Professional roof cleaning for weathered Melbourne roofs
Moss, lichen and years of dirt make a sound roof look neglected and hold moisture against the tiles. Cleaning takes it back to the surface - as a job on its own, or as the first stage of restoration.
When the covering is sound but the surface is not
Melbourne roofs collect lichen, moss and grime, especially on the slopes that stay damp. That growth holds moisture against the tiles, darkens the colour and makes a structurally serviceable roof look as if it has been left. Pressure cleaning strips that back to the tile.
Cleaning is a standalone service where the roof needs nothing more than a clean. It is also the first thing that has to happen before coating - nothing bonds properly to a dirty roof - and it is a normal early stage of restoration.
Cleaning does not fix broken tiles, failed pointing or leaks. If those problems are there, they still need repairing. We will not pretend a wash is a restoration.
Signs your roof may need cleaning
These are appearance and moisture signs. They may indicate cleaning would help - they do not mean the roof is failing.
- Moss, lichen or algae Green or grey growth sitting in the tile joints or across a whole slope, especially on the shaded side of the house.
- A dirty, weathered surface Years of built-up dirt that will not wash off in the rain, leaving the roof darker and patchier than the rest of the house.
- You are considering a coating A coating needs a clean tile. If colour restoration is the aim, cleaning is the preparation, not an optional extra.
- The roof looks older than the house The walls have been painted or the garden kept up, and the covering is the element that still looks neglected.
- Preparation for restoration Repairs and pointing are planned, and the roof needs to be taken back to a clean surface before that work continues.
What roof cleaning involves
The work is the clean itself - plus an honest look at whether anything else is needed once the dirt is gone.
The roof is pressure cleaned to lift moss, lichen and dirt back to the tile. Access, runoff and the condition of the covering all matter: a brittle tile needs a different approach from a sound one. Gutters are cleared of what comes off the roof.
Once the surface is clean, defects are easier to see. That is useful. It is also why we will tell you if cleaning has revealed broken tiles or pointing that still needs work, rather than leaving you with a clean roof that still has a hole in it.
If you are cleaning as preparation for coating or restoration, those stages are quoted separately and only where they apply. Cleaning on its own stops at a clean, tidy roof.
- Roof surface assessed before cleaning starts
- Pressure cleaned back to the tile
- Moss, lichen and dirt lifted off
- Gutters cleared of what comes off the roof
- Anything the clean has revealed, explained before you decide on further work
Weathered surface against a cleaned roof
The change is immediate from the street. What the clean cannot do is repair pointing or replace broken tiles.
Clean the roof, then be honest about what is left
Three steps. No coating unless you have asked for one.
Why choose Kestrel for roof cleaning
We clean roofs as a service, and as a stage. That means we are not trying to upsell a coating onto every wash.
If a clean is all the roof needs, that is the quote. Coating and restoration are separate decisions.
The same team can go on to repairs, pointing and coating if the roof warrants it, without starting from scratch with someone else.
Enough time on tiled roofs to know when a surface is just dirty, and when dirt is hiding a real defect.
Cover in place before we work on the roof. One point of contact, including on smaller cleaning jobs.
Weathered and cleaned tiled roofs
Frames show weathered surfaces, a clean in progress, and a finished clean.
Related roofing services
If this is close but not quite the work you need, these are the usual next pages to look at.
Questions about roof cleaning
If the answer you need is not here, call and ask. We would rather explain it than have you guess.
Need your roof cleaned?
Tell us whether you want a clean on its own or as preparation for further work. We will look at the roof and quote what actually applies.