, but when you dig into what they’re actually doing, it’s usually just swapping out harsh chemicals for something a bit milder—and then charging a premium for it. In my experience, the upcharge rarely matches the actual difference in materials or process. If you’re really concerned about runoff and local impact, you might get better results just by being selective about what you use and how you apply it, rather than relying on a crew’s marketing.
On the moss front, scraping by hand is tedious, but it’s still the most reliable way to avoid damaging shingles. I’ve tried some of the so-called “eco” sprays, but honestly, unless you’re super consistent with reapplication, the moss just comes back. Some folks swear by zinc or copper strips at the ridge—those do help, but only over time and they’re not a quick fix. If your roof’s got a steep pitch or is tough to access, I’d be careful with any DIY approach. Sometimes the safest move is to pay for a pro, even if it stings a bit.
Yeah, I hear you on the “eco-friendly” label—feels like half the time it’s just a green sticker and a bigger bill. I’ve seen roofs where folks used those sprays and, honestly, the moss was back before the next rainy season. Hand scraping is a pain, but at least you know what you’re getting. I tried copper strips once after a storm left my north side looking like a chia pet... they helped, but it took months to notice any difference. If your roof’s steep or slippery, I wouldn’t mess around—seen too many folks take a tumble thinking it’d be a quick afternoon job. Sometimes paying for a pro is just cheaper than a hospital bill.
- Totally get what you mean about the “eco-friendly” sprays. Tried one last year—felt like I just paid extra for a fancy label and the moss still came back.
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Couldn’t agree more. I’m all for saving money, but after slipping off my porch roof once (nothing serious, just bruised pride), I’m way more cautious now.“Sometimes paying for a pro is just cheaper than a hospital bill.”
- Copper strips worked okay for me too, but yeah, it’s a slow fix. If your roof’s steep or you’re not comfortable up there, hiring out might be worth it in the long run.
- Hand scraping is a pain, but at least you know it’s done right. Just wish it didn’t take half a weekend...
Hand scraping’s my go-to too, even though it’s a workout. I tried those “eco-friendly” sprays last spring—
Same story here. My roof’s got a pretty shallow pitch, so I don’t mind getting up there, but after nearly losing my footing on wet shingles once, I’m definitely more careful. If you’ve got a steep roof or it’s slick, paying someone really does make sense. Time’s valuable, and I’d rather spend half a weekend doing something fun than fighting moss again...“felt like I just paid extra for a fancy label and the moss still came back.”
