Winter roof cleaning guide - Expert tips for roof cleans

As temperatures drop and the cold sets in, ensuring your roof is ready to handle everything from snow and ice to rain and wind is a must. As part of its care and maintenance, roof cleaning is an essential task, ensuring it isn’t left prone to damage and leaks that can result in costly repairs.

Here’s our winter roof cleaning tips and advice.

Why keep roofs clean in winter?

Cleaning your roof may not seem like a priority when it’s out of sight, out of mind, but there are lots of elements of your roofing that need care and attention. This includes tiles, slates, guttering, fascias and soffits. You should also consider solar panel cleaning to keep them working efficiently as possible, especially at a time of the year when energy-saving features come into their own.

Winter roof cleaning also has the benefit of improving your property’s appearance at a period of downtime. While you may plan more property maintenance jobs in the warmer months, a busy to-do list often means certain jobs get delayed. Uplifting the look of your property’s exterior with a thorough roof clean may even inspire you to plan further improvements, such as patio cleaning.

Clear debris and moss

Removing anything from your roof that shouldn’t be there is a must, whether its accumulated twigs, leaves or other materials. Moss removal is a task that should be prioritised during roof cleans. Otherwise, this rapidly spreading algae can start to cause tile damage, degrade materials and lead to wetter roofing conditions.

Unfortunately, the ever-changing British weather and damp conditions can cause a recurrence of algae on your roofing, so you should also consider preventative measures like biocide treatments, killing spores at the source.

Keep gutters clear

Gutter clearances are an important aspect of roof cleaning, ensuring debris like leaves and dirt don’t disrupt your property’s rainwater drainage system.

If you leave blocked gutters to get worse, ice can become trapped in freezing conditions, expanding in your downspouts and horizontal guttering to cause cracks, extra weight and overflowing water. You may even get ice dams on your roof or experience property leaks.

Gentle and safe roof cleaning methods

There are lots of aspects to think about when planning a roof clean, from personal safety to efficient washing methods. Roofs are more delicate than many other hardy surfaces like driveways, paths and patios, so soft washing is often required.

Gentle pressure washing for roofs should only be carried out by a professional jet washing company. They’ll have the correct protective equipment to ensure a safe roof clean while using effective yet gentle techniques while completing the process. Their methods can remove stubborn stains, faeces, moss, grime and mould, creating a more aesthetically pleasing appearance and a winter-ready roof.