Moss removal
A mossy roof is a slow problem with two ends: the tiles under the moss, and the gutters it falls into.
Why moss matters more than it looks
Moss holds water. A cushion of it on a tile keeps that tile wet long after the rain has stopped, and in winter the water freezes, expands and cracks the surface. On a concrete tile it strips the face; on a slate it works into the nail holes.
It also moves. Every shower washes a little more of it into the gutter, where it packs down into something close to compost. Most blocked gutters on a house with a mossy roof are blocked with the roof.
What moss removal involves
- Taking the moss off the tiles by hand or scraper — not a pressure washer, which drives water under the tiles and strips the surface
- Clearing the ridges, hips and valleys where it grows thickest
- Clearing what has already fallen out of the gutters and downpipes
- Checking the tiles while they can be seen: moss hides cracks and slipped tiles
- Bagging and taking the moss away
Questions about moss
Why is my roof so mossy when next door’s is not?
Shade and damp. A north-facing slope, a roof under trees or one that stays wet longer grows moss faster. Concrete tiles grow it faster than clay or slate because the surface is rougher and holds more water. It is about the roof’s position more than its age.
Will the moss come back?
Over years, yes, if the conditions that grew it are still there. Removing it properly resets the clock by a long way, and a roof that has been cleared and kept clear is far easier to keep that way than one left for a decade.
Is pressure washing a roof a good idea?
No. High-pressure water forces its way under tiles and into the felt, strips the protective surface off concrete tiles, and can dislodge tiles and pointing. Moss comes off perfectly well by hand, and the roof is better for it.
Other services
PVC gutter repairs — full or part replacements
Repairing PVC guttering where it can be repaired, and replacing a joint, a run or the whole lot where it cannot.
Gutter leak & downpipe repairs
Dripping joints, split or blocked downpipes, loose brackets, and the damp patch on the wall underneath.
Gutter cleaning service
Clearing leaves, moss and silt so rainwater goes down the pipe and not over the edge.
Roof repairs
Slipped, cracked and missing tiles, ridge and verge pointing, flashing and the leaks they let in.
Free inspections & quotes
A free look at the roof and gutters, what was found explained, and a quote before any work is agreed.