Best Time of Year to Remove Moss from Roof Is Autumn
The best time of year to remove moss from roof tiles is Autumn or Summer. Our soft wash roof cleaning approach is totally safe and highly effective. We do not use high pressure turbo jet nozzles on 95% of our work. Get your free no-obligation moss removal roof cleaning quote today by sending an email with either a photo of your property or your address so that we can use Google Earth to give you a price.
September 2024 Update: Summer is normally the simplest time of year for roofers like us to efficiently conduct roof cleaning. Autumn however, is most definitely the time when moss causes the most issues. Due to our lovely British summer this year, roof moss removal will be in more demand then ever this Autumn. By November, we plan to halt all roof cleaning activities until Spring 2025 to due to outdoor work winter disruption. So, be sure to book our service soon if you don’t want to avoid the risk of leaving your and roof and gutters as they are.
We are a small team of self-employed roofers who together can cover most areas in England or Wales. If we can not clean your roof we may still be able to recommend a reliable and skilled contractor in your area. To help us better understand your roofing needs, you are welcome to take our roof cleaning assessment form at:
https://roofcleaningbeforeandafter.co.uk/
Our Soft Wash Roof Cleaning Approach
1) Manual brushing/scraping of moss, grime and other organic debris
2) Application of sodium treatment which a)kills of any remaining moss, algae or lichen and b) prevents immediate regrowth of organic matter
3) Clearance of gutters to remove any pre-existing build-up and moss that has fell into it during the roof clean
Soft wash roof cleaning does not cause damage to your roof tiles, general building structure or any other part of your property. This is the gentlest way to effectively cleanse and clear all exterior surfaces on all properties. Your roof tile manufacturers warranty is not negatively affected by our work. In the very unlikely event that any small damage is incurred by the work of British Roof Cleaning we will resolve ourselves in a timely manner without delay or fuss. Our roof cleaning prices depend on a number of factors but we can provide you with a relatively fast free quote remotely which is fixed and won’t change eon the day of the work.
The best time of year to remove moss from roof tiles on your residential home often depends on severity of the problem and your own personal finances. Summer is the least complicated time to clean a roof from our perspective as professional roofers, but Winter is often the most necessary time. It’s important to note that we work all year round. However, even if you wish to wait for you roof to be cleaned, we can still quote you now so you are able to budge for this service when the time is right for you.
Bad weather makes a moss problem become a wider problem – overflowing gutters, flying onto the ground, loose tiles, leaks, internal damp etc. At British Roof Cleaning we have been revitalising tired roofs for nearly a decade. Efficient and effective roof moss removal requires a thorough understanding of roofs, as well as general building construction knowledge. Therefore, we have a varied background of trades expertise within our team.
We cover most areas in England and Wales. Although paying for a roof clean can feel like a chore it simply cant be avoided forever. Choosing to invest early in our moss removal service will likely save you a bigger bill further down the line. Please send an email with either a photograph or your address (so we can use Google Earth). We will reply with our quote (price, process & availability):
Proven Soft Wash Service
Our soft wash roof cleaning service uses a modern soft wash methodology to achieve 100% moss removal and elimination of green organic matter. Unlike pressure washing, soft washing a roof does not carry the risk of damaging your roof tiles or homes structure. Careful manual brushing combined with physical manpower and the methodical application of a chemical creates a visually pleasing results. Furthermore, a clean and clear roof eliminates the premature necessity more costly roof repairs, general maintenance or roof replacement.
While we can’t guarantee that every roof we clean will look brand new, we do guarantee that we will make the best out of whatever condition your roof is currently in. The simple truth is that no roof clean will restore a decades-old roof to precise the same specification as when the tiles were first laid. Get in touch now to request more information and get a free quote. We can use a photo of your building, or take your address to use Google earth to provide you with an accurate roof clean quote. The best time of year to remove moss from roof tiles is not a concrete answer, although for us as roofers, summer is ‘easier’.
Are There Any Risks to Roof Cleaning?
There are obvious but subtle risks to roofing work that exist even in a seemingly narrow task such as roof cleaning. Despite the complex nature of roof cleaning, we always strive to value simplicity in our work, which is why our daily approach is straightforward, tried and tested. One of the most common questions we are asked by potential moss removal customers is:
‘what is the best time of year to remove moss from my roof?’
Autumn/Winter
Unlike most other UK plants, moss does NOT die in the winter. It survives, and not only does it survive – it thrives. Mosses don’t need roots dug deep into fertile soil to prosper. They’re absolutely fine and dandy in the shade, which is why nuisance green matter normally accumulates the most on the north facing side of a roof.
Unfortunately, despite not needing real roots, they can easily make use of gaps in roof tiles. They do petal and produce spores. It is their resilience and capability of producing spores which is why they spread so easily. This is especially true in winter when they are encouraged by our heavy British rainwater. And the more that wet moss accumulates, the more it weaves together and creates a self-feeding unit. We believe mosses may even out-survive humans!
As well as being rooftop spore-super-spreaders, they also like to bunch up. They will colonise and takeover a hard surface along with other organic matter such as algae and lichen. Despite being rootless, their small hair-like structures are deviously perfect for anchoring themselves to all residential roof types.
In the UK we always have at least 2 or 3 very cold snaps over the winter months. freezing temperatures will morph moss from a dormant nuisance into a rooftop grenade. As it freezes, it expands and can crack/lift roof tiles. This is very common and we see this over and over where somebody has tried to go through several winters before realising they need to have their roof cleaned. At this point, roof cleaning becomes a more surgical procedure that needs immediate follow-up repair work.
Winter also brings rain (and lots of it)
Moss will hold onto water which increases the chance of internal leaks. Heavily soaked moss also has a tendency to tumble into gutters, causing overflows, UPVC disasters and expensive drainage problems. If you have a bad back, it will get worse as you begin to need to constantly pick up clumps of green on your patio/driveway.
Things For You To Consider: Can you afford to ‘wing it’? You might get away with it 1 or 2 winters if there is lightly dusted moss, but this is a progressive problem you can’t ignore. The cost of new gutters and roof replacement work is normally much higher than our roof cleaning costs. A damaged roof I guaranteed to bring about a whole lot of stress as well. We’ve seen it many times. All of a sudden a customer needs a new roof ‘today’ but it doesn’t work like that.
Things For Us To Consider: Roof cleaning is most necessary in the winter but it is also the most difficult. For health and safety reasons, and for effectiveness, morning frost ( still present at 8am) stops our day schedule. Therefore we check the weather forecast the night before. Frozen tiles are brittle tiles which are easily broken. Anything above 2 or 3 degrees and we are normally fine to complete your roof clean.
Light drizzle is not a problem for us as we are used to working in all weather conditions. However on the afternoon when we apply the treatment, the roof needs to be relatively dry for a couple of hours.
Spring/Summer
Spring is our busiest time when we receive the most inquiries. It is obvious to us by now that most people believe this to be the best time of the year to have their roof cleaned. Perhaps this is correct and it just so happens that we enjoy Spring too as we wear lighter clothes and more light means we can finish those roof cleans which sometimes run over in the Winter because we’ve ran out of light.
Things For You To Consider: Be sure to get a quote early and book a date in our calendar if you don’t want to wait too long.
Things For Us To Consider: Not much, life is straightforward. Drink water and wear sunscreen.
The truth is that the best time of year to remove moss from roof tiles is now or very soon. Once you’ve noticed it falling down, or blocking the gutters, it is probably passed the time of need. Remember that moss mostly grows out of sight from the ground level until it has already taken over.
Pressure Wash Vs Soft Wash
Tile manufacturers like Marley have succinctly answered the question of pressure washing by simply saying no. Not all roofs are made using Marley tiles though. Sites like ‘Roof Coating Scam‘ are very black and white on the issue of pressure washing. The word ‘never’ is used many times. We believe that a minority of roofs are suitable for pressure washing but most aren’t.
Sometimes a pressure wash is essential. For example, if you wish to paint your roof to upgrade or change the colour, a pressure wash must be completed first immediately before applying the new coating. The good news is the most proven coating products will add a fresh layers of protection to the tiles
Contact us for a free fast quote.
Some Of Our Roof Cleaning Reviews
Brilliant Result & Great Service
I bought my place about 6 months ago knowing I’d have to tackle a very mossy roof at some point. I was actually considering doing it myself (after watching a few YouTube videos) because it’s only a bungalow. But thankfully I decided to get a quote from BRC and thank goodness I did. The guys were so thorough and professional. It would have taken me so long I would have had to book time off work and honestly it would have been totally miserable. And that’s assuming I didn’t fall off and break my neck, or fall through the roof!
Geoff Bennett
Fantastic Job
Arrived on time and grafted until 5.30 when finished.
The finish is fantastic, 2 pleasant hardworking men who cleaned up any mess.
Can’t fault them. Brilliant.
Brian Byrne
A Cracking Job!
A very good service from this company. The guys who did the work were punctual, extremely hard working and thorough. They did have to return the following Saturday to finish off as the office had underestimated the work involved, but this was not a problem. They have transformed a very neglected roof into one which looks like new. Would thoroughly recommend.
Dorris Morrison
The Best Time Of Year To Remove Moss From Roof Tiles Varies, But It’s Prudent To Be Proactive & Not Wait For It To Worsen
6 reasons why unnecessary high pressure jet washing shouldn’t be used instead of soft wash roof cleaning:
- In many cases it voids your roof tile manufacturers warranty. Any pressure over 1,200psi can cause irreparable damage to some roofs because of their construction or current condition (psi is ‘pressure per square inch’ and measures a unit of stress)
- Loosens waterproofing flashings if machine used incorrectly. Loose flashings will allow water to leak in causing water degradation and damp.
- Diminishes tile surfaces by creating an etched tile. This means there are deeper crevices in the tile, making it easier for algae to grow, which will hasten the need for a another roof clean in the future!
- Creates mess on the day of the clean. We always clean up after our work but some tradesman can not be trusted to minimise and then remove all mess from a jet spray.
- Can sometimes change the general colour of the roof. High pressure jet wash on some roofs will lead to duller, often white roof tiles months or years after the clean. This is rarely the ‘freshen up’ experience our customers are hoping for
- Last but not least, pressure washing is often the sole method used by non-roofing experts. Window cleaners, gutter cleaners and have-a-go-roof-cleaners have spotted an opportunity to make a quick buck – or so they think. The reality is that roof cleaning mistakes are costly to the tradesman. It’s better to know how to avoid these mistakes but also be skilled enough to rectify unfortunate worst case scenarios.
Get Your Free Roof Cleaning Quote Within 24 Hours
Please include your address so we can use Google earth to calculate your quote. Or alternatively attach a photo to your email enquiry.
Moss is like marmite – some people think it looks nice, others strongly dislike it’s presence on their property. At British Roof Cleaning we know the risks of delaying or refusing to hire a moss removal service. When asking when the best time of year to remove moss from roof tiles, rest assured knowing this can be completed any time of the year. As experienced roofers we know how, what and when to do this.