How Much Does Roof Cleaning Cost

Roof cleaning is a vital home chore that must be done on a regular basis. Only with regular maintenance will your roof last its full lifespan and look as good as when your house was first built or you had it re-roofed.

However, for many people, not knowing how much roof cleaning costs is an issue. They are hesitant to contact experts like EMS Powerwash as they're afraid that professional roof cleaners will charge an arm and a leg for a roof cleaning service. Instead, they try to find their own roof cleaning method, which is risky and often doesn't do the job!

So how much does roof cleaning cost? Is it affordable? Here's what you need to know.

Roof Cleaning Cost

Factors Affecting Roof Cleaning Cost

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to roof cleaning costs. It depends on a number of factors.

Roof Size

First of all, and most obviously, roof cleaning prices depend on how large the property is. Larger roofs will cost more when it comes to roof cleaning, simply because they will take longer and involve more products being used if a cleaning solution is in play.

Roof Location And Roof Accessibility

In addition to the size of the property, the location of the property may also impact the roof cleaning cost. If you have a hard-to-reach roof or a really tall home, then the cleaning cost might be higher than those with ordinary roofs.

Roof Material

The roof material will also have a large part to play in how much the cleaning cost for your roof will be. Houses with roof tiles, for example, may need to be cleaned more carefully or require specialist cleaning techniques.

Roof Cleaning Methods

Finally, one of the major reasons that roof cleaning costs vary is simply based on what roof cleaning method is used. A professional roof cleaner will need to use the right roof cleaning method for your roof, as mentioned above, and this can impact the cost. You might find that your roof is suitable for pressure washing, or possibly soft-wash roof cleaning, or it might be that to get your roof cleaned it is going to take scrubbing and scraping in order to achieve full moss removal. Each of these methods requires different training, tools, and manpower to achieve, and so will be charged differently.

Factors Affecting Roof Cleaning Cost

UK Average Roof Cleaning Cost Guide

That being said, an estimate can be made using the averages from across the UK. If you're wondering what ballpark figure you should be expecting before you call EMS Powerwash for a quote, here are some of the national average costs.

Two Bedroom House

For a pressure washing and soft wash roof cleaning service, the average price is between £700 and £1000. For a scrape and a soft washing service, the average cost is £600 to £800. For moss removal, the average cost is £400 to £600.

Three Bedroom Semi-Detached

In a property this size, a pressure wash, and soft wash may cost between £1200 and £1800. A Scrape and a soft wash roof cleaning may cost £900 to £1500. For moss removal only, the cost may be between £800 and £1200.

Four Bedroom Detached

In a large property like this, the roof cleaning cost guide is as follows. A pressure washing service and a soft washing service may be between £1900 and £2500. A scrape and soft washing service may be between £1600 and £2200. For moss removal, the average roof cleaning cost is £1200 to £1500.

Five-Bedroom Large Detached

In properties like this, roof cleaning with a pressure washer and soft washer may cost around £2600 to £4500. A scrape and a soft washing service will likely sit at around £2300 to £3500, whereas a simple moss removal job will be around £1600 to £2100.

Average Roof Cleaning Cost Guide

Why Does Your Roof Need Cleaning?

Cleaning your roof is a vital part of owning and caring for your property. There are a number of issues that can arise as a result of not properly getting your roof cleaned on a regular basis.

One of the biggest risks when it comes to not cleaning your roof is moisture retention. Moss and algae often grow on roofs as they are carried by birds or by the wind, and find home in the moist, dark areas on the rooftop. As they grow, they retain water and moisture which is held against the roof surface. This can cause wood rot and corrosion to metal roofing materials, both of which are incredibly irritating and expensive issues to fix.

Moss and algae if not removed can also cause tile damage. Moss often forces its way underneath the tiles, lifting them or cracking the tile completely. Once this has taken place, leaks begin to occur. This can cause long-term damage and can be worsened by incorrect cleaning (such as untrained use of a pressure washer when roof cleaning).

You might also find if you are not pressure washing or cleaning your roof often enough, that your gutters are becoming blocked. This causes water to pool and back up, often leading to flooding, damp issues, and water ingress.

Finally, the moisture held by moss on the roof can reduce the effectiveness of your roof tiles or other roofing material as an insulator. Cool, wet items lose heat much faster than dry items, meaning your house will be significantly colder and it will prove difficult to keep it warm.

Delve into: Is Roof Cleaning A Good Idea

Why Does Your Roof Need Cleaning

What Are The Different Roof Cleaning Methods?

There are a number of different roof cleaning methods, each suited to different scenarios and materials. The most common roof cleaning methods are:

Pressure Washing

A lot of roofing companies will offer pressure washing services. It provides a thorough cleaning by using high-pressure streams of water to blast away any dirt, mould, algae, or debris. The machine used pumps water out at approximately 1500 psi.

This method can be a really effective way to get a clean roof, but it can also be a very messy cleaning solution. It can also, with damaged roof tiles or with incorrect use, cause damage to the roof. If you are interested in this cleaning method, you should be sure to speak to professionals before you start researching whether you can hire pressure washers!

Learn about: How To Clean Roof Tiles Without Pressure Washer

Pressure Washing the roof

Roof Scraping

Moss growth is often quite tough to remove. With roof scraping, the roofing contractors use a wired brush or scraping blade to pull away any loose dirt, moss, and debris from the roof. This is a gentle cleaning method that does not use any high pressure and can be done on pretty much any roof surface, whether you've got asphalt shingles or clay tiles, all roof types are safe when it comes to scraping.

Roof scraping can also be done alongside other roof cleaning services to help provide a well-rounded and thorough cleaning service.

Roof Scraping

Soft Washing

The opposite, in essence, to a pressure wash, soft washing involves using a special treatment that is specifically tailored to tackle dirt and organic growth on rooftops. It is usually a method that works well alongside something like scraping, as it will help to tackle any staining or tough marks that the scraping hasn't handled.

Soft washing is an ideal method for properties that require non-abrasive cleaning and that are subject to lots of moss growth. It provides long-lasting results and is environmentally friendly.

Explore further: What Is Soft Wash Roof Cleaning

Soft Washing

Steam Cleaning

Another way to effectively clean a roof is to use a steam cleaner. Steam cleaning is the most labour-intensive of the methods available. It uses high-temperature steam to remove moss. Once the moss is gone, a biocide treatment can be applied to the roof to help prevent the moss from returning.

Steam cleaning requires a cherry picker to be used and this requires extensive training and setup, meaning that steam cleaning is often one of the more expensive methods.

Steam Cleaning

Can I Clean My Roof Myself?

It is possible for roof cleaning to be done as a DIY job. Things like scrubbing and scraping require minimal tools, and the tools that are needed can be found in most hardware stores. For jobs like high-pressure washing or soft washing, it is significantly harder. If you want to save money and do it yourself, you need to make sure that you are completely safe. Roofs can be slippery and dangerous, especially when they are being cleaned. Your safety should always be paramount.

You should also make sure you do significant research before you begin. You need to check all of your roof for any damage before you start to clean (especially if you choose to pressure wash the roof) as cleaning a damaged roof could lead to costly repairs. You should also make sure you have all the information about what type of roof and what roof materials you are cleaning so that you can customise your roof cleaning process as needed.

Clean My Roof Myself

Get A Quote Today!

If you need your roof cleaning, and you're not sure how to handle it, you're better off hiring a professional service. At EMS Powerwash, cleaning roofs is our bread and butter. We can get your roof clean without you having to worry about whether you've got a sturdy ladder, or how much moss you're going to be able to reach.

Whether your roof needs to be pressure washed, soft-washed, or manually scraped, you can get a free quote from EMS Powerwash for your roof cleaning today. Just get in touch! 

Share this article
Twitter icon

Our accreditations

FSB_member
chas logo
Seal-Colour-Alcumus-SafeContractor-170x170
ISO_14001

EMS Powerwash 
Your Local Cleaning Experts

Get a Free Quote Today and See How We Can Transform Your Property!

Copyright © 2025 EMS Powerwash
phone-handset linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram