Moss on a Crawley Down roof isn't just cosmetic — it lifts tiles, blocks gutters and shortens the life of the whole roof. We clear it the safe way and treat it so it doesn't grow back. We cover Crawley Down and the wider the wider region. Roofs round here see regular rainfall and overhanging trees that keep roof surfaces shaded, and most of the properties we treat are built with Redland Cambrian, Rosemary plain tiles and modern concrete interlocking — so we tune the soft-wash mix and dwell time to whatever's on your ridge.
Most of the roofs we treat around Crawley Down are built with Redland Cambrian, Rosemary plain tiles and modern concrete interlocking. Each tile type needs a slightly different approach — concrete tiles need a gentler biocide dwell time than slate, and pantiles need careful scraping in the lap. Here's what's included on a typical Crawley Down job:
Every tile cleared by hand from a roof ladder or scaffold tower — no pressure washers, no broken tiles. The right approach for the older roofs you see across Crawley Down.
Professional biocide applied at low pressure. It kills moss, algae and lichen at the root and keeps working for months — important given the regular rainfall and overhanging trees that keep roof surfaces shaded.
Gutters cleared, downpipes flushed, debris bagged and taken away. Included on every Crawley Down roof clean.
Photos of every slope, ridge and valley. You'll see exactly what's on your roof before we quote — no pressure.
We re-bed loose ridge tiles and flag failing pointing while we're up there. Small fixes done on the day; bigger ones quoted separately.
Optional annual top-up applied from the ground. Stretches results from "several years" to "indefinitely" with minimal cost.
The short answer: regular rainfall and overhanging trees that keep roof surfaces shaded. Moss spores are airborne almost year-round, and any roof slope that stays damp for long periods will start to colonise — usually on the north-facing pitch first, then under any overhanging trees.
Around Crawley Down, the combination of Redland Cambrian, Rosemary plain tiles and modern concrete interlocking and the wider region's climate means most roofs need attention every 3-5 years if they've never been treated, and far less often once a biocide programme is in place.
Left untreated, moss holds water against the tile surface, freezes and thaws through winter, lifts the lap, and eventually pushes debris into the gutter line. That's when small problems become roof-replacement problems.
Without a biocide treatment, yes — usually within 12-18 months. The biocide is what kills spores at the root and keeps the roof clear long after we leave.
No — all the work is carried out outside. Just tell us about parking, side-gate access, pets and any solar panels before we arrive.
After a full scrape, soft-wash and biocide treatment, most roofs in Crawley Down stay visibly clear for several years. An optional annual top-up biocide stretches that further.
Most Crawley Down jobs are priced from the ground after a free roof inspection — pitch, access and tile type matter far more than property size. You'll get a written, fixed-price quote with no obligation.
Yes, as long as it's dry and safe to access. Autumn and winter are actually peak season for treating moss — the biocide goes on before spring growth kicks off.