Roof and exterior advice
Roof Cleaning and Exterior Guides
Plain advice on roof moss, algae and streaks, how different roofs are cleaned, what shapes a quote and how to look after your home through the year. Each guide links to our services when you want a free quote.
Roof Care
Ten Signs Your Roof Actually Needs Cleaning
How to tell whether your roof genuinely needs cleaning or can safely be left alone, with ten checks you can carry out from the ground.
Moss, Algae or Lichen? How to Identify What's on Your Roof
Identify moss, algae and lichen on a roof, understand what each one does to tiles and slate, and learn which needs removing and which can be left.
Common Winter Roof Problems and How to Prevent Them
The roof problems British winters cause — freeze-thaw damage, ice in gutters, storm-lifted tiles, condensation — and how to prevent or respond to each.
Chimneys and Flashings: The Most Common Source of Roof Leaks
Why most roof leaks start at chimneys and flashings, how to spot failing lead and pointing, and what repairs typically cost in the UK.
How Long Does Roof Cleaning Take? What to Expect on the Day
How long a home roof clean usually takes, what changes the timing, and what happens from quote to tidy-up, so you know what to expect before booking.
Best Time of Year to Clean a Roof
When to clean a roof or remove moss in the UK: how season, weather and moss growth affect timing, and why the roof's condition matters more than the month.
Algae vs Moss on Roofs: What's the Difference?
Algae vs moss on a roof: how to tell black streaks and green film from moss cushions, what each does to tiles and how each is removed or treated.
Roof Cleaning vs Roof Replacement
Roof cleaning or roof replacement? How to judge whether a mossy roof just needs cleaning and repairs, or has reached the end of its life.
Black Streaks on Your Roof: Causes and Fixes
Black streaks running down roof tiles are usually algae. What causes them, why they spread, whether they harm the roof and how they are treated safely.
Why Are My Roof Tiles Turning Green?
Roof tiles turning green usually means algae or early moss. Why it happens, which roofs suffer most, and how green tiles are cleaned without jet washing.
Is Roof Cleaning Worth It?
Is roof cleaning worth it? When cleaning genuinely helps a roof, when it is mainly cosmetic, when it is not the right answer, and how to decide.
Roof Cleaning Before Selling a House
Cleaning your roof before selling: how a mossy roof affects first impressions and surveys, what to fix first and timing around listing photos.
Roof Cleaning, Maintenance and Home Insurance
How roof and gutter maintenance relates to home insurance in general terms: wear and tear exclusions, keeping records and checking your own policy wording.
Bungalow Roof Cleaning
Bungalow roof cleaning: why low, wide bungalow roofs collect moss, how they are cleaned by hand without jet washing, gutters, dormers and access.
Roof and Gutter Care for Terraced Houses
Roof cleaning and gutter clearance on terraced houses: shared roofs and gutters, neighbours, rear access, valleys and what to agree first.
Roof Cleaning for Detached Houses
Roof cleaning for detached houses: several slopes, hips and valleys, taller ridges and more gutters. How the work is planned and quoted.
Cleaning Clay Tile Roofs on Older Homes
Clay tile roof cleaning on older and period homes: brittle tiles, lichen, listed buildings and why hand moss removal suits clay roofs.
Garage and Outbuilding Roof Cleaning
Cleaning garage, shed and outbuilding roofs: tiled, felt and sheet roofs, moss, fragile materials, gutters and asbestos testing for old sheets.
Porch and Canopy Roof Cleaning
Cleaning porch roofs and door canopies: moss, algae, leaves and run-off from the main roof, fragile materials, small gutters and leaks around the door.
Just Bought a House With a Mossy Roof?
Just moved into a house with a mossy roof? What the survey may have said, what to check first, cleaning versus repair, gutters and planning the work.
Gentle Roof Cleaning for Older Roofs
How older and fragile roofs are cleaned gently: checking tiles first, hand moss removal, low-pressure treatment and when repairs must come before cleaning.
Roof Moss Treatment: What Works and How Long It Lasts
Which roof moss treatments work, why hand removal and biocide are combined, what products cannot do and how long a treated roof usually stays clear.
After Roof Moss Treatment: What Happens in Weeks 1 to 12
What to expect after roof moss treatment week by week: why growth fades gradually, what rain does, when gutters may need a check and when to call us.
Roof Biocide: How It Works and Is It Safe for Pets, Plants and Ponds?
How roof biocide works and the sensible precautions for pets, plants, ponds and water butts when a roof is treated, explained in plain terms.
Fibreglass Roof Cleaning and Maintenance
How to clean and look after a fibreglass (GRP) flat roof: safe cleaning, what scratches the topcoat, ponding water, edge trims and when to get help.
Chimney Stack Moss and Staining
Why moss, lichen and dark staining build up on chimney stacks, what it means for the flashing and brickwork, and how chimney stacks are cleaned safely.
Roof Valleys: Why Moss Collects and How It Is Cleared
Why moss, leaves and silt collect in roof valleys, the leak risk when valleys block, and how valleys are cleared by hand without damaging lead or tiles.
Ridge and Hip Tiles: Moss, Loose Mortar and What Cleaning Can Fix
Moss on ridge and hip tiles, cracked or missing mortar and loose ridges explained: what cleaning helps, what needs repair and how to spot problems.
Roof Cleaning Before Painting or Re-rendering Your House
Why it makes sense to clean the roof and gutters before painting or re-rendering walls, the order of work, and how to avoid runoff spoiling new finishes.
Solar Panels and Roof Moss: Cleaning Around Panels
How moss and debris build up around and under solar panels, why it matters for the roof and gutters, and what to consider when cleaning a roof with panels.
How Long Does Roof Cleaning Last Before Moss Returns?
How long a roof stays clean after moss removal and treatment, the factors that bring moss back sooner and simple ways to slow regrowth between cleans.
Trees Overhanging the Roof: Moss, Leaves and Shade
How overhanging trees affect a roof: shade and moss, leaves in gutters and valleys, branch rub and what to do about it without harming the tree or roof.
North-Facing Roofs and Moss
Why north-facing roof slopes grow more moss than south-facing ones, what it means for cleaning, and how to slow regrowth on the shady side.
Lichen on Roof Tiles: Removal and Whether It Harms the Roof
What lichen on roof tiles is, why it is so stubborn, whether it damages tiles and how it is treated so it fades rather than being forced off.
Moss and Lichen on Solar Panels
Why moss and lichen grow on solar panel frames and glass edges, how they spread from roof tiles, and how they are removed gently without harming panels.
Cleaning Methods
Soft Washing vs Pressure Washing: Which Does Your Property Need?
A practical comparison of soft washing and pressure washing for roofs, render, patios and driveways, including which surfaces suit which method and why.
Roof Biocide Treatment Explained: What It Does and How Long It Lasts
A plain-English explanation of roof biocide treatments — how they work, when they should be applied, how long results last and what they cannot do.
How to Clean a Conservatory Roof: Polycarbonate, Glass and Frames
How to clean a conservatory roof safely: polycarbonate vs glass, what not to use, cleaning frames and gutters, and when to call a professional.
Does Roof Cleaning Damage Tiles?
Does roof cleaning damage tiles? Why pressure washing can erode tiles and force water under laps, and how hand moss removal and soft washing compare.
Roof Soft Washing: What It Is and When It Is Used
Roof soft washing explained: how a low-pressure wash cleans tiles, which roofs suit it, what it cannot do and how it pairs with hand moss removal.
Moss Scraping vs Chemical Treatment vs Soft Washing
Comparing moss scraping, chemical-only treatment and soft washing for roofs: what each does well, where each falls short and why combining them works best.
Clay vs Concrete vs Slate Roofs: Cleaning Differences
How clay, concrete and slate roofs differ when it comes to moss, cleaning and care, and why the same gentle principles apply to all three.
Jet Wash vs Soft Wash on Block Paving
Jet washing versus soft washing block paving: joint sand loss, surface damage, algae regrowth and why a combined, controlled approach often works best.
Solar Panel Cleaning vs Roof Cleaning
How solar panel cleaning differs from roof cleaning: surfaces, methods, products and access, and why doing both in one visit often makes sense.
Costs
How Much Does Roof Cleaning Cost in the UK?
Honest UK roof cleaning prices for 2026, what drives the cost up or down, how quotes are calculated, and how to avoid paying for work your roof doesn't need.
Roof Moss Removal Cost: What You Should Expect to Pay
What moss removal really costs in the UK, why manual scraping is priced differently to chemical treatment, and how to judge whether a quote is fair.
How to Choose a Roof Cleaning Company Without Getting Stung
The checks, questions and red flags that separate a competent roof cleaning company from a cowboy, plus what a proper quotation should contain.
How Roof Cleaning Is Quoted
How a roof cleaning quote is put together: roof size and pitch, growth, tile type, access and gutters. What to send for a fast, accurate free quote.
Maintenance
A Realistic Roof Maintenance Schedule for UK Homes
A practical year-by-year roof maintenance schedule for UK homes, covering what to check each season, what to book professionally and at what intervals.
Roof Inspection Checklist: What a Proper Survey Should Cover
A complete roof inspection checklist covering tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, gutters and loft interiors, plus what a written report should include.
Autumn Property Maintenance: The Jobs That Prevent Winter Damage
The autumn exterior maintenance jobs that actually prevent winter damage to UK homes, in priority order, with timing and realistic costs.
Flat Roof Maintenance: Felt, EPDM and GRP Looked After Properly
How to maintain a flat roof, the differences between felt, EPDM rubber and GRP fibreglass, what to check twice a year and when to recover.
The Right Order to Clean the Outside of Your House
Why exterior cleaning must be done top-down, the correct sequence for roof, render, windows, patio and driveway, and how to save money by bundling.
Spring Exterior Cleaning Checklist for UK Homes
A spring checklist for UK homeowners covering winter damage checks, roof and gutter work, patio and driveway cleaning, and the best order to do it in.
Summer Roof and Gutter Checklist
A summer checklist for roofs and gutters: spotting faults in dry weather, dealing with moss and algae and checking gutters before autumn.
After a Storm: Roof and Gutter Check
What to check on your roof and gutters after a storm, safely from the ground: slipped tiles, displaced ridges, damaged gutters, debris and leaks inside.
Gutter Maintenance for Landlords and Letting Agents
A practical guide to gutter maintenance for landlords and letting agents: repairing obligations, tenant notice, records and remote photo reports.
Roof and Gutter Care on New-Build Homes
Roof and gutter care on new-build homes: early moss and algae, builders' debris in gutters, estate trees, warranties and what to check in the first years.
Roof and Gutter Care for Churches, Schools and Care Homes
A guide to roof and gutter care for churches, schools, care homes and community buildings: planning around users, records for trustees and safe access.
How Often Should You Clean a Driveway?
How often driveways need cleaning depends on shade, trees, surface and use. A realistic routine for block paving, tarmac, concrete, resin and gravel.
How Often Should Solar Panels Be Cleaned?
How often UK solar panels need cleaning: rain, roof pitch, trees, birds, farms and roads all play a part. Signs it is time and what to check first.
Do Dirty Solar Panels Lose Efficiency?
How dirt, droppings and shading affect solar panel output, why one dirty cell can matter more than expected, and how to judge whether cleaning will help.
Bird Droppings on Solar Panels
Why bird droppings stick to solar panels, how they affect output, safe cleaning, why droppings keep returning and when bird proofing is the better answer.
Can You Clean Solar Panels Yourself Safely?
What you can safely do yourself to clean solar panels, why roof access is the main danger, products and tools to avoid, and when to book professional help.
Pigeons Nesting Under Solar Panels
Why pigeons nest under solar panels, the problems they cause, signs to look for, the law on active nests and how mesh proofing keeps birds out.
Solar Panel Bird Proofing vs Cleaning
Deciding between solar panel bird proofing and cleaning: what each solves, which comes first, how they combine, and when one is enough on its own.
Signs Pigeons Are Nesting in Your Roof
How to tell if pigeons are nesting in your roof, eaves, solar panels or gutters: sounds, droppings, debris, flight patterns and what to do next.
Pigeon Droppings: General Safety and Clean-up
General precautions for cleaning pigeon droppings at home: gloves, damping down, avoiding dust, disposal and when to leave large build-ups to others.
Pigeons Under Eaves and Soffits
How pigeons get in under eaves, soffits and fascias, signs of birds in the roof void, what to do about active nests and how gaps are proofed and repaired.
Bird Netting vs Spikes vs Mesh: Which to Choose?
Bird netting, spikes and mesh compared: where each works, appearance, upkeep and why the choice depends on whether birds are nesting or perching.
Are Bird Spikes Humane and Legal in the UK?
A general guide to humane bird deterrents in the UK: how spikes work, protection for wild birds and active nests, timing work and what to avoid.
Seagulls on Roofs: Problems and Humane Deterrents
Why gulls nest and roost on roofs, the mess and noise they cause, legal protection for nesting gulls and humane deterrent options for chimneys and ridges.
Bird Proofing for Commercial Buildings and Flats
Bird proofing for shops, warehouses, schools and blocks of flats: common problem areas, access, communicating with occupants and planning humane work.
Exterior Surfaces
Render Cleaning: How to Clean Render Without Ruining It
How to clean rendered walls safely, why pressure washing ruins render, and the correct approach for silicone render, painted render and pebbledash.
Driveway Cleaning: Block Paving, Concrete and Tarmac Done Properly
How to clean block paving, concrete and tarmac driveways properly, why re-sanding matters, what it costs and how to stop the green coming straight back.
Patio Cleaning: Getting Stone, Slabs and Decking Back to Life
How to clean a patio without damaging it, the right approach for sandstone, limestone, porcelain and decking, plus realistic UK costs and sealing advice.
Green, Slippery Patio Slabs: Causes and Cleaning
Green, slippery patio slabs are usually algae and moss in damp, shady spots. Why it happens, the slip risk, and safe cleaning for different stone.
Moss on Your Driveway: Removal and Prevention
Moss on driveways grows in joints, shaded edges and damp spots. Why it appears, the slip risk, and how it is removed from block paving and tarmac.
Sandstone Patio Cleaning
How sandstone patios are cleaned without damage: why sandstone is soft and porous, algae and black spot, what to avoid and how to keep it looking good.
Limestone and Porcelain Patio Cleaning
How limestone and porcelain patios differ when cleaning: acid sensitivity, staining, grout and joints, and safe methods for keeping each looking smart.
Victorian Tile Path and Porch Cleaning
How Victorian and Edwardian geometric tile paths and porches are cleaned gently, what damages them, loose tiles and when a specialist restorer is needed.
Tarmac Driveway Cleaning: A Practical Guide
How tarmac driveways are cleaned without loosening the surface: moss in cracks, green edges, tyre marks, leaf staining and what cleaning cannot repair.
Concrete Driveway Cleaning Explained
Cleaning a concrete driveway: why it darkens, algae in expansion joints, rust and tyre marks, avoiding surface etching, and when cracks need a repairer.
Resin Driveway Cleaning: Bound vs Bonded Surfaces
How to clean resin bound and resin bonded driveways: green film, weeds at edges, blocked pores, why harsh chemicals and high heat are avoided.
Gravel Driveway Weeds and Moss: What Works
Why weeds and moss grow through gravel driveways, edging and membranes, hand clearing, topping up stone and realistic expectations for gravel drives.
Driveway Oil Stain Removal: What to Expect
Why oil stains are stubborn on block paving, concrete and tarmac, what helps fresh drips, what to avoid, and how much a professional clean can lighten.
Driveway Moss Killer vs Professional Cleaning
Comparing moss killer with cleaning for driveways: what a treatment does, why dead moss stays, when cleaning is needed, and how the two work together.
Weeds in Block Paving and Re-sanding Joints
Why weeds grow between paving blocks, how joints are cleared, why kiln-dried sand is brushed back in, and how to keep block paving joints weed-free longer.
Sealing a Driveway After Cleaning: An Explainer
A general explainer on driveway sealers: what they do, surface types, curing, the downsides and questions to ask a sealing specialist after a clean.
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