That maple tree is probably doing you no favors—my neighbor’s got a monster cedar and I swear half my roof’s moss is just thanks to his shade. I’m with you on the soft broom and skipping the pressure washer. Tried that once, and all I got was a patchy roof and a sore back. Your routine sounds spot on, especially the dish soap trick. I’ve wasted money on those “miracle” moss killers too… just ended up with dead plants in the yard and the moss still hanging on. Roof maintenance feels endless sometimes, but catching stuff early really does save cash.
That’s a familiar story—shade from big trees is a double-edged sword. I’ve got a 30-year-old maple about ten feet from my house, and while it keeps the upstairs cool in summer, the north-facing side of my roof is basically a moss farm. I agree, pressure washers are more trouble than they’re worth on asphalt shingles. The granules just don’t stand up to that kind of force, and once you lose them, you’re looking at premature aging and leaks down the line.
I’ve had better luck with a stiff brush on a telescoping pole, but it’s still a pain. The dish soap trick works for light growth, but if you let it go too long, it’s almost impossible to get rid of the thick mats without damaging the shingles. I tried one of those zinc strips a few years back—mixed results. They help a bit, but only right below where the rainwater runs off them. The rest of the roof still gets patchy green spots.
One thing I’d add: check your gutters after every big windstorm if you’ve got trees nearby. Clogged gutters mean water backing up under the shingles, and that’s how I ended up with a rotten fascia board last spring. Not fun to replace, especially when you find carpenter ants have moved in.
I’m in the Pacific Northwest, so moss is just part of life here, but I’ve noticed my neighbor with a metal roof doesn’t have half these problems. He paid a fortune for it, though, and the noise during hailstorms is something else. For now, I’m sticking with regular maintenance and hoping the maple doesn’t decide to drop a limb on my roof one of these winters.
Anyone else tried copper strips instead of zinc? I’ve heard they’re supposed to last longer but haven’t seen much difference myself.
That moss battle is real—especially with all the shade and rain we get out here. You’re spot on about pressure washers being risky; I’ve seen too many roofs lose years off their life from one aggressive cleaning. I’ve tried copper strips too, and honestly, didn’t notice a huge difference compared to zinc. Maybe a little less green right under the strip, but the rest of the roof still needed attention. Keeping up with gutter checks after storms has saved me some headaches, though. It’s a hassle, but way better than dealing with rot or ants later on.
Keeping up with gutter checks after storms has saved me some headaches, though. It’s a hassle, but way better than dealing with rot or ants later on.
I totally get this—my first fall in the house, I skipped a couple gutter checks and ended up with a mini waterfall pouring over the back porch. Not fun. I’m still figuring out the best routine for all this stuff. Is there a trick to remembering when to check gutters, or do you just do it after every big rain? I keep thinking I’ll set reminders in my phone but then forget anyway.
About the moss, I was tempted by those zinc strips too but wasn’t sure if they’d really make a difference. Sounds like it’s not a magic fix. Has anyone tried just brushing the moss off by hand? I’m nervous about damaging the shingles, but pressure washing seems even riskier. My roof’s only a few years old and I’d rather not mess it up already.
Also, does anyone else get weird little plants growing in their gutters? I pulled out what looked like a tiny maple tree last week...
I keep thinking I’ll set reminders in my phone but then forget anyway.
That’s a common one—honestly, even with reminders, it’s easy to let it slide. What’s worked for some folks is tying gutter checks to something you already do, like mowing the lawn or trash day. As for moss, hand brushing is safer than pressure washing, but you’re right to be careful not to scrape the shingles. I’ve seen a few “gutter gardens” myself... seeds just find their way in. Regular clearing is really the only way to keep them at bay. It gets easier once you get into a rhythm.
