I called to get an estimate on having the roof cleaned. One business wanted $2,100 + tax and the other $1,500 + tax. Can you believe that? 4-6 hours worth of work. Now I {nor the HH} have any intention on climbing up on the roof to clean it…. but still. I can’t help but imagine there is another way to get it clean by popping out the window and using the tall ladder we already own for little or next to nothing. Am I crazy? Do you have any advice/tricks/magic tools we should know about? How do you get the moss off your roof if you live in a wooded area?
I don’t know about you, but I am getting the itch to plant something.
I think I might cave and plant fava beans this week.
Oh and guess what? I encouraged Mrs. HB to start some seeds this year instead of buying her plants. She decided on 4 varieties of tomatoes, 4 peppers, kale, broccoli and cilantro. We set up some extra grow lights in her laundry room yesterday and she couldn’t be more excited.
Spring, it’s almost here. 🙂 🙂 Are you as excited as we are?
Have a great week everyone,
~ Mavis
Jenny Young says
We’ve been talking about trying to clean our roof as well. If you figure it out, do a post & share them.
Mel says
I’m excited for spring, but I’m more than a little worried about the bizarrely warm winter we’ve had. Many plants never entered full dormancy, and warm winters usually mean cold, wet springs followed by bug-filled summers. Not great for gardening. But, if the weather sorts out, this is the first year we can cut our asparagus, and our apple tree is due to bear for the first time. I’ve had tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, onions, and green onions under lights for weeks, and we’re planting strawberries today. I also have cranberries and container blackberries waiting for transplant, but I might wait a bit longer on those to see what the weather does. I also need to start sweet potato slips, but that’s an indoor project.
E in Upstate NY says
Mavis,
Here on the east coast where we have asphalt shingle roofs, a thin strip of copper gets placed up at the top of the roof peak. Moisture (rain and snow) runs down the roof, spreading the oxidized copper and keeps the moss from growing. It is so common that the last time I purchased roofing shingles they had some copper type stuff in with the shingle surface so according to manufacturer, the copper strip was not needed.
Perhaps there is a solution you can add to the hose and spray down the roof, removing the moss.
While it’s 50 degrees outside today, the snow is still covering the lawn and the curbside mounds are still over a yard high. So spring hasn’t sprung here yet.
Terri says
Roof cleaning can be expensive. However, it’s less expensive than the cost of my husband was injured and couldn’t work. The roofs tend to be steep and slippery in our neighborhood. So, it’s an expense we factor in our budget.
Mavis Butterfield says
I agree it’s not worth the risk of climbing out on the roof… just trying to see if there are some other alternatives before I shell out major bucks.
Christy says
I will definitely try the copper strip idea. Thanks, much! And Mavis, have you discontinued your Mornings with Mavis? I hope not! For the past several days, I haven’t seen it listed. When I search on it, only an old one comes up.
Mavis Butterfield says
I post the daily deals Sunday through Friday. I’m not sure why you are not seeing it…. maybe you need to delete your cache?
UpstateNYer says
How does one delete their cache? I am not so computer literate.
Helen in Meridian says
Mavis, your mornings with mavis, as titled don’t show up. I do get your mailed daily about 2:00 something every day. If I type in your email I get most of what arrives at 2:00 earlier in the day.
Michele Nadeau Crawford says
I have read that people in Oregon where I live shake granulated Tide on the roof and the rain takes it down and kills the moss. It’s getting it up there that is creepy
UpstateNYer says
If it kills the moss on the roof won’t it kill the plants below it on the edge of the house?
Gina Kitchens says
One problem with using Tide, is that it’s meant to cut grease. Many of us use the asphalt shingles, tar and oil based on our roofs. The Tide can break down the oils, and shorten the life of your roof.
Helen in Meridian says
When I lived in the Portland/Vancouver area for 20 years, people would sprinkle Tide powder on their roof.
Esther says
https://www.amazon.com/Spray-Forget-Revolutionary-Concentrate-shipping/dp/B000QJ58WU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1487534943&sr=8-4&keywords=roof+wash
There are sprays that you attach to your hose and just spray up there. I’ve used the siding wash with great success.
Gina Kitchens says
LOVE the look of this product. Thank you for sharing.
Lace Faerie says
I had a client who was a professional roof washer and he suggested, for my black stained light gray asphalt shingle roof that we have our nimble teenage son go up to the peak and liberally sprinkle a line of Tide with bleach laundry soap and let the rain was it down the rest of the roof. We never did because I capture rainwater for watering my garden. I did however have said son sweep the roof gently to dislodge moss clumps (cover gutters first or they will clog).
Mari Hewson says
Hire a water blaster and do it yourself or pay the cost of getting professionals who have all the gear to do it. I agree better and cheaper than a broken hubby.
Mrs C. says
Mavis, try Wet and Forget. It works, and you can mail order it.
http://www.radiogardensense.com/wet__forget
Rose says
I used The Moss Guy in central kitsap. It cost 595.
suzanne says
Oooh, thanks Rose!
Nora says
*Do not use Tide on your asphalt shingle roof* They now add degreasers to their formula. A few weeks ago my roof guy used it on my roof that had ten years left on it and it resulted in total roof failure. Dozens of leaks along the entire roof, and I now have to replace the roof. Prior to that we used Moss-B-Gone with no problems.
Leslie says
We use “Moss Out” or a similar granular product. Never crossed my mind to hire it out. One of us goes up there after a few dry days, before a wet day, and sprinkle it on the peak. I did a ton of research on different products/methods recently. Moss Out is good enough for us.
Tracy says
Moss out…im in oregon. Usually someone sprinkles. However fred meyer has had one that you attach to hose. I think its mainly copper. A little hard on beds below if you have let moss get out of hand. Nothing dies. I think its mainly copper. Spraying on with a hose keeps people safe.
Also use on mossy pathways. Its not instant but works.
Heidi says
I think the price was high because of the tile roof. They are treacherous to walk on when wet. The cost is high because the risk is high to the workers and the insurance costs are up there too. Do not let anyone who is not a licensed, bonded contractor up there to do the work. My advice would be to crack open your wallet for this one.
tracy says
From the picture it looks like you might have a tile roof. If you have a tile roof, they usually suggest not walking on them because you can crack them if you don’t step on the right spots. On the plus side, if it is tile you can lightly pressure wash it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDetz1ijtH8
Danielle Diakoff-King says
My dads been a roofing contractor for 45 years. They only scrape moss off tile if they have to make a repair. There is a coating on your tiles that if you scrape too hard can cause it to leak. I’d rather have a mossy roof than a leaky one. I think it looks pretty.