Soft roof cleaning
A soft clean uses roof-safe methods to lift surface dirt, algae and lichen and bring back the colour of the tiles. It's the right choice when the roof is stained or dull rather than buried under growth.
We don't pressure wash roofs. High-pressure water can strip the surface of a tile and drive water into places it shouldn't be.
Manual moss removal
When moss has built up into thick cushions, spraying alone won't shift it. Hand scraping takes it off carefully, clears blocked valleys and protects the tiles underneath. We tidy up the fallen moss afterwards.
This is usually the first step on a neglected roof, followed by a clean or a treatment to deal with what's left in the pores of the tile.
Biocide treatment
A biocide kills the spores that moss, algae and lichen grow from, so the roof stays clearer for longer. It's applied safely and works best straight after a clean, when it can reach the surface directly.
On its own it won't remove heavy moss straight away, but it's the part that slows regrowth.
Choosing the right combination
As a rough guide to what we'd usually suggest after seeing the roof:
- Green or black staining, little moss: soft clean, then biocide
- Patchy moss on ridges and edges: scrape the moss, clean, then biocide
- Thick moss across the roof and in the valleys: hand scraping first, then treatment
- Recently cleaned roof: biocide to protect the result
Why not just one treatment?
Each treatment solves a different problem. Scraping removes the bulk, cleaning restores the surface, and biocide deals with what you can't see. Skipping a step often means paying again sooner, which is why we explain the options instead of pushing a single package.
For a free, no-obligation quote call 07752 853583. We're based in Petersfield, cover Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex, and are insured to £5,000,000 public liability.
What each treatment won't do
It's worth being clear about limits. A clean doesn't stop growth coming back on a shaded roof; biocide handles that. Biocide won't instantly remove thick moss; scraping does. None of the three fixes a slipped tile or cracked pointing, which is a repair job. Knowing this up front avoids disappointment and wasted money.
Roof position plays a big part too. North-facing slopes and roofs under trees stay damp longer and tend to need treatment more often than open, sunny ones.
Spotting moss, algae and lichen
Moss grows in raised, spongy clumps, usually along tile edges and ridges. Algae shows up as green or black streaking across the surface. Lichen forms flat, crusty patches, often grey, yellow or pale green, that cling tightly. Our guide on telling moss from lichen goes into more detail, and the type of growth is a big part of which treatment we'd suggest.
Treating the gutters as well
Whichever treatment a roof gets, some growth ends up in the gutters. Moss washed or scraped off a roof will block outlets if it's left there, so clearing the gutters is a natural final step. We can include gutter cleaning in the same quote so the roof and drainage are sorted together.
Common questions
What's the best treatment for moss on a roof?
For thick moss, careful hand scraping first, then a biocide to slow regrowth. For light growth, a soft clean plus biocide is usually enough.
Is biocide the same as cleaning?
No. Cleaning removes what's visible; biocide kills the spores so growth returns more slowly. They work best together.
Do you use pressure washers on roofs?
No. We use soft, roof-safe methods and hand scraping to protect the tiles.
How do I know which treatment I need?
We look at the roof and recommend the right mix as part of a free quote.
Related reading
Based in Petersfield, working across Hampshire · Surrey · Sussex, insured to £5,000,000 public liability.