An Introduction To Roof Cleaning - A Few Pointers

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Are you ready to learn about the dynamic duo of home maintenance? Get ready to discover why roof cleaning and gutter cleaning are an unstoppable team.

Protecting homes from the UK climate is essential. Constant showers, overcast days, and shade from big trees make the perfect recipe for moss to thrive in. Roof moss, when left untreated, can cause extensive tile damage, blocking water from draining from the roof and causing it to build up. Over time, it is more likely to lead to leaks and floods in the home.

It’s not only the roof at risk. Roof moss can also become dislodged, rolling off the roof into the gutters and building into a blockage. Once the gutter is blocked, water starts to overflow and runs down the walls, causing expensive damp problems in the future. But fear not! By adding roof cleaning to your business, you can help protect your customers’ homes and grow your business at the same time.

As you add external services to your cleaning business, you’ll start to receive requests from customers for roof cleaning. This is a great opportunity to expand your business and provide more value to your customers. With some product research and practice, you can create a system for tackling roof cleaning.

With all jobs, you gain experience and tweak things as you progress. So here are a few tips to help you if you’re considering adding roof cleaning to your business.

Roof Cleaning Survey and Quote

  1. Use an inspection camera or SurveyCam to check the roof for broken tiles, especially around valleys, windows, or flashing.
  2. Highlight any defects to your customer — some tiles or slates can become brittle over time and work loose.
  3. Use a telescopic pole to check where you can reach and clean from the ground and where you will need a tower to access different aspects of the roof.
  4. Check the profile of the tiles to ensure you have the correct skyScraper Blade.
  5. When submitting your quote, always put the caveat ‘Quote is subject to investigation’ — this protects you as you never know what you might find when you remove the moss.
  6. Don’t forget to include clearing the gutters as part of your quote.
💡 Tip: Always survey from the ground first using an inspection camera before committing to a price. Hidden damage under moss can significantly change the scope of the job.

Cleaning Process

  1. Place sheeting on the ground around the area to be cleaned. Use a tennis ball or something similar to cover the downpipe to stop moss from falling in and causing blockages.
  2. Using the skyScraper and telescopic pole with the appropriate blade, start at the top of the roof and scrape the moss downwards, ready for collection or allow it to drop to the ground.
  3. Using the skySweeper or the Speedi Brushes, sweep any remaining debris downwards as before. With the skyScraper Double Head, you can have two of your preferred end tools ready at the same time.
  4. For any stubborn marks or moss remaining on edges, nooks, and crannies, use the skyScraper Wire Brush — the carbon steel bristles come in short (30mm) or long (45mm).
  5. Clean all the gutters using your skyVac. Use the Mighty Atom or Industrial 85 for best results. (Don’t forget to remove your tennis balls from the downpipes!)
💡 Finishing up: If required, vacuum any minor dust using the skyVac. With the customer’s permission, dispose of the moss in their recycling bin, then sweep and tidy up.

Pricing Your Roof Cleaning Job

There’s no right or wrong way to price a job — it depends on many factors including location, difficulty, and your target market. Some people price according to area (per square metre). Here’s one approach:

  • Work out how many tiles cover a square metre.
  • Count the tiles on the roof vertically and horizontally to calculate the total area.
  • Price accordingly, and don’t forget to add any additional costs such as towers or scaffolding.
⚠ Remember: Always include a caveat in your quote such as ‘Quote is subject to investigation’ to protect yourself from unexpected findings once moss removal begins.