Zinc strips roof algae

In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shares tips for keeping a roof free of moss and mold. You can cut strips of zinc flashing copper and lead work, too and slide them under a course of roof shingles to kill lichen and moss growing there, or you could just buy these premade strips from Shingle Shield. The premade ones are much quicker and probably neater looking. It's not a bad idea to suggest to customers that overhanging tree branches are what's keeping their roof moist in the first place and allowing the vegetation to grow.

Angie's List Answers is the trusted spot to ask home improvement and health questions and get answers from service companies, health providers and consumers. For ratings and reviews on companies in your area, search Angie's List. Absolutely - you can easily do yourself if you are not afraid of roofs - just be sure to tuck the nails up under the edge of the top row of shingles not the ridge shingles - they break too easy, though fine to put there during a reroof , and hit the nail heads with a dab of bitumastic roof caulk to ensure they don't leak. Also, be sure to get it far enough up the shingles tht the nails do not cut through the edge, because it tears easily in strong winds if thereis a starting nick in the edge. If you have current moss problems, it will generally NOT kill it effectively - use Lilly Miller Moss Out sprinkled on the roof, then washed off with the dead mosss about a month or so later, and reapply as a root killer. However, the zinc strip at the top of the roof or about every feet on slope for very large roofs will stop moss growth. Mine is working fine about 25 years after installation, though I have found it seems to promote one type of lichen which grows close below it and right around galvanized flashing which I have to kill with a sprinkling of moss out every few years - but is a minor thing compared to the moss and lichen that grew on my roof and neighbors' who have followed suit.

Do you want to avoid having those ugly, eyesore roof stains on your home? Did you just replace your roof because of ugly roof stains? Do you want to avoid getting these stains on your new roof?

While black stains on roofs are a cosmetic issue, moss growth is more than just cosmetic. Not only does moss look terrible on roofs, it will also shorten the life of the roof covering and possibly lead to roof leaks. Whether you have wood or asphalt shingles, moss can grow on the roof if it doesn't dry properly. As with black algae stains , the most common place for moss to grow is on the north side of the roof, but if there are enough overhanging trees or other forms of shade, moss can really grow anywhere. If you want to kill the moss, follow the link above that explains how to remove black roof stains; the process is the same for killing moss.