"Also, tile roofs aren't exactly maintenance-free in rainy climates... moss buildup can be a real headache."
Can confirm this from personal experience. My folks had a tile roof on their place up in Oregon, and every winter was the same story—moss everywhere. They tried some of those moss-resistant coatings, but honestly, results were mixed. The coating helped a bit at first, but after a couple of rainy seasons, the moss seemed to find its way back anyway. Maybe it wasn't applied right, or maybe the climate was just too damp, but it definitely wasn't the magic fix they hoped for.
As for the green roof and pests, interesting point about plant choices. Never really thought about sedums attracting fewer bugs... could explain why my neighbor's green roof seems pretty bug-free compared to my garden. Guess the type of plants really does make a difference.
Tile roofs definitely aren't maintenance-free, especially in wet climates. I've seen plenty of cases where moss buildup led to moisture retention, which eventually caused leaks or cracked tiles. Moss-resistant coatings can help temporarily, but they're not foolproof—like you mentioned:
"after a couple of rainy seasons, the moss seemed to find its way back anyway."
I've personally found that regular manual cleaning and proper drainage management are more effective long-term than relying solely on coatings. Curious if anyone's had better luck with alternative solutions...
I've had similar experiences with moss-resistant coatings—they're decent short-term, but definitely not a permanent fix. A few years back, I tried installing copper strips along the ridge line of my tile roof. The idea is that rainwater running over the copper creates a mild solution that discourages moss growth. Honestly, it worked better than I expected...not perfect, but noticeably less moss buildup between cleanings. Might be worth looking into if you're tired of constant scrubbing.
Yeah, copper strips do help a bit, but placement matters a lot. Did you install yours right along the ridge line or slightly below? I've heard positioning them just below the ridge can sometimes improve coverage...thinking of trying that next spring myself.
Copper strips can definitely help, but they're not a silver bullet. A few things I've noticed from experience:
- Placement slightly below the ridge line usually gives better coverage, especially if your roof slope isn't super steep. Right along the ridge can sometimes limit how well the copper ions spread down the tiles.
- Don't expect miracles overnight—takes a good season or two to really see noticeable results.
- Also, keep in mind that copper strips aren't going to completely eliminate moss or algae growth, especially in shaded or damp areas. Still gonna have some maintenance now and then.
- Had a customer once who installed them too low (like halfway down the roof) thinking it'd help more...ended up looking pretty weird with streaky tiles above and below the strips. 😂
Tile roofs are pretty low-maintenance overall, but "maintenance-free" is stretching it. I've seen plenty of tile roofs with storm damage or cracked tiles from branches or hail. Regular visual checks after storms and occasional cleaning (especially valleys and gutters) go a long way.
