5 Dangers Of Moss Growing On Your Roof

Moss is a common sight in wetter parts of the country. And along with all the other places it happily grows, it can easily grow on your home's roof. Should you be concerned about moss on the roof? What hazards does it create? And what can you do about it? Here's what every homeowner needs to know. 

1. Trapping Moisture

Probably the biggest immediate concern, when moss builds up, is that it creates more moisture on the wood and shingles. Moss loves water, but your roof doesn't. 

That retained moisture can easily rot the surrounding wood, cause dangerous mold, and create weak points. And, unfortunately, this often happens without anyone noticing. Eventually, it becomes widespread enough that you can see effects on the walls, in the attic, or even on ceilings. 

2. Pushing On Materials

As with any living plant, moss gets larger and develops root-like structures to keep itself in place. That's good for the moss but bad for your shingles, flashing, gutters, and underlayment. Moss will eventually work its way into the physical structures to cause breakage, chipping, warping, and leaks. 

3. Creating Walking Hazards

If you or someone else needs to climb onto a moss-covered roof, moss makes this more hazardous than normal. Moss is very slippery, and you may find yourself liable for any injuries sustained by family, friends, or even workers. 

4. Reducing Home Value

Mossy roofs affect home value in two primary ways. First, the moss is often unsightly and reduces curb appeal. Second, it can make people think that your home is not well-maintained. This probably isn't true, but that first impression is hard to convince anyone to let go of. 

5. Adding Weight

Moss itself is very light, so you may not realize how much weight it can put on the roof. The weight actually comes from the dirt and water trapped by the moss. 

Like sponges sitting on your roof, slowly growing heavier and heavier as they absorb more water, moss won't be an obvious problem until that pressure causes leaks or warped wood. And the weight issue is often exacerbated by the above problems with moisture and physical intrusion that weaken the wood. 

Where to Start

Whether you have a small moss problem or a large one—or whether you simply want to proactively protect your roof—the best place to start is by consulting with an experienced local roofing company. With their help, you can permanently banish the moss and all its resulting issues.

Contact a local roofing company to learn more.


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