Roof Cleaning Alford

Roof Cleaning Alford offer a roof cleaning service for residential and business properties in Alford and surrounding towns and villages in Lincolnshire. Roof cleaning is a simple way of improving the look of your house, by removing dirt, moss, lichen and anything else that has grown up there.

As a roof becomes older and get more porous, they are often invaded by moss, algae and dirt. Maintaining a roof that is clean and without moss and dirt is often challenging for most owners and becomes a constant source of problems.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have your roof look brand new again?

roof cleaning Alford

Why should I have it cleaned?

Dirty roof cleaning Lincolnshire

Large amounts of build-up of moss and algae on your roof and other natural growth may cause you serious problems with the roof and the life expectancy of the tiles will eventually be compromised too. If you neglect your roof, you’ll find these plants will quickly grow uncontrollably with their roots finding their way into weak spots in the tiles of the roof, steadily widening them throughout time until cracks emerge. Like all plants they need water to thrive, and after it rains, they’ll behave like a sponge retaining as much water as possible. As it works its way through the cracks into your roof it could cause serious and costly damage to the rafters and joists. Also you could well become aware of moss that has come loose and rolled down the roof finding itself in your gutter which in time can lead to overflowing rainwater from your gutter which damages and soaks into your fascia’s. In conclusion, having the roof cleaned is a necessary job for a number of reasons.

For many though cleaning their roof is purely an aesthetic decision and we don’t blame you for that! Roofs can become very unsightly because of organic growths like moss and lichen, and this is when a roof cleaning service is necessary. Roofs are also frequently discoloured and stained by a prevalent bacterium called gloeocapsa magma affecting the familiar appearance of your otherwise beautiful home. Without a doubt, this bacteria growth is completely normal however it isn’t pleasant to see and after a while it can damage your roof. The difference between a clean roof and one that needs a clean can be night and day. After months and years of observing your roof get more and more dirty wouldn’t it be lovely to see it looking as good as new once more?

The next question is, “Is this a straightforward DIY job that I should attempt to do myself?” Let’s consider some evidence to propose what the best possible solution is here.

Could I do this myself?

Clean roof yourself Lincolnshire

The most common reason why a lot of people don’t want to risk cleaning their own roof is the fact that it usually means working at a height where most of us wouldn’t feel safe and secure. At these kinds of heights any sort of tumble can result in a very serious wound.

Plus, a lot of people would assume roof cleaning involves pressure washing however it doesn’t have to and let’s look at some reasons why ideally a roof should not be pressure washed. Pressure washing may remove moss from the roof, but the aggressive jets of water may disturb the tiles and other roof fittings, risk flooding the loft space and it’s more than likely that the moss will quickly grow back!

Jet washing additionally affects the longevity of the tiles which could result in more problems in the future with many tile manufacturing companies also advising against this method of roof cleaning.
Power washing a roof is the least popular option as this in many instances can dislodge or break frail tiles from the pressure of the jet washer but may also damage your roof when disturbing the tiles from walking on them.

Many cow-boy tradesmen who attempt this kind of work, think it’s easy money and that it doesn’t take much skill. Is there any truth in that? A service like this requires a degree of experience and skill that we can provide. Using proper roof access equipment, the right tools and our experience and know-how we can deliver a roof cleaning service that is worthwhile without you needing to put yourself at unwanted risk.

What are the best ways to have my roof cleaned?

Before and After Cleaning

It is recommended that you have your roof cleaning done by a company that specialises in this area. One of the kindest yet most beneficial ways to clear away roof moss and clean the roof is by using the scraping method. By using a 9″ scraper in dry conditions will efficiently remove any moss on the roof leaving no scratch marks on the tiles from doing so.

As previously stated – with this method the tiles are not damaged and there is no flood risk, unlike other methods such as high-powered pressure washing.

Another effective method is to use chemicals. Applying a fungicide/moss killer once the moss has been gently removed will permeate into the tile but most importantly into the overlaps of the tiles destroying any lichen, tiny moss spores and all other organic growth on the tiles. This step can take some time after the excess moss has initially been scraped away but again the tiles are unharmed and with the added application of bespoke chemicals this will prevent the moss from growing back for many years making this the most worthwhile method.

How is it done?

We will supervise your roof carefully before beginning any work, to determine the best cleaning method to use depending on your roof. Then we will assess what’s growing there and the best way to clear out the growth. We can then begin to work on cleansing your roof of organic colonising growths by getting deep into the moss root system and eliminating the spores. You’ll notice an immediate improvement and continued improvement as time passes.

A few factors to consider.

We have already considered some other factors that can affect having your roof cleaned. So, consider just a few more.

  • Size of house and the size of the roof.
  • How much vegetation is growing on the roof.
  • The type of roof – for example with a thatched roof, no water is involved.
  • Accessibility of the roof.
  • How high is the roof?

Keeping the aforementioned points in mind, don’t risk serious insult to yourself or dis-repair to your dwelling by trying to do your own roof cleaning. Fill in the free quote form or give us a call for your quote, and leave it to the professionals.