Roof Cleaning Althorpe offer a roof cleaning service for private and commercial properties in Althorpe and surrounding towns and villages in Lincolnshire. Getting your roof cleaned can be a quick and easy way to improve the appearance of your property, by clearing moss and more that has accumulated there.

As a roof becomes older and become more porous, they are often affected by moss and dirt. Maintaining a roof that is clean and free of moss and dirt is often challenging for many owners and becomes a constant cause for problems.

Wouldn’t it be great to have your roof looking like brand new again?

Why do it?

A really serious build-up of moss, dirt on roof tiles and other organic growth may cause you big issues with your roof and the life expectancy of the tiles will over time be compromised too. If you ignore your roof, you’ll find these organic growths will rapidly spread uncontrollably with their roots working their way into vulnerable spots in the roof tiles, gradually widening them over the course of time until cracks appear. Like all plants they need water to live, and after it rains, they’ll behave like a sponge holding as much water as possible. As it works its way through the cracks into your roof it could cause serious and expensive damage to the rafters and joists. Finally you could well become aware of moss that has come loose and rolled down the roof finding itself in your gutter which can result in overflowing rainwater from your gutter which saturates and damages your fascia boards. Really then, arranging to have a roof cleaned is an important job for many reasons.

For many people though wanting a clean roof is solely an aesthetic decision and we don’t blame you for that! Roofs can become very dull due to organic growths like lichen and moss, and this is when a roof cleaning service is needed. Roofs are also frequently tarnished and stained by an everyday bacterium called gloeocapsa magma affecting the general appearance of your otherwise stunning house. Without a doubt, this bacteria growth is not unusual but after all it isn’t nice to look at and gradually it can damage your roof. The difference between a clean roof and one that needs cleaning can be night and day. After months and years of seeing your roof get progressively dirtier wouldn’t it be brilliant to see it looking as good as new again?

Next you might ask, “Is this a straightforward DIY job that I should try to do myself?” Let’s look at some evidence to propose what the best way to do this is.

Can I just clean it alone?

The biggest reason why most people don’t clean their own roof is since it requires working at a height where many of us wouldn’t feel comfortable or safe. At these kinds of heights any kind of fall can lead to a very serious wound.

Also, lots of people would assume roof cleaning involves pressure washing but it doesn’t have to and let’s look at some reasons why preferably a roof should not be pressure washed. Pressure washing may clear away moss from your roof, but the aggressive jets of water may dislodge the tiles or other roof fittings, risk flooding a loft and it is highly likely that the moss will quickly grow back!

Power washing additionally affects the longevity of the tiles which could mean more issues in the future with the majority of tile manufacturing companies also cautioning people against this method of roof cleaning.
Pressure washing a roof is the least ideal option as this can often disrupt or break weak tiles from the pressure of the power washer but may also ruin your roof when walking on the tiles and disrupting the tiles.

Many dodgy tradesmen who attempt this kind of work, claim that it is easy money and that it doesn’t need a lot of skill. How true is that? A job like this requires a level of experience and skill that we can provide. Using the correct roof access equipment, the correct tools and our skill and know-how we can provide for you a roof cleaning service that you are happy with without you having to put yourself at unwanted risk.

What are the best ways to clean my roof?

It is best to have your roof cleaning done by a company that specialises in this area. One of the kindest yet most beneficial ways to clear away moss on your roof and clean the roof is by using the scraping method. Using a 9″ scraper on a dry day will easily flake off any moss on the roof and there won’t be any scratch marks on the tiles .

Remember – using this method the tiles are not damaged and there is no risk of flooding, unlike other methods such as pressure washing.

One more effective method is that of using chemicals. Using a fungicide/moss killer after the moss has been scraped off will soak into the tile but most importantly into the gaps in the tiles targeting any tiny moss spores, lichen and any other organic growth on the tiles. This roof cleaning process can take some time after the excess moss has initially been removed but again the tiles remain intact and by adding an application of specific chemicals this will prevent the moss from returning for several years making this method the most worthwhile.

How is it done?

We will inspect your roof carefully before commencing any work, to determine the best cleaning method to use depending on your roof. Then we will look at what’s growing there and the best approach to take to clear out the growth. Then we can start to work on purging your roof of organic colonising growths by getting deep into the root system of the moss and eliminating the spores. You’ll notice an instant improvement and continued improvement over time.

Some factors to think about.

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

• Size of dwelling and the size of the roof.
• The level of vegetation that is currently on the roof.
• Type of roof – for example with a thatched roof, no water is involved.
• How accessible is the roof?
• How high is the roof?

Keeping all of the above in mind, it is not worth risking serious insult to you or damage to your dwelling by trying to do your own roof cleaning. Fill out the free quote form or give us a call for a quote, and leave it to us.