Roof Treatment versus a roof wash
There are a couple of options for getting a roof clean, and the option that will suit you depends on your end goal. Are you planning on having the roof painted after the wash? Or do you want to wash it because it is due for a clean?
If it is the latter, a roof treatment could be a much better option for you as it's cheaper than a roof wash. Some of the other benefits are that it's quicker and less labour intensive. It's also gentler on roofing materials and uses much less water.
If you are wanting to have it painted, then a roof wash is the best option for you.
Having your roof cleaned or a roof treatment on a regular basis will help the materials last a lot longer. When it’s not kept clean moss, algae, and atmospheric pollutants will break down the materials and make them deteriorate a lot quicker. The cost of keeping your roof clean is a lot cheaper than needing to replace or do repairs on the roof which can become very costly. When it comes to cleaning your roof we offer two options for having it cleaned.
1. Roof treatment
A roof treatment involves spraying a product onto the roof surface which kills lichen, moss and mould. The rain and sun gradually break down and remove the dead lichen, moss and mould. This process can take up to 12 months or in some cases where there is a thick covering of black mould up to 18 months. Generally results can usually be seen in the first 2 to 3 months with the moss and lichen changing colour.
You can find out more about roof treatment here such as what to do if your are on tank water.
2. Roof wash and treatment
The second option is where we use our water blasting machines to gently wash away any lichen and algae from your roof. When we do a roof wash we also apply a treatment product which kills the lichen and algae spores and stops them from returning for at least two years. Many water blasting companies don’t apply the treatment after the roof wash and the nasties quickly return and you then need to repeat having your roof washed much sooner.
We wash roofs of all sizes, from a 20msq shed to whopping great big commercial roofs the size of 12 rugby fields.
There are a couple of options for getting a roof clean, and the option that will suit you depends on your end goal. Are you planning on having the roof painted after the wash? Or do you want to wash it because it is due for a clean?
If it is the latter, a roof treatment could be a much better option for you as it's cheaper than a roof wash. Some of the other benefits are that it's quicker and less labour intensive. It's also gentler on roofing materials and uses much less water.
If you are wanting to have it painted, then a roof wash is the best option for you.
Coming home to clean & sparkly kinda gives you that ‘wahoo it’s Friday’ feeling
Roof treatment
A roof treatment involves spraying a product onto the roof surface which kills lichen, moss and mould. The rain and sun gradually break down and remove the dead lichen, moss and mould. This process can take up to 12 months. Generally, results can usually be seen in the first 2 to 3 months with the moss and lichen changing colour.
The product we apply is an industrial-strength treatment (A lot of the products for this sort of work are diluted and so do not produce the end result our product does). The product is bleach-free, non-acidic and phosphate-free.
We are VERY particular about getting a thorough coverage and apply 2 treatments when we do the treatment to ensure a good soak and thus much better results. What this means is we treat the area, wait for it to soak in and then treat it again.
We also use a very concentrated mix and even more so if there is black mould. This costs us a lot more and the chemical is not cheap however we want to do the best we can to ensure the best results possible.
You can find out more about roof treatment here such as information on what a treatment involves, the process and the benefits of a roof treatment vs a wash and what to do if you are on tank water.
Roof wash
The second option is where we use our water blasting machines to wash away any lichen, moss, mould and grime from your roof. When we do a roof wash we also apply a complementary treatment which kills the mould spores and stops them from returning for at least two years. Many water blasting companies don’t apply the treatment after the roof wash and the nasties quickly return and you then need to repeat having your roof washed much sooner.
You can find out more information here on what types of roofs are not suitable for washes, the technique we use for safety when on a roof and more.
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Get a quote for cleanFrequently asked questions
When should you opt for a roof wash-over roof treatment?
- If you are getting your roof painted, then it will need to be washed.
- If you’re wanting your roof cleaned instantly and are not wanting to wait 12 months (sometimes this can be more like 6 months) then getting a roof wash would be the better option for you
- If you have quite a lot of black mould. Sometimes a roof treatment is not always that effective on black mould. This is generally only if the mould it quite severe.
We collect the water from our roof for drinking. Is my water safe to drink after the roof has been cleaned?
If you are on tank water for your drinking water, then the answer is yes, it is provided the downpipes are disconnected from the water tank and stay disconnected until there has been 25 ml of rain. Before reconnecting the tank, you can check the water coming off the roof has no smell or foaming. If smell or foaming occurs do not connect the tank until the water runs, clear.
If we have only washed the roof but not applied a treatment the tanks can be reconnected straight after the wash.
I am on tank water is a roof treatment suitable?
If you are on tank water you will need to disconnect the tanks prior to us arriving. They will need to stay disconnected until there has been 25 ml of rain. If you need help disconnecting the tanks please let us know.
The treatment product we use is 100% water-soluble. This means that the rain will wash it away even on a porous surface. To be really safe we recommend that water tanks stay disconnected until there has been 25 ml of rain.
I have a tiled roof can you wash it without breaking tiles?
As a general rule, we don’t recommend water blasting tiles as they are often loose and water blasting can blow them off the roof which breaks them. The gentlest and cheapest option to get your roof clean is a roof treatment. If for some reason you really need to wash we will come and take a look at it and assess whether or not it is an ok candidate for a wash
Can you wash my clear lights?
We sure can. Our approach to cleaning clear lights is to apply our wash down product, followed by a soft wash. Lastly, we apply a slow-release product that works overtime to keep cleaning them. If the clear lights are old, unfortunately, mould gets embedded into the fibre and we are not able to remove this so often they can be far from perfect. Any mould that is sitting on the surface should clean up nicely.
Will you need scaffolding to clean my roof?
9 times out of 10, we do not require scaffolding. Our guys will use a fall arrest system with harnesses and strops to wash the roof. They are fully trained at Working at Heights and using the fall rest systems. Here is some information about roof washes.
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