I’ve always thought zinc strips were a bit overhyped too, especially for older asphalt shingles. Tried them on my north-facing side—barely made a dent in the moss. What actually helped was getting up there every spring and fall with a stiff brush and just scraping the stuff off. Not glamorous, but it works. Also, whoever said trimming branches is key wasn’t kidding... after I finally cut back my neighbor’s monster maple, things dried out way faster. Sometimes it’s just about keeping at it, even if it’s not the quick fix everyone wants.
- Zinc strips are hit or miss, especially on older shingles—totally agree. They just don’t seem to have enough contact with the moss-prone areas.
- Manual removal’s still the most reliable, even if it’s a pain. I’ve seen folks try pressure washing, but that can do more harm than good if you’re not careful.
- Trimming back trees is underrated. Shade and debris are a huge part of the problem. Once you get more sun and airflow, moss dries up way faster.
- One thing I’d add: check your gutters while you’re up there. Clogged gutters keep things damp and make moss worse.
- Not glamorous work, but it’s what keeps roofs lasting longer. Quick fixes rarely hold up in the long run.
Yeah, trimming trees back made a way bigger difference than I expected. My place is surrounded by maples and the shade was just feeding the moss—once I cut a few limbs, things dried out fast. I’m with you on pressure washing too... tried it once and ended up with a couple loose shingles. Not worth it. One thing I’d toss in: if you’re thinking about replacing shingles anyway, there are some newer algae-resistant ones that seem to help, at least in my damp corner of the world.
Trimming back trees is underrated, for sure. I’ve seen folks spend a fortune on moss treatments when just letting in more sun does half the job. Pressure washing... yeah, I learned the hard way too—blasted a patch of shingles right off during a “quick clean.” Not my brightest moment. Those algae-resistant shingles are interesting, but I’m a bit skeptical about how long that coating actually lasts. Around here (Pacific NW), I’ve seen them look good for maybe 5-7 years, then the green stuff creeps back. Still, better than nothing if you’re already re-roofing.
Those algae-resistant shingles are a bit of a mixed bag, honestly. The copper or zinc granules do slow down the moss and algae, but yeah, in the Pacific NW’s damp climate, nothing seems to last forever. I’ve seen some roofs get maybe 8 years before the green haze comes back, but it really depends on tree cover and airflow. Trimming branches is still the cheapest “treatment” I know—plus, less debris in the gutters. Pressure washing... learned that lesson too. Shingles just aren’t built for that kind of force.