How Much Does Roof Cleaning Cost?
Keeping your roof clean and free from moss and other debris is an important part of the maintenance of your home.
A roof that is covered in moss can look very unsightly and can also cause damage to your roof tiles. Moss on the roof can also retain moisture and cause further damage to your roof.
In this guide, we will take a look at the cost of cleaning a roof and moss removal.
The average cost for a full roof cleaning and treatment is around £600-£1500. However, this price can vary depending on several factors. For example, the ease of access to the roof can alter the price, the size of the roof can affect the price, and your location in the UK can also affect the price.
Treating roof moss usually costs around £5-£12 per square metre, and the average cost of pressure washing your roof is around £8-£15 per square metre.
Roof Cleaning Prices
Below is a list of the roof cleaning prices that you can expect for various roof cleaning jobs:
| Job Description | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Roof moss treatment on a small detached home | £350-£800 |
| Roof moss treatment on a semi-detached home | £400-£900 |
| Roof moss treatment on a large detached home | £500-£1100 |
| Roof pressure washing on a small detached home | £500-£900 |
| Roof pressure washing on a semi-detached home | £800-£1100 |
| Roof pressure washing on a large detached home | £1100-1500 |
What are the Supply Costs of Roof Cleaning?
When it comes to having your roof cleaned, you won't usually need any supplies as the company you hire will usually have everything they need to complete the work.
In some cases, if your roof is quite large or difficult to access, then you may need to hire scaffolding so that the work can be completed.
The average cost of hiring scaffolding is around £600-700 as you will need to provide access to the entire roof. The cost will depend on the amount of scaffolding needed, your location in the UK, and the length of time you hire the scaffolding for.
What are the Additional Costs of Roof Cleaning?
There are several additional costs involved with cleaning your roof. Below is a list of the main additional costs that you may need to think about with this type of work:
Roof Tile Repair
When you are getting your roof cleaned and restored, then your contractor may find some broken tiles in the process. If that is the case, you will need to get these repaired or replaced as soon as possible to prevent any leaks or further damage to the roof.
The average cost for fixing a roof tile is around £170-£600. The cost will depend on the extent of the damage and the number of tiles that need to be repaired or replaced.
New Guttering
When you have work done on your roof, you may also notice that your guttering is getting quite old and may need to be replaced. The average cost to have your guttering replaced is around £400-£700. The cost will depend on the size of your home, the type of guttering that you choose, and your location in the UK.
Exterior Painting
When you get your roof cleaned professionally, it will end up looking brand new. With this in mind, you may want to get the exterior walls of your home painted so that the home's entire aesthetic is improved.
The average cost of painting the exterior walls of a home is around £500-£1500. The price will vary depending on the size of your home, the type of paint used, and your location in the UK.
Tradesmen Costs for Cleaning a Roof
A professional roofer will usually complete roof cleaning and treatments. This includes pressure washing your roof or treating it for moss. You can usually expect a professional roofer to charge around £150-£200 per day to work on your roof.
Most of the time, you can expect roofers to work in pairs for safety and to get the job done quickly. With this in mind, you can usually expect to pay around £230-£280 per day in labour costs.
How Long Does It Take to Clean a Roof?
The time it takes to clean and treat a roof will vary depending on the size of your home and the type of treatment. Below is a list of the timescales that you can expect for various roof cleaning jobs:
- Roof moss treatment on a small detached house – 1 day
- Roof moss treatment on a semi-detached house – 2 days
- Roof moss treatment on a large detached house – 2 days
- Pressure washing on a small detached house – 1 day
- Pressure washing on a semi-detached house – 2 days
- Pressure washing on a large detached house – 2 days
For some jobs, there may be some additional time added on for remedial work and to prepare the roof for washing.
Types of Roof Cleaning
There are several different types of roof cleaning methods. Below is a list of the most common roof cleaning methods in the UK:
Eco-Friendly Roof Tile Cleaning
Some of the harsh chemicals in traditional roof cleaners can damage the roof and may alter the colour of the roofing materials. With this in mind, many people now choose eco-friendly cleaning options.
However, the only problem with these cleaning options is that they are quite expensive.
Chlorine Bleach Roof Cleaning
Chemical roof cleaners aren't very expensive, and this method is also quite fast and easy. Usually, roof cleaners will spray chemicals such as trisodium phosphate and high concentrations of sodium hypochlorite on the roof.
Once this has dried, they will reapply it as needed. The only problem with these cleaners is that they can let off some fumes and may cause damage to plants and vegetation surrounding the home.
High-Pressure Power Washing
This is a very popular option for roof cleaning. This method can use either hot or cold water to clean the roof. This cleaning method cleans the roof surface; however, it doesn't always eliminate all of the organisms on the roof completely.
High-pressure power washing does not require any chemicals or detergents, so it is eco-friendly. This method is also affordable and can be used to treat ceramic tiles.
Moss Removal
Cleaning moss off a roof involves scraping away all of the moss on the roof. Moss can retain moisture and cause damage to your roof; plus, it can be very unsightly.
Therefore, many people opt to have the moss removed from their roof. Once the moss has been removed, the roof will usually be cleaned afterwards to eliminate any dark spots that may have formed where the moss was.
Benefits of Professional Roof Cleaning
There are many benefits of professional roof cleaning. Below is a list of the main benefits of this type of work:
Prevents Damage
When you get your roof cleaned and treated, this can help to prevent damage to the roof. Leaving your roof dirty and untreated can lead to roof damage which can then lead to leaks.
The best way to prevent this from happening is to ensure that your roof is routinely cleaned and maintained.
Identify Roof Problems
When your roof cleaning contractor is up on the roof, they may identify some roofing issues. This can include things like broken roof tiles or potential leaks.
It's always best to identify these roof problems early to prevent them from getting any worse over time.
Identify Gutter Issues
Similar to roofing issues, your contractor may also be able to identify guttering issues. If guttering issues are identified early, then they can usually be repaired quite easily.
However, if the guttering is left damaged for too long, it may need to be completely replaced. So again, it is always best to get these issues identified early, and regular roof cleaning can help make that happen.
Aesthetically Pleasing
When your roof is dirty and full of moss, leaves and other debris, then it may start to look very unsightly. The best way to improve the look of your home is to get the roof regularly cleaned and remove all of the moss, dirt, and debris. Regular cleans can help to make your home look much more aesthetically pleasing.
Increases Roof Life
Regularly cleaning and maintaining your roof can help to increase the life of your roof. Leaving your roof dirty and full of moss and debris can damage and reduce the roof's lifespan.
This means that you should aim to get your roof cleaned at least once each year to keep it in good shape.
FAQs
Q: Why do you need to remove moss from a roof?
A: Removing roof moss is needed to help to guarantee the proper functioning of the water drainage. If water remains on the roof, this can lead to damage – especially if the water freezes in the winter.
Q: How often should the roof be pressure washed?
A: It is recommended that you get roof and gutter cleaning done every 1-2 years. If the home is very dirty or if it's underneath a lot of trees and prone to debris, then you may need to get it cleaned more often.
Q: Is roof cleaning essential?
A: Yes, roof cleaning is essential. For most roof types, treatments and cleaning are required to avoid damage to the roof. Replacing a roof can be extremely expensive and is usually something that most homeowners want to prevent.
If you don't clean your roof, it can become susceptible to moss infestations, leading to clogged gutters, broken tiles, internal black mould, and many other issues. Cleaning your roof will help to make it last for as long as possible.
Q: Does moss have roots?
A: Roof moss has small, thin root-like growths that help anchor the plants to the surface of your roof. These growths can cause damage to roof tiles and can loosen the tiles.
These growths are also the reason why moss is so difficult to remove from the roof and why most people choose to hire professionals to complete the moss removal on their roof.
Q: Does pressure washing the roof cause damage?
A: This will depend on the type of roof that you have. However, there is a chance that pressure washing can cause some slight damage. Slate roof tiles can become dislodged by a pressure washer as the force of the water is very strong.
Q: How much is a conservatory roof cleaning?
A: Conservatory roof cleaning is actually quite cheap. You can expect to pay around £3-£6 per roof panel. This can help to clean off any dirt and debris from the roof that may cause damage down the line.
Sources
- https://www.brightroof.co.uk/roof-cleaning-cost.html
- https://www.samedaypros.com/blog/roof-cleaning/types-and-cost
- https://www.roofingsuperstore.co.uk/help-and-advice/project-guides/pitched-roofing/how-to-clean-roof-tiles/
- https://alltradepressurewashing.co.uk/the-benefits-of-roof-cleaning/
