At Frames and Panes our Roof cleaning service is tailored to your specific requirements. whether you just want the unsightly moss removed or you want to restore your tiles to their former glory, we have a safe cleaning Method for your needs
Roofs often provide the perfect conditions for moisture loving algae, moss and lichens. This cannot only look unsightly and constantly fall onto patios and driveways, but if left untreated, can cause tile and mortar damage, affect drainage and potentially lead to leaks. These living organisms can slowly cause damage as they grip tightly to the face of tiles initially causing hairline surface cracks. Years of cold weather can cause the surface hairline cracks to deepen causing broken tiles. This happens because moss holds water which expands when it freezes, causing any minor damage to potentially escalate over time.
There are several methods of cleaning roofs. Unfortunately there is always a risk that moss is hiding damage that is already present on the roof and we will not know this until we uncover and clean all the tiles. At Frames and Panes we have carefully selected cleaning methods to properly care for your property and prevent any unnecessary further damage. This also includes never walking or stepping onto your roof because we clean either from the ground using telescopic poles or from access towers and scaffolding.
Our preferred methods include (1) manual removal of the moss by safely brushing it down using a wire brush and shaped scraper tool, (2) using low pressure gentle hot steam treatment and (3) biocide treatment to kill the algae, moss and lichens and prevent re-growth leaving your roof looking like new for many years.
One method we would never advise using on a roof is jet washing. Although jet washing can be a very effective cleaning method on many surfaces, giving the impression of immediate great looking results, this is often counterproductive on roofs. It can damage the protective surface layer of the material being cleaned, including roof tiles, causing long term damage and significantly reducing their life expectancy. It is also only a short term aesthetic improvement as it will not kill the living organisms and over time they will re-grow. The methods we use are designed to care for both the short and long term affects of your roof, property and building materials.
Click on the links below to learn more about each of our preferred methods:
WIRE BRUSH AND BLADE SCRAPE
Our roof scraper moss removal system, is a great way to clear roofs of unwelcome mossy crumbs and carpets. Our bladed system comes with 11 shaped edges, to match most common tile profiles. The wire brush gets into the tight gaps and edges that moss loves to grow in. These shaped blades and wire brush tool system, attached to a telescopic pole, safely scrape away and brush down the moss. We then collect up the debris using a powerful industrial vacuum to make sure the gutters and all surrounding areas are fully cleared, cleaned and tidy. This manual method is one of the safest options for removing moss from your roof, however one point to note is that it will not kill the living organisms so over time they will re-grow.
LOW PRESSURE HOT STEAM TREATMENT
There are very few companies that offer roof steam cleaning. Steam is an excellent cleaning method that is also gentle on the roof tiles. This type of roof cleaning should always be carried out under very low pressure with a low flow rate of around 6 -10 ltrs per minute heated to around 140 degrees. Steam cleaning will leave your roof beautifully clean immediately after cleaning has finished. Although steam cleaning is carried out under low pressure it does still come with a very low risk of water ingress and will uncover any already broken roof tiles.
BIOCIDE TREATMENT
Manual roof moss removal followed by a biocidal roof treatment is the most gentle yet extremely effective and long lasting solution to cleaning your roof. Over 3-6 months after treatment the roof tiles return to somewhere near their original colour as the surface dirt is lifted from the tiles by the biocide combined with weathering. The biocide then repels future moss growth for up to 5 years.
We use a high quality, professional-grade softwash product that is the strongest government approved softwash biocide of its type available in the UK (The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) for use in the UK. Certificate number: 9936). It treats the biofilm on roofs, render, walls, patios, paths & naturally deep cleans over time. The powerful active ingredient is a similar purity to that used to disinfect hospitals. It has the ability to prevent re-colonisation of porous surfaces and is fully biodegradable. It is Ph neutral, so safe for materials and gentle on people. It controls algae, lichen, fungi, moss and mould, allowing surfaces to naturally rejuvenate. Non-bleaching (contains no bleach or acids) and is harmless to all known building materials. It soaks deep into porous surfaces, killing the micro-organisms responsible for unsightly discolouring.
Our professional-grade softwash product is safe to use on the following surfaces and materials: coloured and plain wall render, slate and tile roofs, concrete patios & paths, painted surfaces, tarmac drives, timber decking, fencing, and sheds, natural stone, including sandstone and granite.
