Living in the Pacific Northwest is a dream until your roof turns into a mossy green jungle. Sure, blowing the debris off your roof feels like a job well done. The leaves and sticks are gone, and the roof looks cleanish… but that fuzzy green layer? Still there. And that’s the real troublemaker.
Let’s talk about some real solutions to this moss problem and why a proper moss removal will do more than just save your roof. It’ll save your wallet, too.
To understand why moss is such a big deal, you have to know what it is and how it affects your roof. Moss is a small, soft green plant that doesn’t have leaves or roots like your average backyard greenery. It spreads through spores instead of seeds and thrives in damp, shady places like, say, almost every roof here in the Pacific Northwest. Moss clings to shingles using tiny tendrils called rhizoids. These act like Velcro for moisture, holding dampness right against the surface of your roof. Over time, that trapped moisture leads to rotting shingles, mold, and the perfect storm for leaks and structural decay. Think of moss as nature’s little sponge soaking up rain and slowly digesting your roof.
At first glance, moss might look harmless, kind of like a soft green carpet but it’s really a silent roof wrecker. It traps moisture and speeds up the wear and tear on your shingles. Eventually, it starts lifting and curling them, creating gaps that let water seep in. Once that happens, it’s only a matter of time before water damage sets in. All of this leads to a shortened lifespan for your roof by several years, in many cases. If moss is growing, your roof is quietly getting chewed up from the top down.
Now, let’s clear up a common misconception: blowing off your roof isn’t enough. Don’t get me wrong, blowing off pine needles and loose debris is a good first step. But it’s like rinsing your car without using soap. It might look cleaner, but it’s far from actually clean. Moss burrows deep into the surface and roots itself into the shingles. You can’t remove it with air alone. Some folks think brushing it off is the answer, but if you don’t treat it immediately afterward, the moss will just grow back sometimes faster than before. Even worse, brushing can spread spores around and actually make the problem worse in the long run.
That’s where a professional moss treatment comes in. At Gann’s Cleaning, we use a high-quality, moss killer that penetrates deep into the moss and kills it at the root. The treatment is gentle on your roof but tough on the moss. Within 2–4 weeks, the moss begins to dry out and die off, and eventually, it blows away naturally with the wind and rain. No harsh pressure washing. No shingle damage. Just results.
Think of a moss treatment like a dental cleaning and check-up for your roof—if you’re the kind of person who actually goes to the dentist. It’s a quick, preventative service that protects the health of your home and saves you from costly repairs down the line. It’s safer than ignoring the problem and a whole lot cheaper than replacing your roof five to ten years too soon.
So if your roof’s starting to look a little green around the edges, don’t just blow it off—treat it. Your roof will thank you (and so will your future self).
