How many times have you been forced up on your roof to remove the moss that's grown and the leaves that have stuffed up your gutters? If you're tired of fighting to keep your roof clean, there are some things you can do to make it a little easier for you. Here, you'll find a few tips to help you minimize the moss growth and the burden of removing leaves from the valleys and gutters.

Moss

To deal with the moss, you know you're going to have to bleach it or use herbicides to kill the spores. But, is there anything that you can do to prevent it from re-growing once you've removed it?

Installing a copper or zinc-coated strip of metal along the top of the roof-ridge will slow, or stop the growth of algae and moss. Simply run the strip across the top of the ridge using roofing nails. Apply a coat of roofing cement to each nail to ensure the roof doesn't spring any leaks in the area. As the rain washes down the roof, the water will flow over the strip and continuously treat the roofing against mold and algae growth.

If the shingles have become stained from the moss or algae, you'll need to clean it once the moss is gone. Get a hand-pump sprayer and fill it with 2 gallons of water, 2 quarts of bleach and ½ cup of trisodium phosphate. Work in small sections starting from the top and working your way downwards. Spray the mixture onto the surface and wait about 20 minutes before using your garden hose to rinse it. It can take a few applications to remove deep stains, but eventually, the shingles will not show signs of moss damage at all.

Leaves

Leaves should never be allowed to sit in the valleys of the roof, nor should they fill up the gutters. Really, the only way to eliminate the leaves for good, is to get rid of the trees that are causing the problems. In some cases, trimming back a few branches could be all that needs done to at least decrease the number of leaves piling up on your roof.

Before the snow falls this year, make sure to get up on the roof and remove the leaves from the valleys and gutters. If you do it too soon, you'll have to redo it, but if you wait too long, you could find yourself freezing as you try to clear things up.

Talk with your local roofing professional to learn more about protecting your roofing from moss and leaf damage.