I get where you’re coming from. I’ve looked into green roofs myself—thought it’d be cool to have something up there, but the more I dug, the more complicated it sounded for an older house. Mine’s from the 40s and honestly, just hauling up enough soil and trays for a “lightweight” system seemed risky. Weight adds up fast, especially after a wet winter when everything’s soaked.
Pests are another headache. Neighbor down the block put in a little rooftop garden last year, and by July, birds were nesting in it and squirrels had chewed through the flashing trying to get at seeds or whatever. He’s still patching holes. Not worth it unless you’re okay with extra maintenance.
I’m more about regular checks and fixing things as they come up. After this last winter, I found a couple shingles loose and some moss creeping under the edges. Quick ladder job with a pry bar and some roofing cement, nothing fancy. If I’d ignored it, though, water would’ve found its way in for sure.
Green roofs look great on new builds or flat commercial roofs, but for old pitched ones? You’re fighting gravity, leaks, critters, and sometimes even city code. I’d rather spend the money on better insulation or a good attic fan—stuff that actually pays off in comfort and bills.
Not saying never do it, just… think twice if your place wasn’t designed for it. Sometimes simple is smarter.
Yeah, hauling dirt up to a 1940s roof sounds like a workout and a half... and probably not the good kind. I’ve seen what squirrels can do to flashing—those little guys are basically furry wrecking balls. Ever notice how moss just loves the shadiest, hardest-to-reach spots? I’m with you, sometimes a quick patch beats a whole rooftop jungle. Anyone else ever try those zinc strips for moss, or is that just a gimmick?
Anyone else ever try those zinc strips for moss, or is that just a gimmick?
Tried the zinc strips on my own place after a particularly green spring—let’s just say the moss didn’t exactly pack its bags overnight. They help, but only if you’re patient and don’t expect miracles. If your roof’s already got a full-on moss carpet, you’ll need to scrape most of it off first or you’re just feeding the little green monsters.
And yeah, squirrels… had one chew right through my vent boot last year. Thought I had a leak from hail, turns out it was just a rodent with an attitude problem. Quick patch job saved me from tearing up half the shingles.
Hauling dirt up there is no joke either. I swear, every time I think I’ve cleared all the debris, another storm blows in and it’s back to square one. Sometimes I wonder if these old roofs are just testing our patience on purpose.
They help, but only if you’re patient and don’t expect miracles. If your roof’s already got a full-on moss carpet, you’ll need to scrape most of it off first or you’re just feeding the little green monsters.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen zinc strips work a bit faster than that—at least on some of the roofs I’ve crawled around on. Maybe it’s a climate thing? Up here in the PNW, we get moss that could probably qualify for its own zip code, but when folks install the strips *before* things get out of hand, they seem to keep the worst of it at bay. Not saying they’re magic, but I wouldn’t call them snake oil either.
That said, if you’re already dealing with a “moss carpet,” yeah, those strips are about as useful as putting a band-aid on a broken leg. Gotta do the grunt work first—scrape, brush, maybe even hit it with some mild cleaner (just watch what runs off into your garden). After that, zinc can help slow down the comeback tour.
And about those squirrels… had one drag half a sandwich up onto my client’s roof last fall. Left greasy spots all over the shingles. I swear, between rodents and raccoons, sometimes I feel like I’m inspecting for wildlife more than water damage.
As for hauling dirt and debris—preach. Every time I think I’ve finally cleared out all the pine needles from my own gutters, another windstorm comes through and dumps twice as much back up there. It’s like the trees are in on some kind of joke.
One thing I’ll push back on: don’t underestimate how much regular maintenance can save you down the line. Even if it feels like a losing battle some weeks, catching small stuff early (like that vent boot chew) is way cheaper than waiting until you’ve got leaks dripping onto your kitchen table. Old roofs might be stubborn, but they usually give you warning signs if you know where to look... or at least if you’re willing to climb up there after every storm.
Old roofs might be stubborn, but they usually give you warning signs if you know where to look... or at least if you’re willing to climb up there after every storm.
You nailed it with that. I’ve lost count of how many times folks call me out for a “mystery leak” that turns out to be a squirrel hole or a pile of needles clogging a valley. Zinc strips are fine as a preventative, but once moss gets thick, it’s just wishful thinking. Curious—has anyone actually had luck with those moss-killing sprays long-term, or do they just end up staining everything?
