How often should you clean your roof - expert recommendations

Cleaning your roof is a job that a lot of homeowners don't even think about. But, in reality, you need to make sure that cleaning your roof is something that gets done on a regular basis. Roof cleaning and roof maintenance are just as important as maintenance on the rest of your home.

That being said, how often should you do some roof cleaning? Should you be doing it yourself? What's the best way to manage roof maintenance? Here's what you need to know about roof cleaning and roof tile maintenance.

Why do you need to do roof maintenance?

Roof maintenance and roof cleaning is essential to prevent any damage happening to your roof. Moss and dirt can build up on metal roofs and roof tiles and this can hide loose or cracked tiles or roof damage. That means that under a roof inspection, damage might go unnoticed and thus may be able to worsen.

A clean roof is much less likely to develop any problems. This means that, with sufficient roof cleaning, your roof will last much longer. As a result, you'll be able to spend much less money on your roof and on roofing contractors and roof tile maintenance than you may otherwise have to. It's always better to pay out for a service from a professional roof cleaning company every now and then rather than a sudden roof replacement or fix.

How often does roof cleaning need to be done?

Roof cleaning should be done pretty regularly. Exactly how often your roof needs cleaning will depend on what roofing materials it is made from. Metal roofs do not need cleaning as regularly as other materials, for example. Alternatively, asphalt shingle roofs need cleaning regularly.

You should follow your manufacturer's instructions carefully when it comes to roof cleaning in order to find the best method and frequency. If you're unsure, contact a professional about roof cleaning. Generally speaking, though, roof cleaning should be done at least once or twice per year.

How do you clean roof tiles and other types of roof?

If you're ready to do some roof cleaning, you're likely figuring out what you need to do to clean your roof. There are a few different techniques and materials that are used to keep a roof clean. The best technique for you, and the best way to do proper maintenance will depend on the roof materials. If you're ever unsure, speak to professional roof cleaners to find the best way to get your roof cleaned.

Can you use a pressure washer on your roof?

You can use a pressure washer to help you with roof cleaning. However, you must be careful and ensure that you have done a roof inspection first before you start pressure washing. This will help you to keep your roof safe by ensuring that there's not a roof leak or anything else on your roof space. If there are cracked tiles or damage, using a pressure washer can be very dangerous when you clean your roof. Should you find damage, ensure that this is fixed before you have your roof cleaned.

If your roof inspection shows no damage, then you can clean your roof by pressure washing it gently with a mixture of oxygen-based bleach. This should kill organic growths whilst also being gentle on the roof material.

Is it better to hire professional roof cleaners or to clean your roof yourself?

In terms of roof cleaning, there are two options. You can hire professional roof cleaners to come and do your pressure washing and roof cleaning for you, or you can do it yourself. Obviously, the former option is a bit pricier. But the latter option is much more dangerous. So which is best?

Ultimately, it depends on your confidence, skill and knowledge. If you feel confident in pressure washing, climbing a ladder, standing at quite some height and identifying any damage to your roof, then you should be able to do it. So long as you follow the manufacturer's instructions and you learn what chemicals are safe to use, you should be safe to clean your roof.

Alternatively, if you have any concerns or uncertainties, it may be worth hiring professional roof cleaners for your roof cleaning needs.

Do you have to use a pressure washer to clean your roof?

There is an alternative to pressure washing, and that is soft washing. This is one of the more gentle cleaning methods that work well to remove small amounts of dirt and mould or algae growth from a tile roof. Done in the same kind of way as pressure washing, you can use similar cleaning solutions to remove natural growth and get your roof squeaky clean.

What are you looking for when inspecting a roof?

Before you get cleaning, you need to make sure that you check your roof for all sorts of damage. Things like loose or cracked tiles is a big one, as these can allow water into the loft or the property.

In addition to that, you should check that there is no mass of lichen or moss on the roof. These will naturally grow on the roof, especially in darker, more shaded areas. It is important that you note where these patches are and keep an eye on them on the roof's surface.

You should also be aware of any overhanging tree branches that have the potential to drop or snap off. These can cause catastrophic damage to your roof. Preventing trees from causing damage is essential, as the cost that can come with this kind of damage is extensive, and is not something that can be fixed with pressure washers. You will need to hire roofing companies to fix it.