Slate & Tiled Roofing
Preserving the character and integrity of slate, clay, and concrete roofing.
The Importance of Material Care
Natural roofing materials, whether slate, clay tile, or concrete composites, are chosen for their beauty and durability. However, they are constantly exposed to the elements. For the private homeowner, the presence of moss and lichen is more than just a visual issue; it is a potential threat to the health of the roof.
Understanding Frost Damage
The primary risk to your roof is the Freeze-Thaw Cycle. Moss acts like a sponge, holding significant moisture against the tile surface. In winter, as temperatures drop, this retained water freezes and expands.
Slate: The expansion can force the microscopic layers of the slate apart (delamination), causing edges to lift or shear off.
Clay: The freezing water can cause the surface of the tile to flake away (spalling), eventually leading to cracks and structural weakness.
Respecting the Aesthetic Our objective is to restore the roof, not necessarily to strip it to a stark, brand new appearance which can look out of place on established properties. Our goal is to remove the biological burden while respecting the natural patina and character of your home.
Our Approach: Assessed Methodology
We do not believe in a mechanistic cleaning method. A robust concrete roof requires a different approach to a fragile, century-old slate roof. Our process begins with a viability assessment to determine which method will achieve the best result with the lowest risk.
Controlled Pressure & Steam (For Durable Surfaces) On sound, structural concrete tiles or durable composites, high-pressure cleaning is often the most effective way to achieve an instant, transformative result.
We utilise controlled pressure and appropriate nozzle selection to cut through lichen and heavy moss without driving water into the roof cavity.
This method removes the biological growth instantly, preparing the tile for a biocide treatment to prevent rapid regrowth.
Manual & Softwash (For Delicate Surfaces) Where a roof is aging, fragile, or made of delaminating slate/clay, we switch to a gentler non-abrasive protocol:
Manual Removal: We utilise custom-profiled scrapers to manually remove heavy moss deposits. This detailed method ensures the roof is cleared without placing stress on the fixings.
Softwash Treatment: Once the bulk growth is removed, we apply a professional biocide. This permeates the overlaps and nooks of the roof, neutralizing spores that manual tools cannot reach. This process cleans the roof gradually over time via the weather cycle.
Key Standards
Material-Appropriate Methods: We never use high pressure on a roof that cannot take it. We assess every project to ensure the cleaning method matches the durability of the tile.
Long-Term Protection: Regardless of the cleaning method, we apply professional-grade treatments to inhibit biological regrowth, keeping your roof cleaner for longer.
Gutter Health: Comprehensive clearing and flushing of your guttering system to ensure the debris removed from the roof does not compromise your drainage.
Safe Access: We utilise tower scaffolds or cherry pickers (MEWPs) where necessary to avoid walking directly on fragile tiles, preserving the structural watertightness of the roof.