Bournemouth · Poole · Dorset-wideContact 7:30am – 8pm · 7 days
exteriorcleaningdorset@gmail.com07391 472 789
07391 472 789
Dorset Exterior Cleaning
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Tiled roof after softwash treatment by Dorset Exterior Cleaning
Dorset · Bournemouth · Poole

Professional Roof Cleaning
in Dorset
Moss, Lichen & Algae: Softwashed, Not Blasted.

Concrete, clay and slate roofs restored using low-pressure softwashing and full biocide treatment, typically effective for around five years. Gutter, fascia and soffit clean included as standard. Owner-led, £10M insured, and quoted honestly from a proper on-site inspection (or satellite imagery when a visit isn't practical).

5.0 Google · 10 reviews £10M public liability Reply usually within 30 minutes

IPAF Certified

Working-at-height trained

£10M Public Liability

£5M Employers' Liability

First Aid & Rescue

Offshore-trained owner

~5-Year Biocide

Full treatment included

5-Star Google Rated

Verified customer reviews

The Service

What this job actually involves.

Roof cleaning done properly is not a pressure-wash job. It's a softwash: a low-pressure application of a professional-grade biocide that kills moss, lichen and algae at the root, followed by mechanical removal of loose debris and a second biocide pass to prevent regrowth. On a Dorset roof, coastal air, damp winters, plenty of shade from mature trees, that combination is what actually keeps tiles clear for years, not weeks. Pressure alone strips the surface off concrete tiles and shortens roof life; we don't do it.

Who it's for

Homeowners with visible moss, black streaking or lichen spotting; landlords preparing a property for sale or valuation; commercial site owners with a moss build-up affecting drainage or roof life expectancy. If gutters are overflowing every autumn, the roof itself is usually the source.

When you need it

The best signals are moss clumps visible from the ground, streaks of black algae running down tiles, lichen scabs on ridge tiles, and gutters that keep filling with tile debris. Left long enough, moss holds moisture against the tile surface, which accelerates freeze-thaw damage, much cheaper to treat than to re-tile.

Why it needs a specialist

Roofs are working-at-height jobs. Every clean we do is planned around IPAF-certified access, method statements and rescue protocols carried over from Adam's years working offshore. That's not a marketing line, it's the paperwork insurers ask for on commercial work, and the reason we can quote for schools, care homes and estates as comfortably as for a bungalow.

How we quote

For most work we prefer to visit in person so the quote is accurate, no online guesswork. Roof cleans can also be quoted from satellite imagery when a visit isn't convenient. Payment is on completion, cash or bank transfer, no deposits.

Why Waiting Costs More

Left untreated, small problems get expensive.

Moss on a roof is not just cosmetic. It's a slow-motion drainage and moisture problem, and the longer it's left the more expensive it becomes to reverse.

What happens if it's ignored

  • Moss holds water against tile surfaces, accelerating freeze-thaw damage in winter and softening concrete tile faces over time.
  • Blocked gutters caused by shedding moss lead to overflowing water down fascias, soffits and cavity walls, the exact conditions that cause damp inside the property.
  • Lichen etches into the tile surface. Left for years, some tiles need replacing rather than cleaning, and roof tile matching on older properties is rarely straightforward.
  • A neglected roof knocks visible value off a property at survey time. Buyers' surveyors flag moss, biological growth and blocked gutters as maintenance red flags.
  • Insurance claims for internal damp are far harder to argue when the external cause was ignored for years.

Common DIY mistakes

  • Jet-washing a concrete tile roof with a domestic pressure washer, strips the protective outer layer and voids most tile warranties.
  • Walking directly on tiles without roof ladders or crawler boards, cracking ridge and hip tiles that then leak the next winter.
  • Applying supermarket 'patio cleaner' as a biocide, wrong chemistry, wrong dilution, kills nothing at the root.
  • Cleaning the roof but ignoring the gutters, fascias and soffits, the debris ends up in the drains and the problem recurs in one season.
  • Hiring an uninsured operator with no working-at-height training. If they fall, the homeowner's insurance is the one being tested.
Our Process

A methodical system, not a rushed hose-down.

01

Site inspection

Roof pitch, tile type, moss depth, gutter condition and safe access are all checked before we quote. For awkward properties we can also assess from satellite imagery.

02

Access & protection

IPAF-certified access set up. Downpipes, gutters and delicate planting protected. RAMS provided for commercial jobs before work starts.

03

First biocide pass

Professional softwash biocide applied at low pressure across the entire roof surface, saturating moss, lichen and algae to kill at the root.

04

Mechanical clearance

Loose moss and lichen scraped and swept away. Gutters, fascias and soffits cleaned as part of the roof price, no upsell.

05

Final biocide + sign-off

Second biocide treatment applied to lock in long-term protection. Photos before/after, walk-through with the owner, payment on completion.

The Payoff

What you actually get for the money.

~5 years of clean tiles

Our biocide treatment is typically effective for around five years under normal Dorset conditions. That's the real value, not the initial wash.

Roof life extended

Removing moss and treating regrowth protects the tile surface from freeze-thaw damage, a new roof is a £8,000-£15,000 job. Cleaning is a fraction.

Gutters clear, in one visit

Gutter clean, fascia and soffit wash included with every roof clean. You're not booking three trades to do one problem.

No damage to the roof itself

Softwash, not pressure. We don't strip the protective coating off concrete tiles or dislodge ridge tile mortar.

Insured, documented, safe

£10M public liability, IPAF working-at-height certified, first aid and rescue trained. RAMS available for commercial sign-off.

One point of contact

Adam owns the business and is on every job. No middle-man call centre, no scheduling handoffs, no chasing the office.

Recent Transformations

Real Dorset before-and-afters.

A selection of recent projects, actual customer results, not stock photography.

View full gallery
After, Orange clay tile roof softwash, Roof Cleaning, Dorset – Dorset Exterior Cleaning
Before, Orange clay tile roof softwash, Roof Cleaning, Dorset – Dorset Exterior Cleaning
BeforeAfter
Roof Cleaning
Dorset
After, Semi-detached clay tile roof softwashed clean, Roof Cleaning, Dorset – Dorset Exterior Cleaning
Before, Semi-detached clay tile roof softwashed clean, Roof Cleaning, Dorset – Dorset Exterior Cleaning
BeforeAfter
Roof Cleaning
Dorset
After, Concrete tile bungalow roof softwash, Roof Cleaning, Dorset – Dorset Exterior Cleaning
Before, Concrete tile bungalow roof softwash, Roof Cleaning, Dorset – Dorset Exterior Cleaning
BeforeAfter
Roof Cleaning
Dorset
Deep Detail

Materials, methods and variations we handle.

Every surface behaves differently under pressure, water temperature and chemistry. Here's the technical detail behind the work, the reason we don't quote sight-unseen for most jobs.

Roof tile types we work on

Different tiles need different handling. Concrete interlocking tiles (Marley Modern, Redland Regent) are the most common in post-war Dorset housing, moss loves the porous finish and softwashing is the right answer. Clay pantiles and Rosemary tiles found on older properties around Wareham and Dorchester are harder-fired but more brittle underfoot. Natural slate, common in Victorian terraces in central Bournemouth, needs the gentlest handling and no walking on the face. Metal, single-ply and profiled steel roofs on commercial units get their own softwash mix.

  • Concrete interlocking tiles (Marley, Redland)
  • Clay pantiles and Rosemary tiles
  • Natural and man-made slate
  • Cedar shingle roofs
  • Metal profile and single-ply commercial roofs
  • GRP and felt flat roofs (biocide only)

Softwash vs pressure wash, the honest version

Every reputable roofing body, the NFRC, tile manufacturers, and every insurance loss adjuster we've met, will tell you that high-pressure water on concrete tiles is a bad idea. It strips the factory-applied surface coating, exposes the aggregate underneath, and makes future moss regrowth faster, not slower. Softwashing uses volume and chemistry, not pressure. The biocide does the killing; the low-pressure rinse does the removal. That's the industry standard, and it's what we do.

Included as standard: gutter, fascia and soffit

We don't sell gutter cleaning as a separate service, because on a roof job it doesn't make sense to leave the runoff blocked. Every roof clean includes a full gutter clear-out, moss, tile grit, leaf litter, plus a fascia and soffit wash to remove the algae streaking that always sits below a moss-covered roof. If you only need gutters cleared without a roof clean, we typically recommend one of the many specialist gutter firms in Dorset; it's not something we take standalone bookings for.

Residential vs commercial

Domestic roofs run on a same-day or two-day plan depending on pitch and access, usually cleaned from ladders, roof ladders or a scaffold tower. Commercial work, care homes, small industrial units, schools, usually needs RAMS, a MEWP, and a scheduled access window agreed with the site manager. We handle both. On the commercial side, we can invoice against a PO, provide method statements and insurance certificates, and coordinate with the site's H&S officer directly.

What we don't do

We're specialists, not generalists. We don't re-point ridge tiles, replace broken tiles or fit anti-moss zinc strips as part of a clean, those are roofer's jobs. If we spot damage during the inspection we'll flag it in writing and recommend a Dorset roofer we've worked alongside. That transparency is why estate agents and lettings agents send us repeat referrals.

Common Questions

Straight answers, no jargon.

Something not covered here? Send us a message or call Adam directly, most enquiries get a reply within 30 minutes during contact hours (7:30am – 8pm, 7 days).

How much does roof cleaning cost in Dorset?

Every roof is quoted individually based on size, pitch, access and moss depth, we don't publish a fixed price because it wouldn't be honest. Most standard 3-bed semis in Bournemouth and Poole fall into a comparable band. Book a free on-site quote (or a satellite quote for awkward access) and we'll give you a firm number in writing.

How long does the biocide treatment last?

We don't promise a fixed guarantee period because regrowth depends on shade, tree cover, weather and roof pitch. Realistically the biocide typically stays effective for around five years under normal Dorset conditions, many customers see visibly clean tiles well beyond that.

Will jet-washing my roof be faster and cheaper?

It might be quicker and initially cheaper, but it damages concrete tile surfaces and shortens roof life. We won't do it, and any reputable operator won't either. Softwash is the standard for a reason.

Do you clean gutters and fascias as well?

Yes, gutter clear-out plus a fascia and soffit wash is included with every roof clean. We don't take standalone gutter bookings; on a roof job it doesn't make sense to leave the runoff blocked.

How long does the job take?

A typical detached or semi-detached house in Bournemouth or Poole takes one full day; large or complex properties two. Commercial roofs are scheduled around your site's access hours.

Do you offer any guarantee?

We don't guarantee moss won't regrow, nobody honest does, because it depends on the environment. What is guaranteed is the process: full biocide treatment on the whole roof, gutters cleared, work photographed, and payment only taken on completion.

Do I need to be home during the clean?

No. Provided we've agreed access to water and a working outdoor tap, most customers are at work while we clean. Photos and a walk-around are shared at the end.

Is this safe for pets and planting?

The biocide is biodegradable and safe for surrounding planting when applied correctly. We cover delicate plants and pond areas, and we ask customers to keep pets indoors during application.

Do you work across all of Dorset?

Most of our work is in Bournemouth and Poole, with regular jobs across Wareham, Weymouth, Dorchester, Swanage, and occasional trips to Southampton and Yeovil. If you're anywhere in the area, get in touch.

How quickly can you start?

Adam replies to most enquiries within 30 minutes during contact hours (7:30am – 8pm, 7 days). Most roof cleans are scheduled within 1–3 weeks depending on weather.

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No deposits. Pay on completion.

Adam replies to most enquiries within 30 minutes during contact hours. £10M public liability, £5M employers' liability, RAMS and Method Statements available for commercial work.

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