10 Lbs Pound Zinc Sulfate Monohydrate

• Zinc Sulfate Monohydrate 40.5 CAS : 7733-02-0 ZnSO4*H2O
• Preservative for skins and leather
• Fungicide
• Water treatment
• Medical uses

We had a lot of moss and lichen growing on our typical asphalt shingle roof -so much so that it was starting to have a detrimental affect on the shingles. I researched what is used to remove moss and lichen and found out about this chemical. (Note that when applied incorrectly, zinc sulfate can be bad for plants and fish. Learn how to apply this properly from a licensed professional or from your local agricultural extension agent*.)

I applied fifteen pounds of *zinc sulfate monohydrate* powder in solution to my 3000 sq ft roof. This is how I did it:

During application, I wore long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. I also wore a dust mask and protective glasses and rubber gloves. (I usually use these same old clothes and mask for painting.) I did this early in the morning on a clear, windless day.

Into a three-gallon garden sprayer from the hardware store, I poured a gallon of water. Then I poured in 2.5 pounds of Zinc Sulfate and stirred vigorously. Next, I added enough water to fill it to the 2.5-gallon mark on the side of the sprayer. I added several drops of soap to make the watery solution stick better to the dry roof. I applied this solution to the first 500 sq ft of roof, jostling the container now and then to keep it well-mixed as I sprayed.

I adjusted the spray nozzle not to mist finely, but instead to spray out a medium-course droplet pattern, just fine enough to spray without being carried away by the wind onto surrounding tree leaves. I repeated this process five more times to cover the rest of my roof. (500ft x 6 = 3000 sq ft. and 6 x 2.5 lbs. = 15 lbs.)

I applied it evenly across the entire roof. It took several hours and a lot of patience. It took many hours to dry and I did not apply it on a day it was likely to rain. I tried to do it when it was not too hot or cold first time was a morning in the fall and the second time two years later was during the morning in the middle of spring.

The results did not happen immediately. It took almost a year for most of the moss to go away and another application two years later to remove all the lichen as well. However, the results are a clean roof with no moss and, as far as we can tell, no damage to the environment.

I realized while I was applying it the second time (two years later) that I didn't have to apply it all in the same day, if I didn't have the time. I could apply each 2.5 gallon batch on different days in the same month. It works rather slowly anyway, so it's not like it all has to be applied at once. I just mapped out in my mind where each 500 sq ft area was and made a note about where I started and finished last.

I washed my spray clothes with the regular wash and took a shower afterwards.

The state I live in does not require me to have a license when I apply this to my own roof. Many states are like that. However, in my state I cannot apply this to my neighbor's roof or spray herbicides or other pesticides for profit without a pesticide license and a business license. Make sure you know the laws in your community before spraying your or someone else's roof!

* I am not a professional. I am not offering advice. I'm merely relating what I did and the results it achieved for reference. Be sure to do your own research and verify current best practices with your extension agent at the very least before doing any spray application yourself. I take no responsibility for your results, regardless of whether they vary from mine. Download a material safety data sheet (MSDS) to learn more about this chemical before applying it and how to dispose of it properly if necessary.