Restore Your Roof withHeadcorn's Roof Cleaning Team
Moss and debris hold moisture against your tiles and block your gutters. A professional clean restores the look of your roof and helps it shed water properly again.
- Moss and lichen removal
- Debris cleared from valleys and gutters
- Careful work that protects your tiles
- Can be paired with roof spraying
- 18 years in the roofing trade
- Rated 9.56/10 on Checkatrade
- Open 24 hours, with emergency repairs typically within 2 hours
- Honest advice and clear quotes
- Public liability insured
- Family-run, with honest advice and no hard sell
Service overview
What Roof Cleaning Involves
Roof cleaning removes moss, lichen, algae and debris from your roof tiles, valleys and gutters. It restores the look of the roof and helps it shed water the way it was designed to, rather than holding it against the tiles.
It's for homeowners whose roof has turned green or black with moss and staining, whose gutters keep blocking with moss washed off the roof, or who are preparing a house for sale and want it to look its best from the street. Kent's damp climate and tree cover make moss growth very common, particularly on north-facing slopes.
Professional cleaning matters because roofs are easy to damage. Walking on tiles cracks them, and aggressive methods can strip tile surfaces or force water under the tiles. Working safely at height and protecting the tiles while cleaning takes experience and the right approach.
The cost of waiting
What Happens If It's Left
Moss isn't just cosmetic. It acts like a sponge, holding water against your tiles, and as it grows it can lift tiles and block the paths water needs to drain away.
Blocked gutters
Moss washed off the roof clogs gutters and downpipes, causing overflows and damp walls.
Lifted tiles
Thick moss growth can lift tiles and let wind-driven rain underneath.
Frost damage
Water held by moss freezes and expands, cracking tiles over time.
Poor kerb appeal
A heavily stained roof makes the whole house look neglected.
Common mistakes homeowners make
- Climbing onto the roof to scrape moss off yourself.
- Using a high-pressure jet at the wrong angle, forcing water under tiles.
- Cleaning the roof but not clearing the gutters and valleys afterwards.
- Leaving moss for years until it's lifting tiles.
How it works
Our Process, Step by Step
- 01
Look at the roof
We check the roof's condition and the extent of moss and debris.
- 02
Clear quote
Every clean is priced individually for your property.
- 03
Careful cleaning
Moss and lichen removed in a way that protects the tiles.
- 04
Valleys and gutters cleared
Debris removed from valleys and gutters so water can drain.
- 05
Tidy-up
We clear up afterwards and let you know about anything we spotted on the roof.
Why it's worth it
What You Get
Kerb appeal
A clean roof transforms how your home looks from the street.
Better drainage
Clear tiles, valleys and gutters let water run off properly.
Early warnings
Cleaning is a good opportunity to spot slipped or cracked tiles.
Pairs with spraying
Can be followed by roof spraying for a refreshed finish.
In detail
A Closer Look at Roof Cleaning
Moss, lichen and algae
Moss grows in thick cushions and holds a lot of water. Lichen forms crusty patches that cling tightly to the tile surface. Algae shows up as dark streaks and staining. They all thrive on damp, shaded roofs, particularly those near trees or facing north, and are very common across Kent.
Protecting the tiles
Clay, concrete and slate each need care. Older clay tiles can be brittle; concrete tiles have a surface that can be worn away by overly aggressive methods; slates can crack underfoot. The cleaning method is chosen with the tiles' condition in mind, and access is planned to avoid unnecessary foot traffic on the roof.
Gutters and valleys
A roof clean isn't finished until the gutters, downpipes and valleys are clear. Otherwise the moss simply moves from the roof into the drainage and causes overflows. Clearing these properly is part of the job.
Roof cleaning and roof spraying
Many homeowners pair a roof clean with roof spraying for a refreshed, uniform finish. We'll give you honest advice on whether that suits your roof.
Why moss is such a problem on Kent roofs
Kent has plenty of mature trees, mild winters and regular rain, ideal conditions for moss. Roofs under or near trees are shaded and stay damp for longer, and falling leaves and needles add organic material for moss to root in. North-facing slopes that get little direct sun are almost always the worst affected. Once moss establishes, it spreads steadily across the roof and into the gaps between tiles.
Moss spores are carried by the wind, so a roof that has been cleaned will eventually see some regrowth. How quickly depends largely on how shaded and damp the roof is.
Roof cleaning before selling your home
The roof makes up a large part of what buyers see from the street. A heavily moss-covered or stained roof can make a well-kept house look neglected, and may prompt questions from buyers and surveyors about the roof's condition. A professional clean is a relatively simple way to improve first impressions, and gives you the chance to have any minor defects spotted and put right before a survey.
What a roof clean doesn't do
Cleaning restores the roof's appearance and drainage, but it won't fix slipped tiles, failed flashing or perished underlay. If we see any of these while cleaning, we'll tell you, so you can decide whether to have them repaired.
Is roof cleaning safe to do yourself?
Working on a roof is one of the most dangerous jobs around a home. Moss-covered tiles are slippery, older tiles can crack underfoot, and a fall from roof height can be life-changing. Cleaning a roof also needs the right approach to avoid forcing water under the tiles or damaging their surface. For most homeowners, it's a job best left to someone with the right experience and equipment.
Moss, gutters and damp walls
Moss that washes off the roof ends up in the gutters and downpipes. Once they block, rainwater overflows down the face of the house, soaking brickwork and render and sometimes causing damp patches on internal walls. Cleaning the roof and clearing the gutters together tackles the problem at the source rather than just treating the symptom.
Roof cleaning across Kent
We clean roofs throughout Kent, including Ashford, Canterbury, Herne Bay, Rochester, Strood, Gillingham, Chatham, Gravesend and Romney Marsh.
Why Alliance
Why Kent Homeowners Choose Us for Roof Cleaning
Alliance Roofing and Property Maintenance is a family-run business founded by Perrin Harber, who has worked in the trade since the age of 11 alongside his dad. With 18 years of hands-on experience, Perrin still works side by side with his dad, supported by a couple of regular leads, and can bring together a larger team when a job calls for it.
When you contact us about roof cleaning, you deal with the people who actually do the work. Reviewers regularly describe the team as friendly, honest, polite and tidy, with fair prices and no hard sell. Every job is priced individually, warranty terms vary by the work carried out, and we hold public liability insurance. We're open 24 hours a day, listed on Checkatrade and Bark, and rated 9.56/10 on Checkatrade.
FAQs
Roof Cleaning: Your Questions Answered
How much does roof cleaning cost?+
It depends on the size, pitch and access of your roof and how much moss there is. Every clean is priced individually.
How long does a roof clean take?+
Most domestic roofs are cleaned in a day or so, depending on size and condition. We'll confirm when we quote.
Will cleaning damage my roof?+
Cleaning is carried out with care to protect the tiles. If we spot tiles that are already damaged, we'll let you know.
How often should a roof be cleaned?+
It depends on how shaded and damp the roof is. Heavily shaded roofs near trees tend to need attention more often.
Do you take a deposit?+
For jobs over roughly £1,000, we ask for a 50% deposit. Smaller jobs don't require one.
What warranty do I get?+
Warranty terms vary depending on the work carried out. We'll explain the warranty that applies to your job when we quote.
Are you insured?+
Yes. We hold public liability insurance.
Are you available for emergencies?+
Yes. We operate 24 hours a day, and our typical emergency response time is within 2 hours.
Which areas of Kent do you cover?+
We're based at TN27 9JB and cover Kent, including Ashford, Canterbury, Herne Bay, Rochester, Strood, Gillingham, Chatham, Gravesend and Romney Marsh.
Still have a question? Contact us or return to the homepage.
Get your roof cleaning sorted properly
Honest advice, a clear quote and no hard sell. Rated 9.56/10 on Checkatrade, insured, open 24 hours.