What's growing on your roof?

Moss, lichen, black streaking and red algae all look much the same from the ground, and all four behave differently. Send one photo of your roof and this free tool will tell you which of them is on your tiles or slate, how much of the roof it covers, and what it means if it is left. No sign-up and nothing to pay.

A free roof check for County Wexford homes. No sign-up, nothing to pay.

Add a photo of your roof

Take one now, or use one you already have on your phone.

Photograph the house on its own. If someone is in the shot, or a car registration or house number can be read, we can't use it — you'll simply be asked for another photo. Nothing you send is ever linked to your name or address.

How to get the best result

Daylight, and stand back far enough to get a whole side of the roof in
Fill the picture with the roof, not the sky
The shaded side usually shows more than the sunny side
Keep the sun behind you — shooting into it washes the photo out

A few quick questions

These change what we'd recommend, so they're worth a moment.

What is your roof made of?

Trees or tall hedging close by?

Near the coast or inland?

Nearest town (optional)

Only used to compare your roof against others in the same area.

Having a look

ÉireShine

089 949 1525

Your roof photo with the growth marked up

Your roof report

What we found

How your roof compares

Your roof—

Local average—

County Wexford average—

Measured as the share of visible roof carrying growth.

If left, this usually gets worse

Want a price for sorting it?

Send your Eircode and we'll come back with a price. No call-out charge to get one.

This tool can get things wrong. It describes what it can see in one photo, so treat it as a starting point and give us a call before acting on it. T&Cs apply.

Curious why moss keeps coming back? Read the guide.

ÉireShine · Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford

You've reached today's limit of 3 free checks

If you'd like a proper look at the roof, send your Eircode and a couple of photos and we'll come back with a price.

Call 089 949 1525

What grows on County Wexford roofs

Five things account for almost everything we find on roofs in this county. They look different, they behave differently, and they are not treated the same way — which is why identifying the right one matters before anything is done.

Moss

Bryophyta

Raised cushioned green growth sitting proud of the tile, heaviest on shaded pitches and in valleys. It holds moisture against the tile surface instead of letting it dry between showers, and it sheds into the gutters.

Black staining

Gloeocapsa magma

A cyanobacteria that produces a dark protective pigment, which is what gives the streaked appearance running down the pitch. It lies flat on the tile rather than sitting proud of it, and the staining deepens the longer it is left.

Lichen

Crustose lichen

Flat crusted patches, usually pale grey, white or yellow, bonded tightly to the tile rather than sitting on it. It grips far harder than moss, which is why it is treated rather than scraped.

Red algae

Trentepohlia

A reddish or rust-toned discolouration spread across tile areas, more common on properties closer to the coast. It discolours broad areas rather than appearing in distinct patches.

Working out what is growing on a Wexford roof

Almost every homeowner reaches the same point eventually. You notice the roof has gone dark on one side, or there are green cushions sitting along the tile joints, or streaks running down the pitch that were not there a few winters ago. What you cannot tell from the ground is which of those you are actually looking at, and that matters more than it sounds, because moss, lichen, black staining and red algae are four different organisms that behave differently and are dealt with differently.

County Wexford gives all four a good deal to work with. Damp winters, prevailing south-westerlies off the Irish Sea and long stretches of overcast weather mean north-facing pitches rarely dry out properly between October and March. Add mature hedging or trees close to the house, or a coastal position where salt air and constant moisture come as standard, and growth establishes quickly. Concrete interlocking tiles and natural blue-grey slate, the two roof coverings on most homes here, each weather differently and each need a different approach.

That is what this tool is for. Send one photograph taken from the ground and it will tell you which growth types it can see, mark them onto your own picture, and estimate how much of the visible roof each one covers. It will not tell you the roof needs work — that is not a decision to make from a photograph, and anyone who says otherwise has not been up a ladder. It tells you what is there, so you know what you are dealing with before you ring anybody.

How the check works

You send a photo

Taken from the ground, in daylight. We never ask for your name, email or phone number.

We take a proper look

We mark what we can see straight onto your photo, and work out roughly how much of the roof it covers.

You get a straight answer

What's growing, how your roof compares to others around the county, and what happens if it's left. Free, and yours to do what you like with.

Questions about the roof check

What can the roof check identify?

It identifies the growth types most commonly found on County Wexford roofs: moss, black staining caused by Gloeocapsa magma, crustose lichen, red algae, and early green algae film. It reports which are visible and roughly how much of the visible roof each one covers.

What happens to my photo?

The location data phones attach to photos is removed the moment yours arrives, and the picture is never linked to your name or address. We hold on to a small number of recent photos, anonymously, so we can check the tool is getting things right, and they are deleted automatically as newer ones come in. If a photo has a person, a car registration or a house number in it, you'll be asked for a different one and that photo is not kept.

How accurate is it?

Good enough to tell you what you're looking at, not good enough to replace someone standing in your garden. It errs on the side of caution — if it isn't sure, it says so rather than guessing. The pitch, the valleys, the flashings and where the water goes all change what should actually be done, and those need seeing in person.

Does using the tool commit me to anything?

No. The result is free and you are not asked for your name, email or phone number to see it. If you want a price afterwards you can ask for one, but nothing about the check obliges you to.

What sort of photo works best?

Daylight, taken from the ground, standing back far enough that a full roof pitch fills most of the frame rather than the sky. The shaded or north-facing side usually shows more than the sunny side.

Why is there a limit on how many checks I can do?

Three per day, per device. It keeps the tool available and responsive for everyone. If you have several properties to check, call or WhatsApp us on 089 949 1525 and we will look at them properly.