Who it is for
Homeowners on north-facing or tree-shaded slopes, anyone with gutters filling with green debris, landlords maintaining a portfolio, and sellers tidying a property before it goes on the market.
Services · Moss Removal
Roof Moss Removal
In Morden, Surrey
And Across London
Moss taken off by hand and treated with biocide, gutters cleared, and the roof inspected while we are up there — no pressure washer stripping the surface off your tiles to make a job look fast.
Hand-scraped, never jet-washed · Free survey for homeowners · £1,000,000 public liability cover
Roof leaking right now?
We run 24/7 emergency cover. A £150 call-out gets a roofer to the property to make it safe and stop the water, with the repair priced before any further work.
Call 07808 839833Emergency line answered day and night
60+ years of family roofing knowledge
£1,000,000 public liability cover
24/7 emergency call-out available
Rated by homeowners on Google
- By hand
- Scraped, not blasted
- Free
- Survey for homeowners
- £1m
- Public liability cover
- 60+ yrs
- Family roofing knowledge
- Included
- Gutter and valley clearance
Overview
What moss actually does to a roof
Moss is not just cosmetic. It holds water against the surface of the tile or slate, which keeps the covering wet for far longer after rain than it was designed to be. On concrete tiles that accelerates surface erosion and frost damage; on slate it works into laps and encourages fixings to corrode. It also travels: clumps break away, wash down the slope and block valleys, gutters and outlets, which is where the real damage starts.
Our removal is done by hand. Moss is scraped carefully off the covering, laps are cleared, valleys and gutters are cleaned out, and a biocide treatment is applied to kill the residual growth so regrowth is slowed rather than immediate. It is slower than turning a pressure washer on a roof, and that is precisely the point.
Because a roofer is on the roof anyway, moss removal is a good time to have the covering, ridge, flashings and valleys looked at. Anything we find is photographed and reported, and quoted if you want it dealt with — never started without your agreement.
When it is needed
When growth is visible from the ground, when gutters overflow or fill with moss debris, when valley lines are damming, and typically as periodic maintenance rather than a one-off.
Why professional help matters
The wrong method causes more damage than the moss. Pressure washing strips the granular surface off concrete tiles, forces water under laps and into the roof space, and can dislodge fixings and mortar wholesale.
What is included
Hand removal, biocide treatment, clearance of gutters, valleys and outlets, removal of debris from site, and a photographed report of anything defective we spot while up there.
What Goes Wrong
What happens if moss is left — or blasted off
There are two ways to lose money on moss: leaving it to dam your drainage, or having it removed by someone who damages the covering doing it.
Blocked valleys and gutters
Moss debris dams the exact places that carry the most water. Overflow soaks fascias, wall heads and the ground at the base of the wall, and valley damming pushes water sideways under the tiles.
Frost damage and surface erosion
A covering held permanently damp freezes wet. Concrete tiles spall and lose surface; clay and slate crack at the edges. The moss shortens the life of the roof underneath it.
Pressure washing damage
A jet wash removes moss and the tile surface together, drives water under laps into the roof space, and can strip mortar out of ridge bedding in a single pass. It looks impressive on the day and costs far more later.
Slipped tiles from careless work
Walking a roof badly and dragging debris down the slope dislodges tiles and fixings, generating a repair bill from a cleaning job.
Common mistakes we are called to fix
- Hiring a pressure washing service that treats a roof like a patio.
- Applying a coating or 'roof seal' over a mossy, damp covering.
- Clearing moss off the slope and leaving it in the gutters and valleys.
- Doing it yourself off a ladder on a wet, slippery, sloping surface.
- Ignoring what caused the growth — overhanging trees and permanently shaded slopes will simply regrow.
How It Works
From first call to
a guaranteed finish
- 01
Inspection
We assess the extent of growth, the covering type and its condition, and check gutters, valleys and outlets. If the covering is too fragile for removal to be sensible, we will say so.
- 02
Diagnosis and written price
You get a written price covering hand removal, biocide treatment, drainage clearance and debris removal. Free survey for existing homeowners.
- 03
Hand removal
Moss is scraped off carefully by hand with proper access, working so debris is controlled rather than washed down into the valleys and gutters below.
- 04
Biocide treatment and clearance
A biocide treatment is applied to kill residual growth and slow regrowth, and gutters, valleys and outlets are cleared and flushed. Debris is bagged and taken away.
- 05
Verification and condition report
The roof is checked over while access is in place, anything defective is photographed and reported to you, and nothing extra is carried out without your written agreement.
What You Get
The outcome you are
actually paying for
The covering survives the clean
Hand scraping preserves the tile surface that pressure washing destroys, protecting the years of life the roof has left.
Drainage that works again
Clear valleys, gutters and outlets remove the most common cause of overflow damage to fascias, walls and foundations.
Slower regrowth
Biocide treatment kills residual growth at root level so the roof stays clear for longer than a mechanical clean alone.
A free set of eyes on the roof
You get a condition report from a roofer who was up there anyway — slipped tiles, cracked bedding and tired flashings spotted early.
Better kerb appeal
A clean roof measurably improves how a property presents, which matters when it is on the market.
Safe and insured
Proper access and £1,000,000 public liability cover, instead of a ladder and an optimistic afternoon.
In Detail
Coverings, methods and keeping the roof clear
Different coverings tolerate different treatment, and the reason moss grew in the first place decides how quickly it comes back.
Concrete tiles
Concrete interlocking and plain tiles are the most common covering across post-war Morden, Merton and Surrey housing, and the most vulnerable to aggressive cleaning. Their weather resistance depends on a surface layer that a pressure washer removes in seconds.
Hand removal plus biocide keeps that surface intact. Where tiles are already spalling and delaminating, we will tell you that cleaning is cosmetic and the covering is heading towards replacement.
Clay tiles and natural slate
Clay plain tiles and natural slate are harder-wearing surfaces but more brittle underfoot and more easily dislodged. Growth tends to establish in laps and at edges rather than across the face.
Removal here is about working the laps clear without cracking units or disturbing fixings, which is careful, patient work and the reason nobody should be doing it from a ladder in a hurry.
Biocide treatment
Mechanical removal takes off what is visible; biocide kills what is left in the pores and laps. Applied after scraping, it slows regrowth substantially compared with cleaning alone.
It is not permanent. On a heavily shaded north-facing slope under trees, expect to repeat the treatment periodically rather than to have solved it forever — and be sceptical of anyone claiming otherwise.
Why pressure washing is the wrong tool
High-pressure water drives moisture up under laps and into the roof space, where there may be perished felt waiting for it. It erodes tile surfaces, strips mortar from ridge and hip bedding, and can loosen fixings across a slope in a single visit.
The damage is invisible on the day the job is finished and shows up as leaks and slipped tiles over the following two or three winters, by which point the connection is rarely made.
Preventing regrowth
Growth is driven by shade and moisture. Cutting back overhanging branches, keeping gutters and valleys clear so water moves off the roof quickly, and periodic biocide treatment together keep a roof presentable for years.
North-facing slopes, roofs under mature trees and low-pitch slopes will always be the first to green up again. Planned periodic treatment is more economical than waiting until the gutters block.
Residential and commercial
Domestic moss work is usually about drainage, appearance and protecting the covering before a sale or a re-roof decision.
For commercial and managed properties it is planned maintenance: scheduled clearance of roofs, valleys and outlets with a written record, which prevents the overflow and ingress incidents that generate emergency call-outs. We cover Greater London, Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Reading and the Isle of Wight from Morden.
Where We Work
Based in Morden,
covering London and
the South East
- London
- Greater London
- Surrey
- Kent
- West Sussex
- East Sussex
- Hampshire
- Reading
- Isle of Wight
Questions
Moss Removal
questions we get asked
If your question is not here, call 07808 839833 and speak to a roofer rather than a call centre.
How much does roof moss removal cost?
It depends on roof area, pitch, access and how heavy the growth is. The survey is free for existing homeowners and the work is priced in writing before it starts.
Do you pressure wash roofs?
No. We hand-scrape and treat with biocide. Pressure washing strips the surface off concrete tiles, forces water under laps and can strip ridge mortar in a single pass.
How long does it take?
Most domestic roofs are completed in a day or so depending on size, pitch, access and the extent of growth. Larger or heavily overgrown roofs take longer.
How long before the moss comes back?
Biocide treatment substantially slows regrowth, but shaded, north-facing and tree-covered slopes will green up again in time. Periodic treatment is the realistic approach; anyone promising a permanent fix is overselling.
Is moss actually damaging my roof?
Yes, in two ways: it holds water against the covering, accelerating frost damage and surface erosion, and the debris blocks valleys, gutters and outlets, which is where overflow and ingress start.
Do you clear the gutters as well?
Yes. Clearing gutters, valleys and outlets is part of the job, and the debris is bagged and removed from site rather than left in a heap.
Will you tell me if you spot other problems up there?
Yes, with photographs. Anything defective is reported and quoted if you want it addressed, and nothing extra is carried out without your agreement.
Should I have my roof coated afterwards?
We do not sell roof coatings as a cure for a worn covering. If the tiles are spalling and delaminating, a coating hides the problem rather than fixing it, and it can complicate a future survey.
Are you insured?
Yes. We hold £1,000,000 public liability cover and details are provided with every quote.
Can you do this on a rental or commercial property on a schedule?
Yes. Planned periodic clearance with a written record each visit is available for landlords, agents and commercial owners.
Free Estimate
Get the moss off without wrecking the tiles
Hand removal, biocide treatment, gutters and valleys cleared, and a photographed condition report from a roofer who was already up there. Free survey for homeowners.