Roof Cleaning and Moss Removal in Northampton

Why the Moss Keeps Coming Back

If you've had gutters cleared repeatedly and they're blocking again within months, the roof is almost certainly why. Moss growth on tiles loosens during heavy rain and wind. Chunks of it drop into the gutters and the downpipes. Gutter companies clear the symptom, but the source — the roof — keeps shedding more.

It's also not just a gutter problem. Moss holds moisture against the tile surface. Every winter that moisture freezes, expands, and works its way into any crack or joint it can find. Tiles crumble at the edges. Ridge mortar deteriorates. The roofing felt underneath starts to take water that it was never designed to handle. A roof clean now costs a fraction of what a re-tiling or structural repair costs in five years.

And there's the look of it. A mossy roof makes a house look neglected, even when everything else is well kept. Next door gets theirs done and suddenly yours stands out. Most of our customers say something similar — they'd noticed it getting worse for a while but hadn't realised quite how bad it had got until they saw the difference.

How We Clean Roofs

Every roof clean starts with a site survey. We come to the property, look at the tile type, check the ridge mortar, and assess access. Before any work begins we also ask to inspect the loft space. Looking at the roofing felt from underneath tells us whether the roof is suitable for cleaning and flags any existing issues — cracks in the felt, sagging timbers, damp patches — that you'd want to know about before we start working on the surface above them.

This is a step most companies skip. We do it on every job because it protects both you and us. There's no point cleaning a roof that's about to need a roofer anyway.

Once the survey's done, we remove moss, lichen, and algae from the tile surface by hand. Careful work — we don't dislodge tiles, we don't force debris into gaps, and we clear everything from the property when we're finished.

Then we apply a professional biocide treatment across the whole roof. This is included in every quoted price — not an extra. The biocide penetrates the tile pores and kills the spores and root systems you can't see from the surface. Without it, moss comes back within months. With it, your roof typically stays clear for three to five years. We're Lantra certified for roof cleaning, which means we've been formally trained in the correct method for each tile type rather than just guessing.

Why We Don't Pressure Wash Roofs

Pressure washing strips the protective surface layer from tiles. Concrete tiles often have a factory-applied laminate coating — blast that off and the tile becomes more porous, absorbs more moisture, and grows moss faster than before. High-pressure water also gets forced under tile overlaps and into the felt. On older roofs it cracks tiles that are already weakened by frost damage.

The result looks clean for a few weeks, then gets worse faster than if it had been left alone. Our biocide method works with the tile rather than against it — the treatment soaks in, does its job over the following weeks, and leaves the tile surface intact. That's why the results last years instead of months.

How Our Biocide Treatment Works

The biocide we use is a professional-grade DDAC formulation. It bonds to the porous surface of the tile and creates a chemical barrier that kills moss and algae spores before they can establish. Every time it rains, the treatment activates. It takes around six to twelve months to reach its full depth of penetration, so you'll see the roof continue to improve in the months after the clean as deeper growth dies off.

When the treatment eventually diminishes — typically after three to five years, sometimes longer on south-facing roofs — a top-up application is usually enough. You won't necessarily need another full clean, just a fresh coat of biocide on an already clean surface. Quicker job, lower cost.

Roof Types We Clean

Concrete Tile Roofs

The most common roof type across Northamptonshire. The textured surface and joints trap moisture and encourage moss. Some concrete tiles have a factory-applied laminate coating that pressure washing would strip off — we identify whether yours has this coating during the survey and adjust our method accordingly.

Clay Tile Roofs

Softer than concrete and need gentler handling. We scrape carefully to avoid cracking, and clay responds well to biocide treatment because the porous surface absorbs and holds the product effectively.

Slate Roofs

Natural slate is durable but can be brittle on older roofs. We use minimal mechanical scraping on slate and rely more on the chemical treatment. Customers with slate roofs often see the longest-lasting results.

Roof Cleaning Prices in Northampton

Every roof is different — we price based on size, tile type, moss coverage, and access. These are typical starting prices for residential properties across Northamptonshire:

All prices include the full site survey, loft inspection, manual moss removal, biocide treatment, gutter clearance, and debris removal. We don't take a deposit. The price we quote is the price you pay when the job's done.

Want a price for your property? Call 0800 999 8594 or message us on WhatsApp.

What's Included

• Free site survey including loft inspection to check felt condition
• Tile type assessment — concrete, clay, or slate — to confirm the right method
• Manual moss, lichen, and algae removal from all tiles
• Ridge tile and mortar inspection
• Professional biocide treatment included in every quote (results last 3 to 5+ years)
• All debris cleared from the property
• Gutter clearance included — gutters fill with moss during a roof clean
• Lantra certified team, trained in safe roof cleaning methods
• Full insurance cover (£10m employers' liability)
• No up-front deposit — you pay on completion

Bundle With a Full Exterior Clean

Most customers who book a roof clean also need the gutters cleared and the fascias and soffits cleaned. The roofline tends to deteriorate at the same rate, so it makes sense to sort everything in one visit. We can quote a combined package covering the roof, gutters, fascias, and windows.

Roof Cleaning Across Northamptonshire

We're based in Northampton and clean roofs across the county — Kettering, Wellingborough, Corby, and Daventry, plus the towns and villages in between. If you're within about 30 miles of Northampton town centre, we can reach you.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What Else We Clean

Roof cleaning is what we're known for, but it's one part of a full exterior cleaning service. Most properties need more than one thing sorting at the same time.