roof moss July 03, 2017, 07:04:39 pm Hello ,With wet winter in Ca and spring in Or, moss is starting to grow on roof. Seems to like rough texture of roof paint.Anyone have a good method to remove it ? Dish cleaning soap works, but requires a bit of rubbing.Larry
Re: roof moss Reply #1 – July 03, 2017, 07:59:29 pm Could try spraying with RoundUp, or white vinegar for more eco-friendly.Steve
Re: roof moss Reply #2 – July 03, 2017, 08:08:51 pm I would try a mixture of Jomax and Clorox bleach. It works great on mold/mildew growing on vinyl siding in south Louisiana.
Re: roof moss Reply #3 – July 03, 2017, 08:30:10 pm JMHO, but I wouldn't use Clorox, alone or in combination with anything else (Jomax MSDS: http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/48/48ab1a52-1580-4733-8397-b0067c293b25.pdf), on any surfaces of the motorhome. Scrubbing with a mixture of Simple Green, very warm water, and a stiff brush (hose off the roof after scrubbing it) will remove moss/algae.YMMV, of course. 1 Likes
Re: roof moss Reply #4 – July 04, 2017, 02:39:07 am Here in the great northwest it is a continual battle. Sink sulfate, sink chloride are popular moss control compounds that can have negative impact on fish, invertebrates and other plants. Bleach is effective,but also can cause corrosion issues elsewhere. Agitation with mild soap is a good place to start. Up on the roof, hands and knees with a medium stiff brush. Moss has amazing holding power- determination is required to overcome it. In our case we were able to remove all moss, but black stains remain that nothing will touch.
Re: roof moss Reply #5 – July 04, 2017, 09:35:43 am As a PNW owner it, moss and black 'stuff' is a continual battle. For the most part I use a mild auto wash type soap and water with a medium soft bush while my hands and knees. I've in the past used various moss and black stuff removers but have found soap and water with a bit of hand and arm work is the best and easiest path.
Re: roof moss Reply #6 – July 04, 2017, 11:05:31 am As another PNW owner I found that GEL-GLOSS rv cleaner wax does a great job getting the black streaks off.
Re: roof moss Reply #7 – July 04, 2017, 12:17:45 pm The black stains I battle are what the moss on the roof has left behind where it was anchored. The usual RV black streaks on the sides streaks are never a problem. A well polished and sealed rig will allow them to be wiped away with normal car washing procedures. And a clean roof means they rarely appear, though Lake Newton on the top of any Lazy Daze seems to guarantee that a clean roof is a very temporary condition!
Re: roof moss Reply #8 – July 04, 2017, 02:02:15 pm Paul "Sink sulfate, sink chloride are popular..."I think I'd like 'Zinc' rather more than 'Sink' if it's all the same to you! 1 Likes
Re: roof moss Reply #9 – July 04, 2017, 06:42:58 pm Yep, sink. I mean sink! No, darn it, ZINCNow shut up autocorrect. 3 Likes
Re: roof moss Reply #10 – July 04, 2017, 10:18:02 pm RMR-86. Rapid mold remover. Bought on Amazon. Worked for me.
Re: roof moss Reply #11 – July 05, 2017, 11:47:54 am May I suggest that when you store it, that you elevate the wheels so that water can not remain on the roof. If the storage location is flat, it may take 10 inches to ensure it drains. This will require several ramp blocks to drive the rig up on. Front or rear, does not matter, except you will need less wood for the front - half the width of the rear.PS Water will find it's way in if allowed to pool. Maybe not this year, but it will happen. 1 Likes
Re: roof moss Reply #12 – July 09, 2017, 08:22:26 pm Steve S. said, "I think I'd like 'Zinc' rather more than 'Sink' if it's all the same to you!"My Inner stickler thanks you...though I didn't know what either product was.Lynne
Re: roof moss Reply #13 – July 10, 2017, 12:44:01 pm Has anyone tried Wet and Forget?Bleach-Free, No Scrub Mold & Mildew, Moss & Algae Cleaner | Wet & ForgetI've used it on the driveway and the house. It does work. You just need to give it time, as explained in the instructions.I have not tried in on the roof on my LD.Rich
Re: roof moss Reply #14 – July 10, 2017, 02:12:52 pm A version of quaternary ammonia, relatively safe but can cause eye and skin irritation. In sufficient dosage it is poisonous, so keep the small critters away when using. A good product, but IMO mild soap like Simple Green and agitation give equivalent results with less impact on surroundings.
Re: roof moss Reply #15 – July 10, 2017, 08:56:21 pm Quote from: paul banbury - July 10, 2017, 02:12:52 pmSimple Green and agitation give equivalent results with less impact on surroundings.I've been told that aluminum and Simple Green do not play well together.glen
Re: roof moss Reply #16 – July 11, 2017, 04:16:36 am Simple Green. Spray on & let sit for about 15 minutes. Scrub. Rinse & repeat until it's gone. Rinse very well when done. I too live in western WA, whete evrrything turns green. Simple Green is our go-to for getting the winter stains off.Lori Y2011 24FL 1 Likes
Re: roof moss Reply #17 – July 11, 2017, 11:44:57 am Glen, you have heard right- when not used according to directions Simple Green will corrode aluminum. This from their web Q&A:" ▶ Aluminum — Is it safe to use Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner on aluminum?When used with caution and according to the instructions, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner has been safely and successfully used to clean aluminum. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner, Crystal Simple Green Industrial Cleaner & Degreaser, and Simple Green Pressure Washer Concentrates have been used on aircraft, automotive, industrial and consumer aluminum items for over 20 years. However, caution and common sense must be used: aluminum is a soft metal that easily corrodes with unprotected exposure to water. The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes. Large cleaning jobs should be conducted in smaller-area stages to achieve lower contact time. Rinsing after cleaning should always be extremely thorough - paying special attention to flush out cracks and crevices to remove all Simple Green product residues. Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation.Simple Green has also developed break-through water based cleaners that are safe for use on metals, plastics, rubber and high tech alloys. Extreme Simple Green Aircraft & Precision Cleaner, Pro Series Simple Green Automotive Cleaner, and Simple Green Pro HD are available on both the industrial and retail markets, respectively. These products were initially developed for the aircraft industry and extensive testing shows that they are safe and effective on a variety of metals and other sensitive surfaces even in the most extreme circumstances.Simple Green Stainless Steel One Step Cleaner & Polish is another option for cleaning polished aluminum. This product is designed for light duty metal cleaning and polishing."Of course, vinegar, dish soap, laundry soap, bleach and most detergents are either acidic or alkaline, so potentially harmful. ALWAYS read and follow directions, more is not always better. Agitation is your cleaning partner. That means exercise. I like to rinse powerful cleaners as aggressively as I scrub, agitating while flowing water over the area. It is good the moss growth zone is usually not a water conservation zone.
Re: roof moss Reply #18 – July 11, 2017, 01:47:13 pm Quote from: paul banbury - July 11, 2017, 11:44:57 am in the most extreme circumstances.It is good the moss growth zone is usually not a water conservation zone.There are some advantages living in a Mediterranean climate.Moss is something we grow in pots, on a sheltered, shaded patio, drip irrigated daily .Growing it on the roof of the LD would be too much work.A rolling LD gathers no mossLarry 6 Likes
Re: roof moss Reply #19 – July 25, 2017, 01:09:41 pm I just finished doing mine with my long handled carwash brush. I wetted it down with water and carwash soap and then found that if I flipped the brush to the hard plastic side that most of the moss would come off that way. Then finish with the brush side and rinse. A strong stream of water also worked on some of the hard to reach places. I didn't try an electric pressure washer-not sure if that would be too much and remove the paint too.?
Re: roof moss Reply #20 – July 25, 2017, 04:41:26 pm Living in the pacific NW, we deal with lots of moss. Wet and Forget works great for the green stuff, not so good for the black stuff, but it is pretty pricey. I've found that brushing a mixture of Oxi-Clean with dish soap and water works wonders on at least the green stuff, but, as Joan always says, YMMV.Rich ex 2000 MB - Birch Bay, WA
Re: roof moss Reply #21 – July 25, 2017, 05:11:39 pm Bob, you're right. I would not recommend using high pressure to remove moss. It is so well anchored that the pressure required to remove the moss can be damaging. I wonder if Larry has had success with his removal?