Tile, terracotta and Colorbond
Roof cleaning in Shellharbour without high-pressure blasting
A black-streaked roof makes a whole house look older than it is. We clean concrete tile, terracotta and Colorbond roofs across Shellharbour City with a low-pressure soft wash, worked from the top down, so the surface comes back clean without being stripped.
After
Before
What's actually growing on your roof
Those dark streaks running down the tiles are usually a mix of black mould, algae and lichen, with a coat of salt and grime from the coast on top. Lichen is the grey-green crust that sits in patches. It holds moisture against the tile and slowly roughens the surface, which gives the next lot of growth something to grip.
In Shellharbour the side of the roof that faces away from the sun is nearly always the worst. Roofs near Lake Illawarra and the reserves around Albion Park, or anywhere under big trees, stay damp longer after rain and grow it faster. On the newer estates, darker concrete tiles hide it for a while, then it suddenly shows up as patchy grey.
Why we don't use a high-pressure blaster
Blasting a roof can chip the surface of concrete tiles, wear the glaze on terracotta, push water up under the tiles and damage the paint on Colorbond. It can also leave growth in the surface, so the staining comes back sooner. A soft wash uses low pressure and a cleaning treatment that's left to work, then rinsed from the ridge down. The roof on this page is a real Shellharbour example.
What we check before we start
- Tile and pointing condition, and any cracked or slipped tiles
- Colorbond coating and any rust spots
- Safe access and where the ladders go
- Rainwater tanks, so we can show you how to lock off the downpipe
- Gardens and plants below the gutters, which get wet down first
If a roof is too fragile, or a surface isn't suitable to clean, you'll hear that before we start, not after.
Roofs we've cleaned nearby
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After
Before
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Before
AfterOn the day
We ask you to close windows, bring in washing and cushions, keep pets inside and move cars off the driveway. If you have a rainwater tank, we'll help you lock off the downpipe so the cleaning water doesn't go in. Plants under the gutter line are wet down before and after. The roof is cleaned in sections from the top, then rinsed, and we finish with a walk-around so you can see the result from the ground.
How long it takes depends on the size, pitch and height of the roof, and that's all worked out in your quote. Roof cleaning pairs naturally with gutter and solar panel cleaning and a soft wash of the walls, because the dirt from the roof runs down onto both.
Roof and house customers
Rated 4.8 on Google, under ClearView Exterior Services.
“Noah did a wonderful job cleaning the roof walls and pathways of our house today that now looks clean and tidy.”
Find out what your roof will cost
Send two or three photos of the roof from the ground or a window. Noah will reply with a fixed price.
Roof cleaning questions
How much does roof cleaning cost in Shellharbour?
It depends on the roof size, pitch, height and how much lichen and mould there is. Send a few photos and Noah will give you a fixed price, usually without needing to visit.
Will cleaning damage my tiles or Colorbond?
We don't blast roofs. Tiles and Colorbond get a low-pressure clean, worked from the top down. If tiles are cracked, the pointing is crumbling or the roof isn't safe to walk, we'll tell you before we start rather than take the job anyway.
How often should a roof near the coast be cleaned?
Most Shellharbour roofs look after themselves for a few years between cleans. Shady, south-facing roofs and roofs under trees grow lichen faster and may need it sooner. We'll tell you honestly if yours doesn't need doing yet.
Can you clean the solar panels and gutters at the same time?
Yes, and it makes sense to. We're already set up on the roof, so panels and gutters add less time than booking them separately.
Do I need to be home?
Not for the whole job. We just need access, windows closed and cars off the driveway. Most people like to be there for the walk-around at the end.