How often does a roof need cleaning?

When did you last clean your roof?

Do you remember when you last cleaned your roof and how it was treated, including the types of products used? How and when your roof has been cleaned in the past will determine whether it’s due for a clean today. So, how often does a roof need cleaning?

When you should clean your roof

Have you lived in your home for over a decade? Maybe you’ve moved into a property and have no record of a professional roof clean ever being carried out? If either of these apply to you, then the first step is to check your roof. If possible, stand away from your home so you have a good view of your roofline and tiles. If you have a skylight, this is easier as you can inspect the quality of the roof close up. Next, inspect the interior of your home.

Look for the following:

• Signs of moss and lichen growing in between the roof tiles.
• Dirt and debris across your roof area and in your guttering.
• Damage or discolouration of the roof tiles.
• Watermarks or bubbling paint on your ceiling.
• Damp spots near ceiling areas in rooms.

If any of the above are present, then it’s likely your roof will need to be professionally cleaned and possibly surveyed. Checking your ceilings and any loft areas will help you spot a water leak caused by a dislodged roof tile. If this is the case, you will need a roof survey.

Should you clean your roof after winter?

Seasonal weather can have an impact on a roof, especially if it was not properly cleaned in the past. This is why it is so important to use a company who will apply weather-resistant products containing fungicides, which help to protect your roof and prolong its lifespan. In frosty conditions, micro-roots such as moss and lichen expand and cause movement. It’s important to get rid of any organic matter growing in between your roof tiles.

If the roof hasn’t had a professional clean for a long while, then you might need one after a period of dismal weather. For more details, see our previous blog, Roof cleaning in winter.

How long should a roof clean last?

This depends on how it was cleaned before. Our team use the RENOTEC® Roof Coating, which has a 10-year manufacturer’s guarantee. As one of the only coatings on the market to have such a lengthy guarantee, this means the roof shouldn’t need cleaning again for at least 10 years.

The only exceptions are a small number of cases where a client has a lot of trees surrounding their property. In these instances, we might have to do another clean after 10 years. Most of the time, this just involves rinsing the roof off, and the existing coating is still as good as new. In other cases, we might apply one (rather than two) coats of RENOTEC® after rinsing the roof. This is cheaper than the original process, where we apply two coats. But this is a worst -case scenario, where there are many trees close to the property.

As RENOTEC® protects the roof from future growth of micro-roots, in many cases, a roof doesn’t need cleaning again for at least a decade or longer. In fact, many of our clients often advise their roof still looks as good as new after 10 – 15 years later.

If you would like us to inspect your roof, our roof-cleaning team will visit your property. We use specialist equipment to inspect and clean your roof, which means we do not need to walk across your roof tiles. We can also clean and replace clay roof tiles. So if you have any damaged clay tiles, you won’t need to pay out for a whole roof replacement. We can also repair damaged chimneys and recement your hip and ridge tiles.