First, moss is not the plague that many perceive it to be :-) Yes, it can be problematic on roofs or on shaded paving areas but otherwise its effects are predominately only aesthetic. And it can be a good indicator of other cultural issues that should be addressed first. Moss in gravel and/or bark is no big deal. If you want to get rid of it, there are various methods, although heading directly into our low light, rainy season would not be my preferred timing! In our area, moss is a given and learning how to cope with it is far more satisfying than attempting to eliminate it.....which you can't. You are only delaying the inevitable. Various moss control products contain ferrous sulfate, ferrous ammonium sulfate, zinc sulfate or ammoniated soap of fatty acids. All of them can kill moss but effectiveness is variable. The zinc products are probably the most effective but are typically recommended only for roofs and structures, as zinc can be toxic to plants. The ammoniated soap (MossOut) is the most environmentally safe but is also the least efficient.

Regards, swampwiz! I think the guy's feeding you something here. Check coolroofs.org for a list of all the mfgs who will be happy to give you any color you want in a shingle designed to reflect and not give problems. GAF and Elk are most certainly among them. Most of all, the algae problem is easily cured with zinc or coppyer. Lots of mfgs (GAF and Elk among them again) mix zinc and/or copper into their shingle aggregate to help fend off the blech. In addition, there are several products which are strips of zinc, designed to be installed near the top of your roof so the product will filter down (w/rain wash) to kill the algae. Best wishes, JWilson

Par Asm- Just so you know, you don't normally seal the gutter-spout connection or any of the drainpipe connections below the downspout. They simply fit inside one another with the higher piece always placed inside the piece below it. If any joint is a little loose, you can drill a hole and put a very short sheet metal (preferably stainless steel) screw through the two pieces. Sometimes you get clogs somewhere in the spouts, and it's much easier to take everything apart if the pieces are just held together with screws rather than being stuck together with some unnecessary sealant. If you are getting leaks when it is raining, it means either that there is a clog and water is backing up, or that the pieces haven't been assembled properly as I explained.

Most discoloration is a type of mold that forms due to humidity. It can be removed and preventatives applied to help reduce it growth. It appears to be staining from pipes but it is most likely because greater dampness is maintained in those areas and it keeps environment prime for this growth. Some Shingle companies are making shingles that resist this growth. Get a professional who can clean roof about every other year depending on your environment with non-clorox type cleaner being careful to not power wash off too much of actual grains from shingles. Check with manufacturer of your shingles to get their recommendations so you don’t void any warranty you might have.