How To Work From Roof Without Damaging Shingles

Use a water sprayer to apply enough force to dislodge algae and moss without damaging the shingles.

How to work from roof without damaging shingles.

Moss is tough and typically you will not be able to remove it by hand. However you can use a chemical solution to loosen the moss without damaging the shingles. Move back and forth in even strokes making sure you reach all of the cleaner. Clean your shoe bottoms from dirt and small rocks.

If your roof has sprouted a moss infection you can remove it before it becomes serious enough to impact the performance of your roof. Asphalt and architectural shingles have small granules of asphalt that assist in drainage off and away from the roof. Upon walking on these shingles shoe tread tears away these granules. Continue tearing off the shingles and underlayment until you reach the roof jacks then start over at the top of the roof.

Push the shingles down to the roof jacks. Remove shingles in a 2 to 3 ft wide section as you work down the roof. There are precautionary measures to take if you walk and work on a metal roof. A reader wants to get this moss cleared off an asphalt roof without damaging the shingles.

Reader photo by jeanne. There is no need to walk on the roof unless it is for the rare and occasional repair. It is extremely important to ensure that the outsoles of the shoes are free of dirt debris or small rocks. Depending on the style of the metal roof you need to walk on there are different techniques of how to walk on the roof without damaging it or injuring yourself.

Aren t glass because the lamination process does not work well for these. The shingles will roll up like a ball in front of the fork. They will wear away your shingles. Asphalt roof shingle fragility staying off of fragile roofs how to work on fragile asphalt roofs asphalt roof shingle defects.

Power washers should never be used. To avoid damaging a metal roof following the precautions given here and consulting with a roofing contractor are the best ways to prevent metal roof damage.