Lichen On Clay Roof Tiles

Lichen damage to tile roofs.

Lichen on clay roof tiles.

Lichen are sutborn and are very diffcult to remove unlike the roof algae roof lichen are persistent and deeply adhered to the roof. The nutrients in the bird droppings give the moss or lichen a good starting point. Roof tiles are appealing until when they are affected by lichens. Vitrification causes clay to change at the molecular level into a glass like material.

Because absorbent tile holds more water and holds it longer these elevated moisture levels encourage various types of biological growth including mold fungi moss lichen and algae. This will remove all the moss and lichen as well as any built up dirt. As you did in the previous step walk backwards when you are spraying away from the wet tiles and onto the dry ones. Scrub the moss and lichen from the roof with a long handled scrub brush.

It may appear as an orange crust on a rock wall or as mint green patches on a roof. Moss is a flowerless plant that grows in clumps and lichen is actually two organisms that coexist fungus and algae as one to the mutual benefit of both organisms symbiosis. In many instances the start of moss or lichen growing on roofs is bird droppings. Highly vitrified clay is less absorbent than poorly vitrified clay.

Moisture increases the chance of mold growth which can damage the roof tiles. Moss and lichen love to grow on clay tiles so why is it important to remove it especially as some people say it adds character to the roof. Give the anti moss spray time to do its job and then use the high pressure cleaner to wash the tiles down. This method is quick and easy to use.

Lichens come in multiple shapes sizes and forms including shrubby leaf like or crusty. Has anyone used the product called wet and forget. Lichens are a fungus that typically grows with algae. Apparently it takes up to 12 months to completely work.

Lichen can be seen in a variety of colors including blue green gray brown and yellow. Do not let the bleach solution remain on the roof any. The house is about 35 to 40 years old a three bedroom brick veneer just recently rendered. While lichens don t damage the structure of roof tiles they can stain the surface of the roof as well as trap moisture.

Scrapping off lichen by use of a stiff brush is a simple way of cleaning roof tiles. They can be cleaned using a stiff brash chemicals or a pressure washer. Look under any tv aerials that are fixed to chimneys and the volume of lichen and moss is at its greatest. The roof lichen is very obvious since having the rendering done.

Some homeowners attempt to use harsh acids or cleaning chemicals to remove the lichen but even if these due end up killing the lichen the organism still remains deeply adhered to your roof. Traditionally lichen have been used to make dyes and this may be one reason that lichen can actually remove the dye from concrete tiles. Several natural remedies can kill the lichens and restore the look of your roof tiles.