Newcastle has a wide mix of older and newer roofs. All of them suffer when moss holds water in the laps, and both are damaged by a jet washer. We never use high pressure on a roof.
Our approach is a moss scrape where growth is thick, then a soft wash, low pressure wash or hot steam clean depending on what the slate or tile can take. The debris is collected, including what falls into the gutters, and a treatment is applied to hold moss back.
If a roof looks in poor condition once it is clean, we tell you what we have seen rather than carry on regardless.
Slate, tile and mixed roofs
Older Newcastle streets are largely slate, while later semis and estates tend to have concrete or clay tiles. Moss behaves differently on each. On slate it gathers in the overlaps and along the bottom edge of each slate, where water lingers. On textured concrete tiles it spreads across the whole face and can grow thick enough to lift the tile edges. Our scrape removes the heavy growth first, and the cleaning method is chosen for the covering: soft wash, low pressure wash or hot steam.
Terraces add their own challenge, because one roof slope often runs across several houses. We clean only the part of the roof you book, and tell you if moss from next door is likely to spread back.
Gutters after a roof clean
Moss that comes off a roof ends up in the gutters, so they are cleared as part of the job. If the gutters were already struggling, ask us to vacuum them properly at the same time; our Newcastle gutter cleaning page explains how. Once the roof is clean, a treatment is applied to slow down regrowth. To understand what affects a quote, read our roof cleaning cost guide: the size and pitch of the roof, the covering, how thick the moss is and how easy it is to reach all play a part.
Questions about roof cleaning in Newcastle
Is steam cleaning safe for slate?
Hot steam is one of the gentler options we use, and we choose the method for each roof.
Will you check the roof for damage?
We point out anything obvious we notice, such as slipped or cracked tiles.
Do you clean slate roofs?
Yes. We choose the method for the covering, and we never use high pressure on a roof.
Will you clear the moss from my gutters?
Moss that falls into the gutters during the clean is cleared as part of the roof job.
