Various homeowner questions

[Popeye the Sailor]

because google wasn't clear to me, and the old man ain't around to ask anymore.

2 things:

I have moss growing on the shingles. Is this bad? What should I do about it, if anything?


One of the sliding glass goods 9double pane) has signs of moisture between the panes, which is new. Should I be looking into tearing apart the wall to find the issue? Or just replacing the door?

[ducpainter]

The seal  on the double pane door is the culprit.

Is there moss on the entire roof...or just one side?

[Ddan]

More specifically, the seal between the panes has failed.  The moisture will eventually etch the glass and wreck the view.  Usually the glass is replaceable but it's tempered so the price can get close to the price of a new door.  Given that the other glass panel is probably not far from failing too, you may have found another project. 
If you have cedar shingles, the moss is a bigger problem than if you have asphalt.  If it's asphalt, you are probably close enough to the end of their useful life that it's not worth worrying about. Getting sun on the roof is really the only good way to prevent it.

[herm]

^ hear them. i have had to replace three "replacement" windows with failed seals so far since i bought my new place. whatever you do, don't buy cheap windows...you only save money at the moment of purchase. I am in a real conundrum about what to do with all of my original old school (1910-ish) windows. pretty sure I am going to keep all of them that are solid, add storms, and maintain them.

as for the shingles, my guess is that being in CA, they are not wood shakes....but might be OEM.

[The Architect]

Glass:  most window and door manufacturers offer warranties on the seals.  Some of the warranties are 20 years.  Find who the manufacturer is and give them a call.  Look for any etched labels in the glass on one of the corners.  The manufacturer will need that info to determine the warranty.

Are the shingles on the roof or on the wall?

If the roof, Dan's right.  Cedar on the roof (and walls) needs to breath.  That doesn't help you now but it will when you replace them.

PM me and I'll get into specifics (as soon as the beer wares off.) 

[IZ]

Invest in a power sprayer.  In Seattle, maintenance would spray the moss off our roof on a monthly basis to keep it from rotting. 





And no..my house did not look like this!! 

[The Architect]

Always avoid pressure washing your house.  The sprayer forces water into everywhere.  You have the moss because of high moisture levels.  Adding water is not going to help. 

[Popeye the Sailor]

Moss grows in various shady patches around the roof. No real central area to it though. Asphalt shingles, and I'm told this roof was redone in 2005.

The glass door might be hard to find a manufacturer on, but I'll check-the cabin it's in was built in 1929. The glass isn't that old.

[ducpainter]

Moss grows in various shady patches around the roof. No real central area to it though. Asphalt shingles, and I'm told this roof was redone in 2005.

The glass door might be hard to find a manufacturer on, but I'll check-the cabin it's in was built in 1929. The glass isn't that old.

You just need to cut some trees...tree hugger.

Sliders aren't that expensive, or difficult to replace.

Save your time...and money and pick out a quality replacement.

[The Architect]

You just need to cut some trees...tree hugger.

Trim some trees.

Take a look and makes sure they installed some sort of roofing underlayment like asphalt paper. 

[ducatiz]

Git up on the roof and spray some bleach around. 

Cut your trees back.

Shut the make the beast with two backs up.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Trim some trees.

Take a look and makes sure they installed some sort of roofing underlayment like asphalt paper. 

I'll check the underlayment tomorrow.

I'm not trimming any trees.

I will replace the slider.

[hbliam]

If it's asphalt, you are probably close enough to the end of their useful life that it's not worth worrying about.

Not necessarily.

Getting sun on the roof is really the only good way to prevent it.

Yep.

as for the shingles, my guess is that being in CA, they are not wood shakes....but might be OEM.

Plenty of wood shakes/shingles in CA. I sell a new wood roof at least once a year (compared to dozens of concrete and asphalt roofs).

Invest in a power sprayer.

Good for tile. Bad for asphalt shingles (which he updated to let us know AFTER you posted).

Always avoid pressure washing your house.  The sprayer forces water into everywhere.  You have the moss because of high moisture levels.  Adding water is not going to help.  

Depends on the roof. Asphalt should not be power washed as it will just wash the imbedded rocks off of the shingles. On most other roofs (concrete, clay, cedar) power washing is fine and will solve the problem. Power washing not only takes off the moss but also the dirt and debris the moss likes to adhere to. A properly installed roof that is power washed properly (ie: don't shoot the water under the tiles but rather directly down on to tile) will look brand new and have no negative issues.

Moss grows in various shady patches around the roof. No real central area to it though. Asphalt shingles, and I'm told this roof was redone in 2005.

Hose it off with a semi high powered hose nozzle. No power washer.

Git up on the roof and spray some bleach around.  
Cut your trees back.

Pretty good advice. Use water bleach mixture. Make sure to only hit moss. Wait a few days and then take hose to it to clean off roof.

[The Architect]

Is the roof vented or non vented?

[ducpainter]

Is the roof vented or non vented?

He doesn't know...

he's a rocket scientist.