Roofs in Oxford take a beating from British weather. Our soft-wash specialists strip moss, algae and lichen back to clean tiles without high-pressure damage — and treat the surface so it stays clear. We cover every OX postcode across Oxford and the wider Oxfordshire. Roofs round here see damp, low-lying Thames Valley conditions that hold moisture on roofs, and most of the properties we treat are built with Stonesfield slate, Cotswold stone and traditional clay plain tiles — so we tune the soft-wash mix and dwell time to whatever's on your ridge.
Most of the roofs we treat around Oxford are built with Stonesfield slate, Cotswold stone and traditional clay plain tiles. 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 Oxford 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 Oxford.
Professional biocide applied at low pressure. It kills moss, algae and lichen at the root and keeps working for months — important given the damp, low-lying Thames Valley conditions that hold moisture on roofs.
Gutters cleared, downpipes flushed, debris bagged and taken away. Included on every Oxford 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: damp, low-lying Thames Valley conditions that hold moisture on roofs. 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 Oxford, the combination of Stonesfield slate, Cotswold stone and traditional clay plain tiles and Oxfordshire'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.
Plus every OX postcode across Oxfordshire.
Yes. We use a professional, fully biodegradable biocide. We mask off planting where needed and flush gutters and downpipes once we're finished.
Most Oxford 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.
Never. High-pressure water strips the protective coating off concrete tiles and forces water under slate. We hand-scrape and soft-wash only — that's the only safe way to clean a roof.
After a full scrape, soft-wash and biocide treatment, most roofs in Oxford stay visibly clear for several years. An optional annual top-up biocide stretches that further.