Roof Cleaning

This service is also as it sounds. It's the cleaning of any type of surface that's located on top of the building structure. This is usually colorbond and sometimes tiles.

The Process

How we go about cleaning roofs can differ depending upon the roofing material. Typically, we'll use a combination of soft washing and controlled pressure.

Soft washing is a process where cleaning solutions are applied at low pressure to break down organic growth such as mould, algae, lichen, and moss. Controlled pressure is sometimes used afterwards to remove loosened material, but only where it's safe to do so for the roof surface.

It allows us to deliver a thorough clean without risking damage to tiles, sheets, flashings, or sealants. We can adjust our methods to suit different roof types. Tiled roofs could generally tolerate pressure but we tend to steer away from using it. We prefer the soft washing technique, typically from an EWP (elevated work platform) to prevent water ingress or dislodging/breaking material. Older or more delicate roofs need lower pressure and longer chemical dwell times to achieve results safely.

We can choose to pre-treat or post-treat (or both) the roof with chemicals to aid in the cleaning process and improve the final result. Pre-treatments help break down grime before cleaning, while post-treatments can slow the return of organic growth. Both options aren't always required, but they can make a noticeable difference, especially where mould or lichen has taken hold. We also stock a separate "spray and leave" product, which is used to kill mould spores and prevent the return of mould for an extended timeframe.

When the cleaning and treatments have been completed, we rinse down the roof to wash away the loosened material. This can be quick on smooth metal roofing, but tiled or older roofs can take longer due to the small gaps and textured surfaces where dirt and debris collect.

When rinsing down, we're mindful of any guttering, water tanks, and environmental factors, and we direct and contain run-off appropriately to avoid contamination.

You may turn around one day and realise that your black roof used to be white. It's one of those things that creeps up on you. We have fantastic visual results with our roof cleaning jobs, you can check out more images and videos on our Instagram page.