Lichen is a common but often misunderstood growth that can affect many surfaces around your home, such as roofs, gutters, walls, solar panels, and outdoor structures. Knowing how to remove lichen from your roof is important. Lichens might look harmless or even decorative at first glance, but they can cause significant damage over time if left untreated. At Gutter-Vac Northern and Southern Tasmania, we specialise in the safe and effective removal of lichen. This helps to protect your home and prolong the life of your gutters, roofs, and solar panels.
What is Lichen?
Lichens are unique organisms formed from a symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. They often appear as crusty, leafy, or branching patches that can be green, grey, yellow, or even orange. Lichen thrives in moist environments. It can grow on almost any surface—rocks, tree bark, roofs, gutters, and even solar panels are common places to spot it.
Lichens themselves do not directly harm the structures they grow on, but their presence often indicates excessive moisture. They can trap dirt and debris; as a result, they can accelerate wear and tear. Therefore, it causes staining and leads to the deterioration of roofing materials, gutters, and solar panel efficiency.
Why is Lichen a Problem for Your Home and Solar Panels?
- Moisture Retention: Lichen holds moisture against surfaces, which can lead to rot or degradation, especially in wooden and metal roofing and guttering materials. This damp environment can also encourage moss and algae growth.
- Surface Damage: Over time, the fungal component of lichen can penetrate and break down surfaces, weakening tiles, shingles, gutters, and solar panels.
- Blocked Gutters: Lichens growing in gutters can trap leaves and debris, causing blockages that prevent proper water flow and lead to water damage or overflow.
- Reduced Solar Panel Efficiency: When lichen grows on solar panels, it can block sunlight from reaching the photovoltaic cells. Thereby reducing energy production and lowering the system’s overall efficiency.
- Aesthetic Impact: Lichen growth causes unsightly staining and discolouration. This detracts from your home’s curb appeal and the sleek look of your solar panels.
Process that Removes Lichen From the Roof
At Gutter-Vac Northern and Southern Tasmania, we understand that effective lichen removal requires a specialised approach. Our professional team uses safe, environmentally responsible methods combined with proven techniques to protect your home and solar investment.
Step 1: Thorough Inspection and Assessment
We use Google Earth to measure the affected area of your gutters, roof and solar panels. In addition, photos supplied by the client are also a very helpful tool to understand the extent of the growth. Therefore, this allows us to tailor the treatment plan specifically to their home’s needs.
Step 2: Factors For Consideration
Are you on tank water?
Connected to tank water? Disconnect the water supply and allow for 3-4 weeks or for the first 10mm of rain to avoid any chance of contamination. When it’s raining, check the water flowing onto the ground from the open downpipe. Before reconnecting the supply, it is crucial to confirm that no foaming is present.
Concentration of the Lichens
Depending on the infestation of lichens over the area, this will indicate whether we treat with two applications. This includes the initial treatment and another month later. Occasionally, a second application is applied 15-20 minutes after the initial spraying with heavy contamination.
How long can you wait for it to be effective?
The treatment can take 12-18 months to see results. There are times when the initial treatment is not fully effective, in which case a follow-up application may be necessary. While the lichen may die, it doesn’t always detach immediately through natural weather events. In such cases, it can be manually swept off, or if left alone, it will eventually fall off over time.
Be aware that staining or damage to the roof could be uncovered by the thick matting of the lichens.
Step 3: Eco-Friendly Lichen Treatment Spray
We apply a specially formulated, environmentally friendly lichen treatment spray, Wet and Forget. This formula is designed to:
- Penetrate the lichen and break down its structure
- Prevent regrowth for an extended period
- Be safe for surrounding plants, pets, and people. “Wet & Forget: Safe around Pets, Plants, and Lawns”
- Be gentle on sensitive surfaces like solar panels.
This treatment targets lichen at its source, ensuring thorough eradication without damaging your gutters, roofing materials, or solar panels.
Step 4: Follow-Up and Maintenance
We believe in proactive care. After treatment, we provide advice on ongoing maintenance to help prevent future lichen buildup. For many clients, we offer scheduled follow-ups to monitor and re-treat as necessary. This ensures your gutters, roof, and solar panels stay clean and fully functional year-round.
Why Choose Gutter-Vac Northern and Southern Tasmania?
- Expertise: Our team has years of experience in treating lichen and other common home maintenance challenges.
- Advanced Equipment: We use industry-leading tools and eco-friendly products for safe and effective treatment.
- Customer-Focused Service: From reminders to detailed photo reports, we keep you informed and satisfied.
- Comprehensive Care: Beyond lichen removal, our services will provide you with clean gutters, protect your roof, and ensure your solar panels operate at peak efficiency.
Ready to Protect Your Home and Solar Panels from Lichen?
Don’t let lichen cause hidden damage to your gutters, roof, or solar panels. Contact Gutter-Vac Northern Tasmania & Gutter-Vac Southern Tasmania today to schedule a professional inspection and treatment. Call us on 1300 654 253 or submit an online request a free quote here. Let us help keep your home safe, clean, and energy-efficient year-round!
