Regular sweeping is underrated... and way cheaper than chasing miracle fixes.
That’s been my experience too. I manage a few older buildings, and every spring I see the same thing—copper strips with that “clean halo” and then moss just beyond it, especially under firs. We tried doubling up on the metal, but honestly, the stuff just doesn’t keep up with the shade and needles. One tenant swears by sweeping after every big windstorm. Not glamorous, but their roof always looks better than the rest. Sometimes the old-school methods really do win out.
Funny how the simplest stuff works, right? I’ve watched people spend a fortune on zinc strips and fancy treatments, but the only roofs that consistently look good are the ones someone’s up there with a broom every couple weeks. I get why folks want an easy fix—nobody loves climbing ladders—but moss just loves shade and needles too much for those strips to keep up. Honestly, if you’ve got big trees nearby, I’d take a broom over another “miracle” product any day.
That lines up with what I’ve seen—manual cleaning just seems to outlast most chemical fixes, especially under big firs or maples. Curious if anyone’s tried those newer composite shingles that claim to resist moss? I wonder if they’re worth the extra upfront cost in the long run.
Curious if anyone’s tried those newer composite shingles that claim to resist moss? I wonder if they’re worth the extra upfront cost in the long run.
I’ve inspected a handful of roofs with those composite shingles over the last couple years—mostly in neighborhoods with a lot of tree cover. Honestly, I’m not totally sold yet. The manufacturers pitch them as “moss-proof,” but what I’ve seen is more like “moss-resistant for a while.” Under big firs or maples, especially on north-facing slopes, you still get some growth after a few seasons. It’s less than with standard asphalt, sure, but it’s not zero.
One thing I do like: they seem to hold up better when folks use manual cleaning methods. Less granule loss compared to regular shingles, which is a plus if you’re up there scrubbing every spring. But the price difference is pretty steep—sometimes double what you’d pay for basic architectural asphalt.
If your roof gets hammered by shade and debris year-round, maybe it pencils out over 20+ years. For most people though? Manual cleaning and good airflow (trimming branches back) still seems like the best bang for your buck.
We looked into those composite shingles last year when our old asphalt ones started curling. The price tag honestly made me pause—felt like a gamble, especially since our house is tucked under two big maples. Ended up sticking with architectural asphalt and just budgeted for a yearly moss treatment. After two winters, I’m still seeing some moss, but nothing wild. I figure I’d rather spend a little each year than double the upfront cost and still have to clean. Maybe if I was planning to stay here forever, I’d reconsider, but for now, elbow grease and a broom seem to do the trick.
