At some point in your home-owning journey, you’ll likely need to hop on a ladder and clean your roof tiles. But it doesn’t have to be a huge chore – and you can certainly do it yourself! Read on for our guide on how to clean roof tiles.
Roofs are, naturally, built to last, and the tiles that make them up are no exception. Because of this, roof tiles will do a good job caring for themselves, but a regular deep clean still has plenty of benefits.
Aesthetics
Keeping your roof tiles clean will do wonders for curb appeal and the overall look of your home. If you’re considering selling or preparing for a big family gathering, consider sprucing up your tiles a little!
Cleaning your tiles is an excellent opportunity for an overall health check on your roof. Take the time to look for broken or damaged tiles, clear away any plant life that might have taken root, or check for any animals that may have started nesting on your roof.
If you need help with what to look for, check out our ten warning signs that you need a new roof, or our guide to the signs that an animal might be living in your roof.
Your tiles may be prone to moss, algae, or lichen growths depending on where you live and the type of roof you have. Regular cleaning and maintenance, sometimes involving some kind of treatment or fungicide, can help manage the spread.
Implementing a regular cleaning routine for your roof will help prolong its lifespan as long as possible. You’ll be able to catch issues before they escalate, all while keeping your tiles looking their absolute best. It’s generally recommended to clean your roof tiles yearly.
Let’s take a look at a few ways to ensure you set yourself up for success AND safety.
Remember, if you’re uncomfortable with heights or unsure how best to prepare your home, you should consider hiring a professional to get the job done.
Depending on the height of your house, you can pressure wash from the ground – clearly a safer option than scaling ladders or scaffolds – but to properly check the tiles and ensure a thorough clean, you’ll likely have to head up there regardless.
Ensure your ladders are of an appropriate height – if your ladder is too short, you’re in danger of overreaching. If you overreach, you might fall, or the weight distribution might change too much, causing the ladder to slip.
You should also make sure they’re in good condition. Check for broken rungs, make sure any locks and spreaders are secure, and that the feet still have grip. Be mindful of water making the rungs slippery, especially during cleaning.
Consider using a scaffold – either a complete set around the house for the duration or a smaller one that can move from location to location – and a guard rail. This means you can quickly move around the roof and have protection from falling.
Clearing your gutters means the water used during cleaning has an easy and controlled route off the roof.
Carefully managing the direction of the gutters and any pipes leading to things such as rainwater tanks is crucial in ensuring the water goes where it needs to. This especially important if you use any chemicals in your cleaning process or have an ornamental garden to protect.
Keep the kids and the pets indoors, and move any outdoor water bowls away from the cleaning area.
Make sure that all doors, windows, and skylights that might be sprayed with water are closed and the seals are tight. Consider putting some towels around those areas inside to catch any water that might get through.
Many hands make light work – and also make it much safer! Have someone working alongside you, especially when going up and down ladders so they can help steady it.
Give the roof a thorough once over before beginning. Keep an eye out for loose or broken tiles that might be worsened by cleaning. Consider bringing in the appropriate professionals if there are plants you can’t remove, animals nesting or many tiles needing replacing.
Pressure washing is the most common method of cleaning roof tiles – and with good reason. It’s easy, covers a large area quickly, and the tools needed are readily available.
You can adjust the settings to cover areas of different sizes and increase or decrease the pressure as required.
Hand cleaning the tiles will generally take longer than pressure washing, as it requires more focus on the individual tiles, rather than spraying over a larger area. This is usually done by scraping or scrubbing the tiles with a suitable brush and combining water and cleaning agents. It’s essential to rinse the tiles thoroughly to ensure no soap residue remains.
The advantage of hand cleaning is that it’s easy to adapt the process to each individual tile. It’s also great for tackling heavily soiled areas and can be used as a spot clean to loosen up dirt before going in with the pressure washer.
For a general clean, you can skip the chemicals and use water. The spray from the pressure washer will dislodge most of the dirt quickly, and specific washer settings will make covering the large area a breeze.
You may want to use a chemical cleaner to help remove more stubborn stains. It’s generally advised to stick with mild, natural products as these are much gentler on the tiles than their heavy chemical counterparts.
If you do use something stronger, such as bleach, try to seek out products specifically designed for roof cleaning to minimise potential damage. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully, dilute where necessary, and rinse off before it dries into the tiles.
If using chemicals, don’t forget to redirect any rainwater tank pipes or guttering that might spill out onto gardens or family-friendly areas. This is a crucial step to ensure that no unsafe chemicals come into contact with people, pets, or plants during the rinse-off process.
Chemical cleaners can be very helpful in getting rid of plants such as moss, algae, and lichen. Some commercial roof cleaners can destroy them at the root, loosening them up for an easy clean, and removing them for good.
Anti-moss or fungicide treatments will protect your roof from future growth for a while, though how quickly it returns will depend on several factors, such as the local environment and weather. Ensure the roof is dry before applying, and rinse off thoroughly after a few minutes.
While it’s possible to do the job yourself, you may want to contact a professional to ensure everything runs smoothly and safely. Reach out to a local expert in your area for advice and a quote.
Ready for the next task on the cleaning to-do list? Check out our handy guides on how to clean gutters and solar panels!
References
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