- Moss Removal
Moss Removal
Safe, careful roof moss removal across Hampshire, Dorset and Surrey. Hand-scraped, biocide-treated and gutter-cleared, with no pressure washers anywhere near your tiles. Done properly so it actually stays gone.
Why Pressure Washing Damages Your Roof
Most homeowners assume the right way to clear moss off a roof is to blast it off with a pressure washer. It looks dramatic, the moss disappears, and the roof comes out looking shiny and new. The trouble is what’s actually happening underneath.
Concrete tiles have a factory-applied surface coating that protects the cement underneath from weather. High-pressure water strips that coating off, leaving a porous tile that absorbs water, weathers faster and grows moss back more aggressively than before. Older clay tiles can crack under the impact. Granular finishes get blasted off. Water is forced under tiles, into laps and around flashings, where it has no business being. We’ve stripped roofs that were jet-washed five years earlier and found the underlay rotted through underneath because of it.
The right way to remove moss is to scrape it off by hand using soft tools, treat the roof with a proper biocide spray to kill remaining spores at the root, and clear out all the resulting debris from gutters and downpipes. It takes longer. It costs about the same. And it adds years to the life of your roof rather than taking them away.
We’ve been doing it the right way across the South of England for over twenty years. Every job is hand-scraped, biocide-treated and gutter-cleared as standard. No shortcuts.
Why Moss Removal Matters
Roof Moss Removal
Hand-scraping using soft tools designed not to damage the tile surface. We work systematically up the slope, easing moss off the laps, the ridge tiles and the valleys, then bag and remove every bit of debris from the property. No pressure washers, no chemical strippers, no shortcuts. The tiles come out cleaner than the day they were jet-washed five years ago, and they stay that way for far longer.
Moss Prevention & Biocide Treatment
Hand-scraping removes the visible moss. Biocide treatment kills the spores left behind in the tile pores, the laps and the surrounding stonework, which is what stops the moss coming straight back. We apply professional-grade biocide using a low-pressure pump sprayer, working from the ridge down so the entire roof surface is evenly treated. Effective against moss, algae and lichen, and certified for residential use.
Algae & Lichen Removal
Algae usually shows as black streaks running down the slopes (especially on the north face), and lichen appears as crusty grey-green or yellow patches that grow flat to the tile surface and bond hard. Both are tougher than moss and need different handling. Algae responds well to biocide alone. Lichen often needs careful manual treatment combined with biocide because it bonds chemically to the tile. We assess and treat both.
Roof Tile Cleaning & Restoration
Beyond moss and algae, tiles accumulate years of general grime, dust, particulate pollution and bird droppings. After moss and biocide work is complete, we can also offer gentle restoration cleaning to bring the colour back without damaging the surface. We do not use pressure washing. This is patient, careful work using low-pressure rinsing and appropriate cleaning agents, and the difference it makes to the look of an older roof can be substantial.
Gutter Clearing & Moss Debris Removal
Moss removal generates a lot of debris that ends up in your gutters whether you like it or not. We always clear gutters and downpipes as part of the same visit, removing the freshly fallen moss along with any older buildup of leaves, grit and birds-nest material. For standalone gutter maintenance outside of a moss job, see our dedicated Soffits, Fascias & Gutters page.
Annual Roof Maintenance Plans
The most cost-effective way to keep moss off your roof is to never let it take hold properly in the first place. Our annual maintenance plan covers a yearly visit to inspect the roof, top up the biocide treatment, clear the gutters and pick up any small repairs that need doing before they become big ones. Particularly worth considering on properties with heavy tree cover, exposed coastal locations, or roofs that have had serious moss problems before.
Our Services
Tempted to Get the Jet Wash Out?
Don’t. We see the damage every week from DIY pressure washing and from cowboy operators who do the same thing for money. Book a free survey and we’ll show you the proper way.
Save Your Roof, Not Just Its Looks
Heavy moss does more damage than people realise. It holds moisture against the tiles, shortens the life of the surface coating, blocks gutters, lifts the bottom edges of slates, and freezes solid in winter to crack tiles from the inside. Removing it the right way protects the roof beneath and adds years to its working life.
Get in touch for a free, no-obligation survey. We’ll come out, take a proper look at how the moss has taken hold and where it’s gone, then give you a written quote for the moss removal, biocide treatment and gutter clear all together.
Honest Work, Properly Insured
Every moss removal job we carry out is backed three ways:
Written Workmanship Guarantee
You'll get a written guarantee specific to the work carried out. Moss removal and biocide treatment typically carry 12 to 24 months of cover against immediate regrowth, depending on the level of treatment and the property's exposure. We tell you the exact terms before any work starts.
Insurance-Backed via CORC
Confederation of Roofing Contractors membership means our workmanship guarantees are insurance-backed by the CORC scheme. If for any reason MGP Roofing couldn't honour a guarantee ourselves, the underwriter steps in. Most moss-removal operators simply don't have this level of cover.
£10 Million Public Liability
Every job is fully covered by our £10 million public liability insurance, including any damage that might occur to the roof, the property below, neighbouring properties or anyone passing by. Working at roof level on potentially slippery moss-covered tiles is genuine roof-edge work and proper insurance is non-negotiable.
F. A. Q
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions homeowners ask us about roof moss. If yours isn’t here, give us a ring on 07304 092761 and we’ll talk it through.
Concrete tiles have a factory surface coating that protects the cement beneath from weather. High-pressure water strips it off, leaving porous tiles that absorb water, weather faster, and actually grow moss back more aggressively. Older clay tiles can crack from impact. Granular finishes get blasted away. Water is forced under tiles, into laps, and around flashings where it can damage the underlay and timbers beneath. We've stripped roofs that were jet-washed years earlier and found rotted underlay caused directly by it.
Hand-scraping plus biocide treatment typically keeps a roof clear of significant moss for three to five years, sometimes longer. Properties with heavy tree cover, north-facing slopes, or shaded coastal locations may need topping up sooner. Annual maintenance visits dramatically extend the time between full clearance jobs and are usually the most economical long-term approach.
We use professional-grade biocides certified for residential use, applied carefully with low-pressure sprayers so the product stays where it's meant to. Pets should be kept indoors during application and for a few hours afterwards while the treatment dries. Mature plants in beds below the eaves are generally unaffected by the small amount of treated runoff that reaches them. We can also rinse beds gently after treatment if you'd prefer.
You can, but it will cost you more in the long run. Heavy moss holds moisture against the tile surface, accelerating the breakdown of the protective coating. It blocks gutters, lifts the bottom edges of slates, and freezes solid in winter to crack tiles from inside. After a decade of unchecked growth, many roofs need a full re-roof that timely moss removal would have prevented.
Mostly down to micro-climate. North-facing slopes get less sun and stay damp longer, encouraging moss. Roofs shaded by trees stay damp and accumulate organic debris that moss feeds on. Older concrete tiles with degraded surface coatings hold moisture more readily than newer ones. Properties at the bottom of valleys or close to woodland are particularly prone. None of this is your fault, but it does mean some roofs need more attention than others.
Moss is the fluffy green or grey mat-like growth that builds up on tile laps and along ridges. Algae usually appears as black or dark green streaks running down slopes, especially on the north face. Lichen shows as crusty grey-green or yellow patches that bond chemically to the tile surface. All three respond to biocide treatment, but lichen often needs more careful manual treatment because of how strongly it bonds.
Yes. Annual maintenance plans include a yearly visit covering inspection, biocide top-up, gutter clearing and any small repairs needed. They work out cheaper over time than letting moss build up between major clearance jobs, and they give us a chance to spot any other issues (slipped tiles, failed pointing, damaged lead) before they turn into expensive problems.
Yes. £10 million public liability insurance covers every moss removal and biocide treatment job. A copy of the certificate can be provided with your quote.
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