I hear you on the moss—some roofs just seem to attract it like a magnet, especially in the Pacific Northwest or anywhere with a lot of trees and shade. The thing with those chemical sprays is, yeah, they can work, but I’ve seen more than a few roofs where the shingles started curling or getting brittle after repeated treatments. Some of that stuff is really tough on asphalt, and if you’ve got an older roof, it’s even riskier.
The 50/50 bleach and water mix is pretty common, but I always wonder: what’s the shingle warranty say about using bleach? Some manufacturers are weirdly strict about what you can put on their shingles. Plus, if you’ve got landscaping under the eaves, runoff can torch your plants. I’ve had customers lose whole beds of ferns because of overspray... not fun.
About the DIY approach—honestly, I’ve been up on more steep roofs than I can count, and even with harnesses and roof jacks, it’s a sketchy job. One slip and you’re in for a rough landing. I get why folks want to save money, but if your roof is anything steeper than a 6/12 pitch, or if you’re not used to working up high, it’s probably not worth the risk.
Out of curiosity, how old is your roof? If it’s getting up there in years, sometimes moss is just the tip of the iceberg—could be a sign that the shingles aren’t draining right anymore. And what kind of shingles do you have? Some of the newer algae-resistant ones actually do a pretty good job at keeping moss at bay, though nothing’s perfect.
I guess it comes down to how comfortable you are up there and how much time you want to spend. For folks who don’t mind heights and have the right gear, DIY can work—but for most homeowners, calling in a pro (at least for the first time) saves a lot of headaches and possibly a trip to urgent care.
That’s a good point about the bleach runoff—my neighbor lost a bunch of hostas that way last spring. I’ve seen some folks try those zinc or copper strips at the ridge, claiming they help prevent moss regrowth. Not sure how well they work long-term, but it seems less harsh than chemicals. Has anyone here actually had luck with those, or is it more hype than help?
I’ve seen some folks try those zinc or copper strips at the ridge, claiming they help prevent moss regrowth. Not sure how well they work long-term, but it seems less harsh than chemicals.
Zinc and copper strips do actually work, but only where rainwater runs over them—so you’ll see a clean streak below the strip and moss everywhere else if your roof’s got a shallow pitch or lots of shade. They’re not magic, but definitely less brutal than bleach. Just don’t expect your whole roof to stay spotless unless you cover every ridge and peak... which gets pricey fast.
Tried the zinc strips on my old asphalt roof a few years back—honestly, they did help, but only in those streaks right under the ridge where the rain hits. The rest of the roof still got patchy with moss, especially on the north side where it never dries out. I liked that it wasn’t as harsh as spraying chemicals, but it definitely wasn’t a set-it-and-forget-it fix. Ended up having to get up there every spring anyway to brush off the stubborn spots. Not perfect, but better than nothing if you’re trying to avoid bleach.
- Zinc strips definitely help in spots, but yeah, they’re not magic—especially with heavy moss on the shady side.
- I’ve seen folks mix up their approach: zinc up top, gentle cleaning once a year, maybe even trim back trees if possible.
- Out of curiosity, have you ever tried those newer copper strips? Some say they last longer, but I haven’t seen a huge difference myself.
