Why Should I Get My Roof Cleaned?
On a daily basis I get asked, “Do I really need to get my roof cleaned?”.
Approaching this question is difficult as there are many problems that an abundance of moss can cause for any homeowner. However, roofs are designed to last generations so surely they can cope with a little bit of moss growing on them, right? Lets explore the facts and have a look at some common problems caused by moss growing on house roofs.
Lack of Curb Appeal
Although aesthetics aren’t a priority for everybody, the growth of moss, algae and lichen create a unsightly blemish on many beautiful buildings. A brand new roof can quickly turn green, black or yellow after just a few years of being exposed to the elements. This quickly ages a new house and although at such an early stage will not cause any problems for the homeowner, it takes away from the ‘new house’ look. When coming to sell the property further down the line a bright and clean roof will give the property more curb appeal and make the property stand out from the rest.
Cracked Tiles
Freeze thaw weathering - I’m sure most of you remember this from geography at school - is a particular danger in our country. With ice cold winters and rainy autumns, sponge like moss provides a perfect tool for mother nature to reek havoc on stone all across the country. You may notice this especially driving on the Lincolnshire back roads in the peak of winter with all of the pot holes. Moss growing in small cracks or indents in the tiles on the roof acts like a sponge soaking up the winter rain. When the temperature turns below freezing at night this moss freezes - expanding. As it expands it enlarges the crack that it grows in. Eventually causing a big enough crack for the tile to break. Removing the moss helps to keep the tiles crack free and reduces the risk of broken tiles.
If the moss is so severe it is covering the whole roof then tiles may crack due to the pure weight of the moss. When moss is dry it is light and fluffy and will not cause any problems weight wise. However, due to its sponge like qualities, after a good downpour the moss will more than triple in weight, holding that water for a significant time. If certain tiles are the roof are old and brittle this weight will eventually cause the tiles to crack opening up more potential for freeze thaw weathering.
Blocked gutters
Moss falling off roofs and clogging up the gutters is the number one reason people clear their gutters out every few months. Whether it be birds pecking at the moss or the elements pushing it into the gutters. I have experienced numerous customers with gutters so blocked that water was backing up into the house. Now some may argue that a simple solution is to clear out the gutters more often, but this is a long and dangerous job (depending on property size) and some people may not be able to do it themselves thus having to pay £100+ every few months for the pleasure! Cleaning and maintaining a moss free roof means that the gutters stay empty for much longer, reducing the likelihood of any water based issues with the property.
Survey says….. CLEAN THE ROOF
Another problem a mossy roof can cause is with the sale of a property. Time and time again we get called to properties for sale/just purchased as the survey has stated that the roof needs to be cleaned. With the property market how it is at the minute, the last thing you need is a house falling through or a customer being put off by a survey stating the roof needs to be clean. Its better to get the job done before the property goes to market, besides it will make the pictures better anyway!
Now we have had a look at the facts we can answer the question from the start of the blog. If you can relate to any of the issues discussed during this blog the likely answer is yes, you do need to get your roof cleaned. In some cases more urgently than others, but overall a roof free of moss is a happy roof and a happy roof is one that isn’t going to cause you stress and problems down the line. I hope this helps you!