Why Moss Grows On Roofs

But you don t want it growing on your roof.

Why moss grows on roofs.

Moss grows on roofs because it thrives in damp shaded environments with lots of moisture. It needs heat moisture and nutrients to grow. The moss will absorb the damp environment s moisture and establish roots on the roof. Moss will commonly thrive in any type of environment that is shaded and damp.

The more water and the more debris the greater the chance of moss growth. Moss starts as a thin green layer on and between shingles but then it proceeds to lift those shingles up as it grows allowing water to seep underneath. Although mosses are vital to ecosystems they re not particularly vital to roofs. Moss absorbs and retains water.

Moss which tends to appear on areas of roofs that are shaded by trees and on north facing slopes is sometimes killed and re invasions prevented by simply correcting the shady humid conditions. It is easily spread and causes those colorful stains on so many roofs. The presence or absence of sunlight dictates the amount of moss or algae growth. Moss algae and lichen grow on your roof through a combination of two things.

This is also why moss tends to grow on houses that are built deep within the woods where little to no sunshine is able to reach the roof. This causes the roof to start degrading. Hello wood rot and leaks. Known as black algae or roof mold gloeocapsa magma is usually blamed on dirt accumulation mold and mildew or defective shingles.

Moss growing on any roof surface will be more severe on roof sections that area shaded and exposed to periodically damp cool weather conditions. Another critical factor is the amount of shade your roof receives. This means that it needs flowing water in order to reproduce and survive and provides a great indication as to why you won t find moss on an area of a roof that receives a large amount of sun. Moss thrives in shady and moist environments.

Causes of moss or lichens growth on roofs. Shaded areas exposed to frequent damp cool weather will quickly encourage moss to grow on your roof. Moss is a plant without roots. Sunlight can actually destroy moss and keep it from growing.

It s actually just a blue green algae spread by airborne spores. The presence or absence of much sunlight on a roof surface is often a determining factor in the amount of moss or lichens growth more sun less moss and lichens. If you have moss on your roof it s likely because your roof is shaded by trees or other structures allowing moisture to linger and moss to grow.