Why Does Moss Grow on My House and How to Remove It

Moss. It makes sense in the forest. When you see it on trees it’s normal and expected, fitting in with the surrounding nature. Moss can even be beautiful and add to a scenic view.

But it just doesn’t have the same effect on your personal property! A moss covered house, roof, or walkway is unattractive and can even cause damage. The goal of this blog post is to help us understand how moss grows on your house, why it’s unavoidable, and how it can be removed. Hint: it involves power washing!

Have you heard the age-old adage that moss grows on the north side of trees? This is true but only for the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, where the sun moves across the north side of the sky, the moss actually grows on the south side of trees (A little tip to keep in mind next time you travel across the equator, get lost in the forest, and expect to use moss to navigate your way out). Sun is a vital factor in preventing moss growth because it helps keep a surface dry. When the sun is at its highest point in the sky, the north side will still have a little bit of shade due to the tilt of the earth’s surface. However shade is just a factor in the moss growth process, the biggest requirement being…

Moisture!

If you are reading this blog and have moss on your house, then you probably live in a humid area. You may also have a lot of trees blocking the sun from keeping your surfaces dry which allows moisture to collect. Or you may just have a couple of exceptionally green sections under eaves or on the north side of your house. Take a look around at high noon one day. Where does the shade hit your home? Is the moss worse in those areas? Also check along the bottom of your house where moisture from the ground evaporates and sits in the air.

So let’s be fair and honest with ourselves here- the growth on your property cannot be avoided! If there was a treatment you could apply to prevent any moisture build-up, we certainly wouldn’t have a power washing business. But while it can’t be completely avoided, it CAN be removed and the rate of growth decelerated. Moss does not have a true root, but instead has a root-like growth called rhizoids which allow them to anchor to vertical surfaces. The good news is that without a root system, the moss cannot transport water and can therefore dry out and be killed rather easily.

How to remove it?

This is where a good soft wash comes in! Gone are the days of buying or renting a residential pressure washer that relies on high pressure. Not only can they damage your home, but it will take hours or days as you can only affect a few inches at a time. At Soft Works Power Washing, we apply a safe mixture of water and cleaner to any surface which will destroy the moss at its anchor and completely kill it. We don’t call it a “pressure washing” because there is no need to risk damage to your siding, roofing, or wood with the strongest possible spray of water. With the correct mixture of cleaning agents and a good rinse you will be amazed at the results. (Check out our page for a more detailed explanation of the difference between a traditional pressure wash and a soft wash)

If you live on the Virginia peninsula (Yorktown, Hampton, Newport News) or in the surrounding areas, contact us at Soft Works Power Washing for a free quote with no obligation! We look forward to serving you!

- Tim and Jen Hardison