Do you need to clean up your roof?

Roof tiles can collect moss, lichen and other vegetation. Can these cause roof leaks?

Part of the charm of an aged roof can be the weathering that is produced over time.  The colour will change gradually as the roof is exposed to sun and rain, and opportunistic plant life can also decide to make a home of your roof.

Moss is the main offender, and this usually appears on shaded areas of your roof: in the shadow of trees, for example.   Weeds can start to collect in the gutters and lichens can also start to make a takeover.

Weathering can cause an attractive mellowing of your roof, but plant life needs to be kept under control.  Gutters must be kept clear and any plants with root systems must be cleared before they start to damage the roof structure.

Moss can also be a problem as it can block the drainage channels in the roof tiles that form part of the weatherproofing.

When you get plant life on the roof you will need to take action.  Don’t be tempted to use high-pressure water jets to clean the roof, this can crack the roof tiles and cause more problems.   You will need to have the roof cleaned by hand and apply a biocide to stop the growth coming back.