Mix the bleach with the water in a large bucket. You can even extend the life of your outdoor surfaces by properly removing lichen with Wet & Forget. Wait for the vinegar to kill off the moss and lichens. Some fruticose lichen structures are hollow at the center, while others grow out from their core. Metal or copper stripes around the top of your roof can help to kill off and prevent lichen from returning. Lichen may look like plants, but they are actually a combination of fungi and plants that depend on each other to survive and multiply. Reapply the product on a yearly basis or at the first sign of new growth. When left untreated, lichen can cause permanent damage to outdoor surfaces over time. If you need to get rid of moss on your roof, the hardest part is the labor required. Lichen does not have roots like most other plants and it can grow without soil. How to Kill Moss, Mould, and Lichen on roof. Oxygen bleach is one of the natural remedies that is commonly used for removing lichen on tiled roofs. Spray the affected areas of the roof liberally with this diluted solution. Several name-brand cleaners that aren’t harmful to the roof shingles and less damaging to plants (Jomax, Spray And Forget, Wet and Forget, …) have alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride or octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride as the active ingredients. To apply, thoroughly saturate the surface with the Wet & Forget Outdoor Cleaner. Ideal for … I used a pump sprayer and applied a heavy mist to the roof two times about an hour apart. Lichen has a crusty almost concrete-like texture, making it hard to remove from outdoor surfaces. The most effective method of cleaning algae and moss from a roof is with a 50:50 mix of laundry strength liquid chlorine bleach and water. For smaller surfaces with lichen growth, such as steps or a mailbox, we recommend using Wet & Forget Ready-To-Use. Lichen grows on many exterior surfaces including sidewalks, decking, pavers, siding, and even outdoor furniture. You can remove moss and lichens from your roof by using vinegar as a environmentally friendly weedkiller. Adding metal strips along your roof’s ridge line may inhibit lichen growth. In addition to the unsightly growth, it can cause pitting on exterior surfaces, which often leads to leaks and expensive repairs. I used a pump sprayer and applied a heavy mist to the roof two times about an hour apart. Lichen is an invasive organism, formed by a partnership of fungus and algae that live together. The main reason other outdoor cleaners fail to kill lichen is the application has not saturated the growth and it is drying out to quickly. Wait 15 minutes and then repeat the application a second time. Lichen can appear in a variety of shapes and sizes. Liverwort: Liverworts that grow on hard surfaces usually have a green, flattened, plate-like body and no leaves. Hi Mike, I love in Kodiak, Alaska. Lichen colors include whites, tans, browns, grays, reds and greens. Fungus is the main component of lichen, and the fungus relies on algae to produce nutrients that allow it to spread and develop. Step 2: Create a 50/50 mixture of chlorine bleach and water and spray it generously on the moss. If you’re not doing the work yourself, choose a qualified professional roofer to do the job. The jet tip nozzle allows you to reach surfaces up to 30′, so you don’t need to use a ladder to climb up onto your roof. Zinc strips (1/2 inch wide and 2 to 3 inches long), available for purchase from hardware stores and home and garden centers. Your insurance agency might ask you to clean the lichen because it can cause serious damage to your home over time. The recommendation for most of the products is to hose down plants that may get dripped on … That said, data shows that you are probably going to choose asphalt shingles, which can last a lifetime, but likely not without some repairs and maybe replacing a few shingles here and there. Start your subscription today and save up to 52%. Apply with a sprayer and allow the solution to dwell on the roof surface for 15 to 20 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly with low pressure water. Use a low-pressure setting on your spray nozzle to avoid damaging your shingles. Use the brush to remove the dead lichens and moss. White vinegar is a pungent, versatile liquid that naturally cuts through grease, removes odors and kills fungus and lichens. Unlike chlorine bleach, which can damage surfaces, oxygen bleach won't discolor tile roofs. Because it contains sodium percarbonate, oxygen bleach can be used to remove lichens instead of harsh chemicals.