How much does roof cleaning cost?

Typically from around £250 for a smaller roof with light staining up to £600 or more for a larger roof needing a full moss scrape and biocide treatment. We survey before quoting so the price reflects your actual roof.

Will the moss just come back?

Some regrowth over time is normal — biocide treatment slows it considerably compared with an untreated roof, but nothing stops moss returning eventually given the right conditions. Regular maintenance cleans keep it from building back up to the level it was at before.

Does the method differ for slate roofs compared with tiled roofs?

Yes — slate is generally more brittle and needs a gentler touch, particularly on older roofs, while concrete tile has a rougher surface that holds moss more stubbornly and often needs a scrape before treatment. We adjust our approach to the roof in front of us.

What weather do you need for roof cleaning?

Dry, calm conditions are best, particularly for access equipment work, which we avoid in high winds for safety reasons. Light rain doesn't always stop a job but heavy or persistent rain usually means rescheduling.

Can I see before-and-after photos of my roof?

Yes — we use a pole-mounted camera to document gutters and roof condition, so you get genuine before-and-after evidence rather than just a description of the work.

How do I get a quote?

Call Trevor on 07501 060609 or get in touch through the website. We'll usually want to see the roof, either in person or from photos, before giving a firm price.

Dunston Roof Cleaning & Biocide Treatment

Professional roof cleaning near Dunston: moss removal, biocide treatment and gutter checks. Fully insured, careful methods that protect your tiles.

Gateshead Council · NE11 · 6.3 miles north-west of our Washington base

Cleaning is possible for most of the year, but treating moss before it fully establishes for the next growing season makes the biocide work harder for you. A treatment now sits on the roof through the following autumn and winter rather than getting applied after the damage is already done.

Does a mossy roof actually need cleaning, or is it just cosmetic? It's a fair question, and the honest answer is: it depends how far it's gone. A light dusting of algae is mostly appearance. Thick moss cushions holding water against tiles for weeks on end is a different problem entirely.

The finish holds too. Because biocide treatment kills spores at root level rather than just blasting the visible growth off, regrowth is slower and the roof stays presentable for a lot longer than a rushed jet-wash job ever manages.

Part of our North East coverage area

Dunston sits within the roughly 45-mile radius we cover from our Washington base, alongside Whickham and Newcastle upon Tyne nearby. Wherever you are in that area, the same softwash, steam and low-pressure methods and the same access-equipment approach apply.

Homes & businesses

For managing agents and facilities teams

For sites like MetroCentre we can provide before-and-after photos as part of the job, useful for maintenance records or reporting back to a client or freeholder. We're fully insured and happy to provide documentation ahead of works where a site requires it.

Commercial and mixed-use roofs

Units around MetroCentre and similar commercial premises often carry flatter roof pitches, larger surface areas, and sometimes a mix of tile, felt and flat-roof sections that each need a slightly different approach. Moss and algae buildup on commercial roofs tends to get noticed later than on a house, simply because fewer people are looking up at it day to day.

For commercial roofs we plan around business hours and access to loading areas or car parks, and can work to a maintenance schedule rather than a one-off clean where that suits the site better.

Hand-scraping tools

For roofs with thick moss cushions we use hand tools designed to lift growth without gouging or cracking the tile beneath it. It's slower than blasting moss off with pressure, but it's the difference between a clean roof and a roof with a dozen new hairline cracks.

What we do — and what we deliberately don't

We do clean from ground level or from access equipment such as a cherry picker or podium steps. We do use low-pressure softwash and biocide rather than high-pressure jetting. We do hand-scrape heavy moss before treating, and we do check gutters while we're up there.

We don't walk on tiles unless there's genuinely no other way to reach a section, and even then only with roof ladders and boards to spread the weight. We don't pressure-wash roofs with a wand at close range — it's fast, but it's also how good roofs get turned into leaking ones. And we don't apply biocide to a roof that hasn't been scraped clear of heavy moss first, because it won't reach the surface underneath.

Steam-clean approach

1
Survey and method check
We confirm steam is suitable for the roof type and staining before starting — it's not the right choice for every job.
2
Steam application
High-temperature steam lifts moss residue, algae and ingrained staining without pressure-washing or biocide chemicals.
3
Rinse and inspect
The roof is rinsed at low pressure and checked over for any missed patches, particularly in valleys and under overhangs.
4
Aftercare notes
We'll let you know if a follow-up biocide treatment would extend the result, since steam alone doesn't leave residual protection.

Part of our regular working area

Dunston falls well within the roughly 45-mile radius we work across from Washington, so it's a regular part of our coverage rather than an edge-case trip. That familiarity with the area — road layout, typical housing stock, local weather patterns — generally means a smoother job on the day.

Why cleaning now is usually cheaper than waiting

A roof cleaned regularly stays cheaper to maintain than one left until moss has built up thick enough to need a full scrape. Beyond the clean itself, moss left untreated risks lifted tiles, blocked gutters and, eventually, repair costs well beyond what a periodic clean would have cost — worth factoring in alongside the up-front price.

Maintenance clean (every 2–3 years)	typically £250–£400
Overdue clean, heavy moss	typically £500–£800+
Gutter clear if left blocked too long	typically £60–£150

You can see the difference, not just take our word for it

Pole-mounted camera proof
Before-and-after photos of the roof and gutters, taken without anyone needing to climb up.
Fully insured
Covered work from a company that's been doing this a while.
Biocide trained (2024)
Treatment applied correctly, not just sprayed and hoped for.
Asbestos awareness trained
Older roofing materials identified and treated appropriately rather than cleaned over.

Roof Cleaning & Moss Removal near Dunston

Roof Cleaning & Moss Removal in Dunston — common questions

A roof cleaned before moss gets thick costs less and takes less time than one left until it's a full scrape job. Whether you're in Dunston or nearby, getting it looked at now is generally the cheaper option.

Moss and algae buildup on a roof in Dunston is a common, fixable problem — softwash, steam or low-pressure cleaning with biocide treatment, applied from ground level or access equipment rather than by walking the tiles, brings a roof back without risking damage in the process.

Green roof, blocked gutters, or moss that's been building up for years — we clean it properly, treat it so it stays cleaner for longer, and never walk your tiles to do it.

Fully insured, biocide trained, straightforward to book

Roof cleaning from a fully insured, biocide-trained team covering Dunston and the wider North East. Get in touch for a quote.

Call now Call 07501060609

Roof Cleaning & Moss Removal in Dunston — moss scraped back from the ridge tiles, on a NE11 property

Roof Cleaning & Moss Removal in Dunston — a finished softwashed roof drying out, on a NE11 property

Dunston Roof Cleaning & Biocide Treatment

Part of our North East coverage area

For managing agents and facilities teams

Commercial and mixed-use roofs

Hand-scraping tools

What we do — and what we deliberately don't

Steam-clean approach

Survey and method check

Steam application

Rinse and inspect

Aftercare notes