How to get rid of moss/lichen on roof?

Beenie

We have a shallow pitched roof. The tiles are a sort of clay (I think).

In good weather, there is a goodly crop of green mossy lichen-type stuff which grows there.

Not a problem when it's like that, BUT when it rains hard the lichen is washed off and down into the rainwater guttering. These block really fast and then we have a cascade of rainwater pouring out of the gutter instead off going down the fall-pipe.

Is this a common problem, and if so, what is the usual solution?

(we don't want to go on the roof, by the way )

Slinky

I had mine scraped off by a roofer.

Beenie

but you'd have to do this annually I expect? Is there a permanent solution?
I'm thinking of spraying something or painting weedkiller on when it's dry....

savemoney

I use this and it works. wilkos sell it. Patio magic. Best to use a sprayer if possible makes it go further

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Patio-Litres-Liquid-Concentrate-Killer/dp/B001VEJCLM

Beenie

That looks like the sort of thing I was thinking about.

I don't want to pay tradesmans rates for cleaning the roof if we can do it ourselves reasonably cheaply and easily.

savemoney

I use it on two epdm rubber flat roofs which get mould in Autumn/Winter and Spring. Spray it on and leave with couple of days its gone. Also use it on block paving and fencing with gets green algae and mould Kills it quickly. Best get a spray gun though I think dilute rate is 1 to 10. It might need doing once or twice a year depending on how bad it is

Slinky

Beenie wrote: »

but you'd have to do this annually I expect? Is there a permanent solution?
I'm thinking of spraying something or painting weedkiller on when it's dry....

Sorry, only just noticed this. No we had the roof scraped this year for the first time and the house is 42 years old. It was just a section under where the TV aerial used to be and the moss had grown (being fertilised by bird poo).

shammyjack

Get some scrap copper pipe and beat it flat into a strip and attach a strip on each side of your roof ridge.

When it rains the slight amount of acid in the water will dissolve some copper and turn it into copper sulphate solution which kills moss and algae . It will last for years and keep your roof fairly clean .

Archi_Bald

This sounds very good! How are you going to affix the copper strips securely?

jc808

be more worried about the gyppos climbing on your roof