Virginia Homeowners: This Silent Roof Destroyer Could Be Costing You Thousands in Hidden Damage

If you’ve noticed green, crusty patches spreading across your Virginia roof, you’re not alone. Lichen can be especially damaging to roofs and roofs are especially susceptible to the growth and can be significantly damaged by lichen. What many homeowners don’t realize is that this seemingly harmless growth is actually a complex organism that’s slowly but steadily destroying their roof’s protective surface.

Understanding Lichen: More Than Just a Cosmetic Problem

Lichen is a combination of algae and fungus. Lichen can be a tough growth to remove due to the symbiotic relationship between the fungus and algae. This hardy organism thrives in Virginia’s climate, particularly during periods of high humidity and moisture. Lichen is a hardy growth known to firmly attach to surfaces with a tough grip. Lichen has a crusty almost concrete-like texture, making it hard to remove from outdoor surfaces.

The real danger lies in what lichen does to your roof over time. Lichen holds moisture in place against surfaces, which speeds up normal wear and tear. When this surface moisture freezes in cold temperatures, it can lead to frost damage to roof shingles and other exterior surfaces. This can cause your roof shingles to bend, warp, and even separate from each other over time. Lichens and moss loosen the granules on the shingle surface exposing the asphalt and fiberglass base materials. The damage can reduce shingle lifespan.

The Financial Impact: Insurance and Property Value Concerns

Beyond structural damage, lichen growth can have serious financial implications. Your homeowner’s insurance rates could increase if it’s left untreated. Your insurance company may send out an inspector to drive by your home to observe any changes. If the inspector sees a dirty, lichen-covered roof, this may give them a reason to raise your rates or even cancel your policy because lichen can cause serious damage over time.

The impact on property value is equally concerning. Lichen is a bit of an eyesore, so if you plan on selling your home, leaving years of lichen on the roof tiles, you will degrade the value of your property. First impressions matter in real estate, and a lichen-covered roof immediately signals neglect to potential buyers.

Why DIY Methods Fall Short

Many homeowners attempt to tackle lichen removal themselves, but this approach often proves inadequate and potentially damaging. Many people try to remove lichen by brushing and scraping it off with abrasive tools. While this is a popular approach, a great deal of time and work must be put in to remove lichen this way. Removing lichen fully using this method is nearly impossible, not to mention time-consuming, especially if you are dealing with a large surface like a roof. You also risk the potential of accidentally damaging the protective top layer of your roof shingles while trying to remove it with this method.

Even when homeowners think they’ve successfully removed visible lichen, there may still be leftover growth on the surface that is not visible to the eye. The remaining growth can cause the lichen to grow back easily. This is why professional treatment is essential for long-term success.

Professional Treatment Methods That Work

Professional roof cleaning companies use specialized approaches that safely and effectively eliminate lichen without damaging your roof. Several name-brand cleaners that aren’t harmful to the roof shingles and less damaging to plants have alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride or octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride as the active ingredients. These professional-grade solutions are specifically formulated to break down the symbiotic relationship between the fungus and algae components of lichen.

The most effective professional treatments involve low-pressure application methods. Since pressure-washing can degrade your roof’s protective coating, it is not a recommended method for removing lichen. It can also compromise the seals around windows and doors and damage skylights and roof windows. Some shingle manufacturers will void the warranty on their products if they discover that you have subjected your roof to high-pressure washing.

Professional treatment typically involves multiple applications over time. Two applications of Wet & Forget Outdoor are needed to treat and eliminate lichen adequately. Once applied, the Wet & Forget starts to work on the surface and then over time will remove the dead lichen with exposure to the wind and rain. According to some manufacturers the spray is ‘reactivated’ each time it rains and will remain effective at preventing new growth for three to five years.

Prevention: Your Best Long-Term Strategy

Professional companies don’t just remove existing lichen—they implement prevention strategies to keep it from returning. Professional services can apply anti-fungal coatings to roof surfaces to discourage moss and lichen regrowth and seal your tiles with a waterproof coat that prevents moisture buildup and further lichen growth.

Choosing the Right Professional Service

When selecting a professional roof cleaning service, look for companies with extensive experience and proper insurance coverage. Blue Ridge Exterior Cleaning, LLC has been providing high-quality soft washing & pressure washing services to residential and commercial customers throughout the Waynesboro area for over 14 years. When they opened their doors in 2010, they quickly established themselves as the premier name throughout the Central Virginia region for pressure washing & soft washing services.

For homeowners seeking professional Roof Cleaning Rockingham County, VA services, it’s essential to choose a company that understands the unique challenges of Virginia’s climate and the specific needs of local roofing materials. Professional services customize each high-quality exterior cleaning service to ensure that you get exactly what you’re looking for in terms of results. In this way, they are able to ensure that every property gets the absolute best cleaning possible and that each customer is 100% satisfied.

Don’t let lichen silently destroy your roof’s integrity and your home’s value. Professional treatment not only removes existing growth but provides long-term protection that can extend your roof’s lifespan by years, potentially saving you thousands in premature replacement costs.