Moss and mould: the bane of any homeowner’s existence. You can have a beautiful clean roof to begin with, but if you let it slip by the wayside, you’ll quickly find that your roof starts its very own garden. And instead of growing cute little veggies or flowers, it grows moss and mould.
Are moss and mould actually that much of a threat, or do they just make your roof look ugly? Here’s what the team at Stywill Texture Coatings have to say.
How does moss and mould grow in the first place?
First, let’s tackle the question of how these ugly little organisms come into existence. Moss, mould and lichen thrive in moist environments, meaning that your roof is a prime spot for them to start growing. A moisture build up, caused by leaves or branches on your roof, or poor drainage in general, causes moss and lichen to grow and spread. Then, on days when the sun is shining, these growths are given the perfect boost.
Is it just cosmetic, or can they cause damage?
Sadly, the threat of moss and mould damage is very real for homeowners. There are a number of ways in which moss and mould have a negative effect on the structure of your roof:
- Cracking
Moss causes moisture to be trapped underneath it, meaning it sits and stews on your roof tiles instead of draining away into the gutter. When this happens, the moisture gets into your roof tile and seriously affects its structural integrity. Even simple tasks like pressure cleaning can then cause your roof tiles to crack, costing you a lot of money to replace if you’ve got a high number of cracked roof tiles. - Rhizoids
Worsening this situation is the idea of rhizoids, which are the roots of moss and lichen. Every plant has roots, and these little green pests are no different. Rhizoids find their way into cracks in your roof tiles and cause further splitting of your roof tile. - Decreased home value
Another way that moss and mould affects your roof is in the decreased value of your home. This is due to not only the noticeable effect on home aesthetics, but also due to the structural implications mentioned above. The cost of having your roof cleaned every so often is nowhere near the price of losing money on your home due to a neglected, mossy roof.
Now that you know about the damage that can be caused by moss, lichen and mould on your roof, it’s time to do something about it. Stywill Texture Coating are your local experts in roof restoration and maintenance, providing specialist care for mossy roofs. They understand the diligence that must be taken when removing moss from your roof and, over the past 30 years in the industry, they’ve developed proven techniques for doing so. Get a quote and inspection from STC today and prevent any further moss damage to your roof.
