The green fungus on our roofs

martindow

Round here I constantly get dodgy people coming round offering to get rid of the moss. Someone nearby took up the offer and they gave it a real blasting with a pressure washer. The tiles are now much lighter and the top surface seems to have been taken off which cannot be a good thing. And the moss started to regrow within a few months.

I imagine as has been said it is climate related - moss thrives in damp conditions which is a British speciality.

EverGreen_2

I imagine every problem must get a solution. The housing market is the backbone of economy and wealth of any nation. There should be the academic research for the subject. The "look at" those greenish roofs gives me the dull, depressive mood of November.

adhara

I don't know where you lived in Canada, but moss certainly does exist there and can grow on roofs there...

If moss covered roofs upset you, then pay for it to be removed or just don't buy the house? I've been looking at a lot of Brum properties and very few of them have moss or lichen, so it's not hard at all.

I don't know how (text removed by MSE forum Team)) obvious this is - but Canadian homes are very young compared to British homes. Of course they're going to look cleaner

They use different materials which require different care - their roofing are this odd sandpapery rubber fabric, while we Brits usually use slate/brick/concrete. Because the moss/lichen can easily permeate this rubber fabric over time, they need it cleaned off regularly to keep water out.

So yes, just because it's bad for Canadians doesn't mean it's bad for Brits. Try to keep an open mind.

caronoel

martindow wrote: »

... Someone nearby took up the offer and they gave it a real blasting with a pressure washer. The tiles are now much lighter and the top surface seems to have been taken off which cannot be a good thing. .

Why do people do such stupid things?

The high powered water will remove the asphalt shingle granules which help protect the shingles which are there to maintain the roof's life span.

EverGreen_2

adhara wrote: »

I don't know where you lived in Canada, but moss certainly does exist there and can grow on roofs there...

If moss covered roofs upset you, then pay for it to be removed or just don't buy the house? I've been looking at a lot of Brum properties and very few of them have moss or lichen, so it's not hard at all.

I don't know how (bl**dy) obvious this is - but Canadian homes are very young compared to British homes. Of course they're going to look cleaner

They use different materials which require different care - their roofing are this odd sandpapery rubber fabric, while we Brits usually use slate/brick/concrete. Because the moss/lichen can easily permeate this rubber fabric over time, they need it cleaned off regularly to keep water out.

So yes, just because it's bad for Canadians doesn't mean it's bad for Brits. Try to keep an open mind.

Oh dear,
I am not Canadian and am not into political dispute here or there. and the roofs in Canada are the same as in UK. The weather is definitely different. I have been working and living there but you haven't ..obviously.

adhara

EverGreen wrote: »

Oh dear,
I am not Canadian and am not into political dispute here or there. and the roofs in Canada are the same as in UK. The weather is definitely different. I have been working and living there but you haven't ..obviously.

......
Clearly you haven't been looking hard enough, because they are different. I've been to Canada every year for the past decade, and watched a ridiculous amount of Holmes on Homes. My family's home roof tiles are not concrete or brick, and neither are my 5 neighbours roofs....

Yes, the climate is different (notice how I don't dispute that?), but you are completely blind if you assume the roofs are identical.

Chickereeeee

Actually I notice that we have far more of this type of thing (Lychen/algea/water staining) in the UK than I have found anywhere else in Europe. Maybe it is the maritime climate, or the building materials, I dont know.

I find it remarable (in general) how 'clean' buildings in other countries stay.

Hoploz

I am under the impression that moss is not good as it captures moisture and this then penetrates through the roof.

We have loads on our roof. (We've just recently moved here.) the house is surrounded by trees (lucky me ) but it is worst on the sides where the trees are closest. There's far less on the south east facing garden side.

Hoploz

My neighbour said a few years ago after 40 years they got up and got all the moss off their roof. She said she wished they hadn't bothered as it was back almost straightaway!

Davesnave

Two observations:

Canada is a very big place, so what is true in one part may be not be in another.

Those with only a modest grasp of biology know that fungi contain no chlorophyll.