Roof Cleaning Guides & Resources
How to Clean Roof Tiles
Roof tiles are exposed to sunlight, rain, and other debris like moss and fallen plants that can impair quality over time. To maintain the best appearance of the property exterior, it's important to keep your roof and every tile on it clean. Tile roof cleaning can be a little difficult to do without the right equipment and chemicals, but if you follow these steps, the work doesn't have to be all that difficult. If you're wondering how to clean roof tiles of any kind (including terracotta and clay tiles, concrete tiles, and more), then read on. The first step of the job is preparing your ladder. Always position the ladder carefully in front of your property, not under the eaves or gutter, and make sure you're wearing shoes when you're climbing up and cleaning your roof so you don't slip. After you've positioned the ladder, lock it into place using sandbags or wedges at each end for added stability. Once you've done this, remove the screens from your gutters and start up the water pressure on your hose. You can use a pressure washer for tile roof cleaning, but if you don't have one, an ordinary garden hose with a spray nozzle will easily do. To avoid damage to the roof tiles while using chemicals for cleaning roofs, test them first in an inconspicuous area before applying them directly onto the roof tiles. This will prevent any unwanted damage to your home exterior later on down the road. Once that's done, spray down all areas of the roof tiles over a period of about fifteen minutes or more depending on how dirty they are. If there is moss or algae growing on it already, scrub lightly with a brush to get rid of the algae and moss. Spray down all areas of the roof tiles over a period of about fifteen minutes or more depending on how dirty they are. You can get rid of moss and algae by scrubbing lightly with a brush. After cleaning off all dirt, debris, moss, and algae from your roof tiles using the high-pressure nozzle attached to your hose, place a ladder underneath it and use a broom to wipe the tiles dry. You can alternatively use a squeegee along the gutters to get rid of any algae, moss, and dirt inside them before moving onto the floors under the eaves of your home. Rinse away any chemical residues left behind after you've cleaned them thoroughly for an even better result afterward. Finally, inspect the gutters and the roof cavity to check if they need cleaning; when properly maintained, they can help prevent any excess dirt, moss, and debris from being deposited onto your roof tiles in the first place. ## What chemical is used to clean roof tiles? There are several roof cleaners out there that can be used for pressure washing roof tiles. Some of the most popular products to use while pressure washing include bleach or sodium percarbonate, which is available at home improvement stores. A DIY mixture of bleach and water is also effective. Other ways you can clean the roof with chemicals include using the following products: - Muriatic acid or hydrochloric acid. - Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye. - TSP, or trisodium phosphate. You should be aware that using harsh chemicals on your roof tiles can cause problems later on if you don't rinse them all the way off afterward. The risk of corrosion to shingles can be high depending on what kind of material they're made out of and how long you left the chemicals sitting after applying them. You must make sure to thoroughly rinse all joints and seams between tiles once you're done cleaning them and allow ample time for them to dry before walking on them again. If you do not you may end up with ugly black streaks that are difficult to remove later on. If you have a Colorbond roof, take a [look at our cleaning guide](/guides/roof-cleaning/how-to-clean-a-colorbond-roof). ## Does bleach clean roof tiles? Bleach is effective for cleaning tile roofs, but it's better used in conjunction with another roof cleaner since it can be too harsh by itself. For example, you can mix the bleach 50/50 with water to make a milder, DIY roof cleaning solution that still gets rid of tough stains without any scrubbing required. If this mixture fails, try adding TSP or trisodium phosphate powder to the mix afterwards which makes it stronger Mixing one cup of trisodium phosphate along with three gallons of water works well if the area is small enough that you don't need more than that amount. Just be aware that all these chemicals can harm plants and other surfaces in your yard, so try to keep them off the plants as much as possible. Alternatively, you can also cover the plants with a cloth or something similar to protect them. Don't forget that you will also need a garden hose or a pressure washer to get the best results from this method. ## How do I remove black streaks from my roof tiles? Black mineral stains on tiles can be caused by natural deposits left behind over many years of rainfall which have been baked onto the surface by repeated exposure to sunlight. Sometimes it's difficult if not impossible to make them completely disappear with typical roof cleaning methods like high-pressure water sprays; usually you'll need something stronger like commercial roof cleaners designed specifically for staining roofs, which are usually available at home improvement stores. There are also different roof cleaning solutions you can use on tile roofs such as using baking soda and vinegar. Just sprinkle the powder mixture on stained areas on your roof and scrub with a wet brush. It can take quite a bit of elbow grease to remove these marks so be prepared to put in some work if your tile roof is really dirty. ## Do roof cleaners remove moss? Yes, there are several types of roof cleaners and roof cleaning chemicals available that will effectively kill and/or prevent the growth of moss on roofs along with algae and other mould and fungi which typically grow in moist shady areas like guttering troughs or under eaves where they're protected from direct sunlight. They aren't always 100% effective because algae traces left behind by rainfall can continue to linger on your roof after you apply the chemicals, but it's better than no roof cleaning at all. These can also be quite effective at damaging moss, algae, and other fungi, but they should never be applied to roof tiles because the concentrated spray will eat away at them over time. They are available in both liquid and powder form which you mix with water depending on how much of the material is needed for a particular application. Additionally, you should also be able to find anti-moss spray for your roof on the market. The mixture may need to sit on the moss and algae on your roof for several hours before it's ready to be washed off again depending on what it contains. Just make sure that you follow all instructions carefully when preparing them beforehand or using anti-moss spray. If you do not, you could end up with some nasty chemical burns if the solution gets into your eyes while working around the edges of your roof. ## How do you clean terracotta roof tiles? Before you start cleaning your roof properly, it's important to remove as much of the loose dirt and debris from your terracotta roof tiles as possible so that they aren't damaged during the roof cleaning process. This can be done with a stiff scrub brush fitted with a long handle to reach all the way up without straining yourself a lot. Afterwards, spread the appropriate amount of roof cleaner in a thick layer over the surface and allow it to sit for several hours before cleaning it away with a garden hose or pressure washer - and that's it, the job is done! Just make sure not to use any detergents when washing them afterwards because they leave unwanted streaks which will reduce their effectiveness over time. ## Is it OK to pressure wash roof tiles? Yes, pressure washing roof tiles is okay as long as they aren't brittle and don't contain any lead-based materials which could otherwise be damaged. A pressure cleaner will do a good job of removing most stains, moss, and dirt from the roof surface without damaging the tiles, but remember that excess water coming down from the roof is what causes eroded foundations in the first place so make sure to keep it off of your foundation by moving any drainage pipes away before beginning. Before you start cleaning your roof it's also important to test out different angles with high-pressure sprays at close range to make sure that you won't damage anything during the cleaning process. ## What psi pressure washer do I need to clean a tile roof? For most applications, water pressure of around 1,500 PSI is effective for removing most kinds of stains without causing any damage. Higher pressure will do a more thorough job, but it can also damage your roof, so make sure to exercise caution when cleaning tiles with powerful equipment. ## What's the best way to clean a metal roof? To clean your metal roof, you should start by removing any foliage and other dirt and debris from it so that water doesn't pool up and cause water damage. You can use a stiff broom for this part of the cleaning, but you should avoid cleaning with anything sharp like wire brushes because they can harm the surface of many types of metals including aluminium and steel which are commonly used for roofs. Afterwards, mix one part bleach with three parts water and apply it in a thin layer in order to remove stains and discolouration during the roof cleaning process. Before cleaning it away, make sure to give it enough time to work its magic before scrubbing again if necessary. Just make sure not to allow any excess liquid or foam as this could make its way down your roof and cause harm to the foundation below. Be sure to wear safety equipment like rubber gloves, a safety harness, shoes, and safety glasses when cleaning your roof with a pressure washer at close range because some pressure washer models expel water under a lot of high force which can not only cause you to slip off the roof, it can also hurt you if it gets into your eyes or comes into contact with bare skin. ## How much does it cost to have a tiled roof cleaned? It all depends on the size of your tile roof and what type of work is required for a particular job. The first step is always to remove as much of the mould as possible by scrubbing with soap and water combined with bleach if necessary. Afterward, use an anti-corrosive treatment which will act as a protective barrier over the surface while also neutralizing any remaining fungi before cleaning it all away. If you already have rust stains on your tiles, this process might not be enough to get rid of them which means that you should consider replacing them after everything else is said and done. It generally ranges between $60 and $100 per hour. ## How often should I pressure wash my roof tiles? If you want them to look like new for as long as possible, it's best to clean your roof tiles with a pressure washer at least once per year and perhaps more often if they get particularly dirty. This will prevent mould from building up in visible areas and keep each roof tile looking nice which can help increase its lifespan by several years before any serious harm can be done. There are several different types of pressure washers available nowadays which all have diameters of 25mm to 40 mm, but the most common ones used today are those with a diameter of 35 mm or 38 mm. The first step is always to clean your roof tiles by brushing away loose dirt and debris. This is in order to reduce the risk of any damage being done during washing. Afterward, use one part bleach mixed with three parts water in combination with an extension lance for directing high-pressure sprays at specific locations without having to move around a lot. Be sure to wear safety gear like gloves, shoes, and safety glasses before starting out because some pressure washer models have a very high PSI which could hurt you if it gets into your eyes or comes into contact with your skin, or may cause you to slip off your roof. If you're unsure of how to go about cleaning your roof tiles, you should consider contacting professional roof cleaning services for help. Not only will they help you clean your roof, they can also help guide you on a host of other issues that tiles roofs may have and help you in many other ways. A professional roof cleaning service will have access to better equipment for cleaning tiles roofs including water tanks. These tanks have a significant water storage capacity in them and on account of this, will ensure your roof cleaning is completed quickly, without the delay caused by you having to go back to check the pressure and flow in your pressure washer or garden hose. The professionals will know how to clean a roof thoroughly so that it looks as good as new once they're done with the job.
Download Our App
Localsearch App
Find local businesses - anywhere, anytime.
Localsearch For Business App
Manage your business - anywhere, anytime.
