Roof Cleaning and Moss Removal in Newark

Moss on a roof looks harmless from the ground, but left to build up it holds water, lifts tiles and ends up blocking your gutters. Our roof cleaning in Newark deals with it the careful way: the moss is scraped off by hand, the debris is cleared, and the gutters are emptied afterwards so the problem does not just move somewhere else. W Hartley Jnr Ltd is run by Will Hartley, who has spent over 20 years working on roofs, so while we are up there we also check the roof for loose or broken tiles.

We clean roofs on houses, bungalows and garages across Newark-on-Trent, the surrounding villages and wider Nottinghamshire. You get a free, no-obligation quote first, with honest advice on whether your roof needs cleaning at all.

Why moss matters on a roof

A thin film of moss is mostly a cosmetic issue. The trouble starts when it thickens into cushions along the tile edges and in the gaps between them.

• It holds water. Moss acts like a sponge, keeping the tiles wet long after the rain has stopped. Tiles that stay damp wear faster.
• It lifts tiles. Clumps growing under the edges of tiles and slates can push them up slightly, which lets wind-driven rain get underneath.
• It blocks gutters and valleys. Every heavy shower washes bits of moss down the roof into the gutters, downpipes and valleys, where it builds up and causes overflows. Overflowing gutters are one of the most common causes of damp walls and rotten fascia boards.
• It makes frost damage worse. Water held in the moss and the tile surface freezes and expands in winter, which can crack and flake older tiles.

None of this happens overnight, which is why moss is easy to ignore. Dealing with it before it gets thick is far cheaper than repairing the damage later.

How we clean a roof

We clean roofs by hand, which in practice means careful scraping rather than blasting.

1. Look first. We check the roof, how the tiles or slates are fixed and how heavy the moss is, and explain what we plan to do.
2. Scrape the moss off by hand. The moss and lichen are scraped from the tiles or slates, working down the roof so the debris comes away cleanly, and taking care not to crack or dislodge anything.
3. Clear the debris. The loose moss is cleared from the roof and the ground around the house.
4. Empty the gutters. A roof clean always sends moss into the gutters, so we clear them afterwards. If your guttering needs more than a clean, our fascias, soffits and guttering page covers repairs and replacement.
5. Report back. We tell you what condition the roof is in, including anything we spotted that needs attention.

Why we scrape rather than pressure wash

Pressure washing a roof looks quick and dramatic, but as general guidance it carries risks. A high-pressure jet can drive water up under the tiles and into the roof space, and it can wear away the surface of older concrete and clay tiles, leaving them more porous than before.

Scraping by hand takes longer, but it removes the moss without soaking the roof or blasting the tile surface. On an older roof in particular, that gentler approach matters. If a roof is too fragile to clean safely, we will tell you rather than risk damaging it.

We check for damage while we are up there

Cleaning a roof means looking closely at every part of it, which makes it a good chance to spot problems early. We check for slipped, cracked and missing tiles, loose ridge tiles, worn valleys and flashing that has pulled away from the chimney or wall.

If we find something, we show you before doing anything else. Small jobs can often be sorted at the same visit if you are happy for us to go ahead. Anything bigger goes on a separate free quote for roof repairs, or for chimney repairs and leadwork if the problem is around the stack.

If the tiles themselves are failing across the whole roof, cleaning is not money well spent. In that case we will be honest and talk you through whether a new roof makes more sense.

When to have your roof cleaned

There is no fixed timetable. Roofs shaded by trees, or facing north, grow moss much faster than open, sunny ones, and many roofs only need attention every few years. Signs it is worth having a look:

• thick clumps of moss visible from the ground
• bits of moss regularly landing on the drive, path or patio
• gutters overflowing in heavy rain
• tiles that look lifted or uneven along their edges

If water is already coming through a ceiling, that is a repair rather than a cleaning job, and our emergency roofing service is the right place to start.

Roof cleaning across Newark and Nottinghamshire

We are based in Balderton and clean and repair roofs across Newark-on-Trent, the villages around it and further afield in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire, including Peterborough. We are fully insured, and every job starts with a free, no-obligation quote.

For roof cleaning in Newark, call 01636 499231, open 7am to 6pm seven days a week, or send us the details and we will arrange a visit.