Zinc powder on the roof: Is it helpful?

Zinc powder on the roof reduces the proliferation of fungi, mold, bacteria, and any other microorganisms. However, it is one of the main corrosive elements. We do not recommend its use but we leave you a little information.

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What is it?

It is a chemical element, symbol Zn. Most applications are in the form of powder. Zinc is a light, brittle metal at room temperature and bluish in color when oxidized. Its uses range from:

• Galvanizing (environmental protection) of metals.
• Galvanizing iron and steel, this represents 50% of everyday uses.
• Alloys or Alloys of brass, nickel, and aluminum, this represents approximately 25% of everyday use.
• Other applications are sunscreen, ointments, concrete, paints, and even model airplane rocket propellant. This represents approximately 20% of daily use.

When should I apply zinc sulfate to my roof?

You can use zinc powder on the roof to control the growth and proliferation of existing moss on the roof. You can use it when you see moss on your roof.

When it rains, the natural action of rainwater on the zinc strips releases zinc carbonate, a proven fungi static. This washes the roof and prevents the growth of moss, algae, and fungus in the future.

What can I sprinkle on my roof to prevent moss?

First of all, moss is a mass of small plants clumped together wherever there is shade and water. They are usually yellowish, green, or greenish-brown in color. Unlike other plants, they do not absorb water through their leaves or roots.

Moss spores can also be carried by wind or animals and spread easily through neighborhoods. It is said in engineering that this is the evil of pavement and shingles, as its growth destabilizes the structure causing corrosion and if allowed to proliferate total collapse.

Moss tends to grow on north-facing roofs, as they receive indirect light and remain damp longer than on south-facing roofs. Occasionally overhanging tree branches provide additional shade and drop debris on the roof that further retains moisture and acts as a food source for moss.

Does zinc kill mold?

Yes, it eliminates them but at what cost? This dust which is normally used on the roof, along the ridge, can cause corrosion. Every ounce of this powder is corrosive. It corrodes any metal you encounter: fasteners on the roof, the gutter system, the drainage system, and the entire bypass system that keeps water out of your house. When it drains, it will enter the aquatic ecosystem and kill any living things downstream.

According to Patrick on the use of zinc powder on the roof, He expresses that: the strange thing is that the next year it will grow back, with no residue, and it will spread across the roof and kill everything it touches, but it will not make a uniform cleanup.

How zinc powder kills roof moss?

It is a chemical reaction, the powder is not exactly pure zinc, it is zinc sulfate. Sulfates, chemically explained, are salts, something similar to table salt, the one you use for seasoning. They react negatively with organic materials. They act as an inorganic herbicide that attacks the organic structure of the moss. After application, simply let the rain wash away the dust. All that remains is to brush off the roots.

However, the use of zinc dust does not only kill the moss on your roof. The sulfate is insoluble in water, which means that it remains on the surface and passes from here to there to another surface, it does not dissolve. In a place where it rains regularly, microscopic particles of zinc dust can find their way into streams, lakes, rivers, and oceans. Oregon State University states that it is a toxin to aquatic vertebrates. This procedure is invasive and highly corrosive.

So other alternatives to zinc dust are:

Oregano/Oregano oil

Oregano has alkaline properties, which can offset the pH balance of the moss, rendering it inert, i.e. it does not grow or reproduce. What it has against it is its strong odor and the cumbersome process of application.

Distilled white vinegar

In Latin America, vinegar is the solution to many household problems: fungus? Vinegar, cleaning stains in the kitchen? Vinegar with baking soda. After all, it is an acid. Low pH levels can counteract the growth of moss. However, the effects are usually not noticeable until after 2-3 days of continuous spraying.

RBC (Roof Barrier Concentrate)

This is a patented concentrate created by Denco Chemical Co. and used exclusively by Roof Life of Oregon. What it does is change the pH balance of the shingles, modifying the composition of the moss and its roots. Facilitating removal without contamination, it works for 6 months to a year.

Using Zinc powder on the roof is a great alternative to remove moss but think about the environmental consequences and that it will not be an efficient solution in the long term. Try to test other solutions before using zinc dust on the roof.

Written by Vanessa Gallanti. May 7, 2023

Enthusiast about planning, project management, construction materials and technology, and construction. A civil engineer from Los Andes University and a content writer for Kukun.