Replacing the roof of a home can be very expensive, especially if widespread moss growth has enabled excessive moisture to enter in through your roof. This moisture can cause your roof timbers to rot, necessitating complete structural repairs of your roofing system. In our wet and damp West Coast climate, excessive moss growth can be a significant issue for many homeowners. Homes with roofs that are well-shaded with trees are particularly vulnerable to moss growth as the sun is less able to dry the roof following wet weather.
However, moss growth can be easily addressed before it gets to the point where you may need to replace your entire roof. At Shoreline Roofing we offer comprehensive de-mossing services that will help extend the lifespan of your roof and save you thousands you’d otherwise have to spend on repairs. “It definitely pays off,” confirms Ed Combs, Owner of Shoreline Roofing. Active in Victoria area roofing industry for nearly 30 years, Ed has been running Shoreline Roofing ever since he founded the company in 2006.
“Moss is not good for your roof for a bunch of different reasons,” says Ed, explaining that “it holds water which erodes your roof more quickly. It can get between the shingles and lift them, and then rainwater gets in between which breaks the seal of the roof — something we see all the time. It doesn’t look good, but more importantly it causes lots of leaks and shortens the lifespan of the roof.”
Moss, he says, is not only the enemy of asphalt shingle roofs, but cedar shakes and flat roofs as well. Although metal roofs do not experience moss growth issues, they are vulnerable to algae growth. This algae growth can cause a metal roof to turn a greenish colour, making the roof look old.
Moss can grow all year long here on Vancouver Island, but is especially problematic during the wet and damp weather we experience during the fall and winter months. The lack of drying sunlight during these months also contributes to increased moss growth on roofs on many homes here.
Ed at Shoreline Roofing recommends considering a de-mossing service no matter what time of year it is. “Generally people call me when they already have a big moss problem, but once you have the roof de-mossed it’s good to get on a yearly maintenance schedule.” Ed and his crew use a trowel to remove moss from a roof (a less abrasive way then wire brushes) in order to avoid damaging the granules on roof shingles. “Pressure washing” he says, “is a no-no. It can damage roof shingles and cause further problems for homeowners.”
“When we’re done de-mossing we treat it with an anti-moss treatment which kills any live spores that are still attached to the shingle — spores that you can’t see but that are still there — so it doesn’t grow back as fast.” As part of their de-mossing services, Shoreline Roofing offers a three year warranty against moss regrowth. Depending on the surroundings, people moving into a new home can expect to need to have their roof de-mossed within three to five years.
“A lot of people that come to me have a leaking roof, and I get there and it’s leaking because of the moss. As a roofing company, once we finish the de-moss we always inspect the customer’s roof and are able to repair any other issues.”
The experts at Shoreline Roofing can help you with all of your roofing needs, including maintenance, installations, repairs, de-mossing and much more. Contact us today at (250) 413-7967 or at ed@shorelineroofing.ca to find out more about how our services and how we can help you.