Roof cleaning - Am I just being grumpy?
Discussion
Do you have roof tiles? If they are clay you will have broken tiles.
Its really messy when they are doing it, moss everywhere, water everywhere. Gutters and downpipes will need properly cleaning out, I would put something over the downpipe outlets to stop the moss going down them.
The moss will be back in 2/3 years time.
Personally I wouldn't bother, I'd just get the window cleaner to clean the gutters out every 6 months instead.
I am a builder btw and often have to assist clients repairing tiles, guttering and flashings after roof cleans!
Its really messy when they are doing it, moss everywhere, water everywhere. Gutters and downpipes will need properly cleaning out, I would put something over the downpipe outlets to stop the moss going down them.
The moss will be back in 2/3 years time.
Personally I wouldn't bother, I'd just get the window cleaner to clean the gutters out every 6 months instead.
I am a builder btw and often have to assist clients repairing tiles, guttering and flashings after roof cleans!
Edited by joshcowin on Tuesday 24th March 14:24
Pressure washers can force water behind the tiles doing damage that will only become apparent long after the operative is gone. I wouldn't do it unless essential and then be very careful about choice of person to do the job and how they intended to go about it.
Round me people turn up at random offering to pressure wash your roof if any moss is visible from the road, a bit like the 'clean your gutters' brigade, one of whom has just broken my neighbour's gutter, converting an £80 gutter clean into a quote of £1800 to replace all the gutters. Neighbour told them to get lost but is now left needing to get the repairs done.
Round me people turn up at random offering to pressure wash your roof if any moss is visible from the road, a bit like the 'clean your gutters' brigade, one of whom has just broken my neighbour's gutter, converting an £80 gutter clean into a quote of £1800 to replace all the gutters. Neighbour told them to get lost but is now left needing to get the repairs done.
PH is stuffed full of these conversations.
45% say it needs to be done
45% say it will wreck your roof
The other 10% know they have lived long enough in houses to know it does no harm having moss on your roof, and you really need to find a hobby to take your mind off cleaning stuff that does not need cleaning.
45% say it needs to be done
45% say it will wreck your roof
The other 10% know they have lived long enough in houses to know it does no harm having moss on your roof, and you really need to find a hobby to take your mind off cleaning stuff that does not need cleaning.
ARH said:
PH is stuffed full of these conversations.
45% say it needs to be done
45% say it will wreck your roof
The other 10% know they have lived long enough in houses to know it does no harm having moss on your roof, and you really need to find a hobby to take your mind off cleaning stuff that does not need cleaning.
Don't forget the 1% who make a pointless post 45% say it needs to be done
45% say it will wreck your roof
The other 10% know they have lived long enough in houses to know it does no harm having moss on your roof, and you really need to find a hobby to take your mind off cleaning stuff that does not need cleaning.
If your roof is particularly mossy (IE you are in a damp, tree-lined, sheltered area) then I see the benefit of getting up there with one of these hosepipe brush things old people use to clean scratch their car with, and (from the top down) sweeping away the big lumps of moss and then of course fully cleaning your gutters.
Whatever you do never get it pressure washed, you are just going to trash the roof or at least drastically shorten it's lifespan.
Whatever you do never get it pressure washed, you are just going to trash the roof or at least drastically shorten it's lifespan.
Just thought about doing this on my BTL 3 bedroom link detached house before selling it. I got a quote to clean off the moss, clean the gutters and clean the soffits.
Quote was £1800, but reduced to £1500 as an introductory offer.
The gutters were full to the brim with moss, so I got a ladder and half an hour later the gutters were free flowing again. On the garage I pulled off some lower moss with my hands.
The moss can stay, when I have some more time I will give the gutters another proper clean and clean the soffits.
All the houses in the street have moss on the roof, just seemed a waste of £1500 in the end.
Quote was £1800, but reduced to £1500 as an introductory offer.
The gutters were full to the brim with moss, so I got a ladder and half an hour later the gutters were free flowing again. On the garage I pulled off some lower moss with my hands.
The moss can stay, when I have some more time I will give the gutters another proper clean and clean the soffits.
All the houses in the street have moss on the roof, just seemed a waste of £1500 in the end.
Some diagonally opposite neighbours of mine had it done last summer. It was most distracting whilst trying to wash my car & hearing the whizz & then smash as multiple tiles or pieces of decided to part company from the roof, so it's now a patchy mess of old & new tiles which looks far worse than the moss ever did lol.
She wants it cleared because she can see it I expect. She has muttered something about it blocking gutters or falling on the ground, neither of which is a big deal as we have a bungalow clearing the gutters isn't really a big deal. It does appear to be lifting a tile or two but we have no leaks so I am happy to leave well alone. Might just get the guys to sweep it off when we get solar installed.
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