Roof Cleaning Horncastle offers a professional roof cleaning service for private and commercial premises in Horncastle and surrounding towns and villages in Lincolnshire. Having your roof cleaned is a relatively simple way to improve the appearance of your property, by removing moss, dirt and anything else that has accumulated there.

As roofs age and get more porous, they are often affected by algae, moss and dirt. Keeping your roof clean and without moss and debris can be challenging for the majority of homeowners and can become a cause for annoyance.

Would it not be wonderful to have your roof looking like new again?

Why do it?

A really serious build-up of moss, dirt on your roof and other natural growth is likely to cause serious issues with the roof and the life-span of the tiles will eventually be affected too. If you overlook your roof, you’ll find these plants will swiftly spread out of control with their roots working their way into vulnerable spots in the tiles of the roof, gradually widening them throughout time until cracks appear. Like all living organisms they need water to live, and after it rains, they’ll behave like a sponge securing as much water as they can. As it finds its way through the cracks into your roof it might well cause serious and costly deterioration to the rafters and joists. Also you could well find moss that has come loose and rolled down the roof ending up in your gutter which can result in overflowing rainwater from your gutter which penetrates and damages your fascia’s. Really then, getting the roof cleaned is a necessary service for many reasons.

For many though wanting a clean roof is simply an aesthetic choice and we don’t fault you for that! Roofs can become very unattractive due to organic growths like lichen and moss, and this is when a roof cleaning company is needed. Roofs are also frequently discoloured and stained by a prevalent bacterium called gloeocapsa magma affecting the general appearance of your otherwise stunning home. By all means, this bacteria growth is completely natural but after all it isn’t attractive to see and after a while it can damage your roof. The difference between a clean roof and one that hasn’t been cleaned can be night and day. After months and years of watching your roof get progressively dirtier wouldn’t it be brilliant to see it looking like brand new like it used to?

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

Could I just clean it myself?

The biggest reason why a lot of people haven’t attempted to clean their own roof is the fact that it requires working at a height where many of us wouldn’t feel safe and secure. At these kinds of heights any kind of fall can lead to a very serious injury.

Also, many would assume getting your roof cleaned requires pressure washing but it doesn’t have to and here are some reasons why preferably a roof should not be pressure washed. Jet washing may remove moss from your roof, but the aggressive jets of water may disturb the tiles and 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 result in more problems in the future with the majority of tile manufacturing businesses also cautioning people against this form of cleaning roofs.
Pressure washing your roof is the least popular option as this could disrupt or break fragile tiles due to the pressure of the power washer but can also damage your roof when disturbing the tiles from walking on them.

Many rogue tradespeople who attempt this kind of work, think it is easy money and that it doesn’t require a lot of skill. Is there any truth in that? A job like this requires a level of experience and skill that we can deliver. Using the correct roof access equipment, the right tools and our skill and understanding we can deliver a roof cleaning service that you are happy with without you needing to put yourself at needless risk.

What is the best way to have my roof cleaned?

It is recommended that you have your roof cleaned by a specialised cleaning company. One of the kindest yet most beneficial ways to remove moss on your roof and clean your roof is by using the scraping method. Using a 9″ scraper on a dry day will easily remove any moss on your roof and there won’t be any scratch marks on the tiles from doing so.

Don’t forget – with this approach there is no damage to the tiles and there is no flood risk, unlike other methods such as high-powered pressure washing.

Another effective method is to use chemicals. Using a fungicide/moss killer after the moss has been gently removed will permeate into the tile and most importantly into the overlaps of the tiles targeting any tiny moss spores, lichen and all other organic growth on the tiles. This roof cleaning process can take some time once the excess moss has initially been scraped away but again there is no damage to the surface of the tile and with the added application of specific chemicals this will hinder the moss from returning for many years making this the best method.

How is it done?

We will inspect your roof carefully before commencing any work, to identify the best course of action depending on your roof. Then we will assess what’s growing there and the best way to remove the growth. Next we can begin to work on eradicating your roof of organic colonising growths by getting right into the root system of the moss and killing the spores. You’ll notice an instant improvement and continued change as time passes.

Some things to consider.

We’ve already considered some other things to consider that can affect having your roof cleaned. Now, let’s have a quick look at these.

• Size of dwelling and the size of its roof.
• How much vegetation is present on the roof.
• The type of roof – e.g. with a thatched roof, no water is used.
• How accessible is the roof?
• Height of the roof.

Keeping everything we have just mentioned in mind, it is not worth risking serious injury to yourself or damage to your home by attempting a DIY roof clean. Fill out the quote form or ring us for a quote, and leave it to the professionals.