Roof Cleaning & Moss Removal in Cobham
Cobham roofs take a beating from trees and damp, whether they are clay tiles in Church Cobham or big concrete-tiled roofs on the Fairmile estates. We steam the moss and lichen off from our 19m cherry picker, treat the roof with a professional biocide, and back the job with a 5-year guarantee.
- 21+ Years Experience
- Fully Insured
- Local Surrey Team
- Low-Pressure Steam Cleaning
- Fully Insured
- 21+ Years Experience
- IPAF-Trained · 19m Cherry Picker
- 5-Year Roof Guarantee
- Chemical-Free & Eco-Friendly
- Free, No-Obligation Quotes
Why moss takes hold so quickly in Cobham
A lot of the village is surrounded by trees. Fairmile Common runs along the east of the village with Scots pine, birch, oak and beech, and many private gardens on the estates off Fairmile Lane and Oxshott Road have mature trees that overhang the house. That shade keeps roof slopes damp long after rain has stopped, and leaf litter and pine needles collect in valleys and behind chimneys where moss gets its first foothold.
In the older parts of the village the River Mole adds to the problem. Roofs along Mill Road, River Hill and towards Downside sit in the valley, where mist and damp hang around in autumn and winter. North-facing slopes there can turn green in just a few years. Moss itself is not just untidy: it holds water against the tiles, lifts the edges of tiles as it grows, and washes down into gutters and downpipes, which then overflow onto walls and paving.
Roof Cleaning · Cobham
Clay tiles, slate and concrete: the roofs we clean here
Church Cobham's conservation area is full of plain red handmade clay tiles, plus some red pantiles, Victorian interlocking tiles and natural slate. These old coverings are becoming rare and are worth looking after. They are also softer and more brittle than modern tiles, so high-pressure washing or walking across them is the quickest way to cause cracks, open up the surface and shorten their life.
Out at Fairmile, Street Cobham and on newer estates such as Eaton Park you are more likely to find concrete interlocking tiles or modern clay on large, steep roofs with several gables and dormers. Those roofs are hard to reach safely from ladders. Our approach suits both types: low-pressure steam lifts moss, lichen and algae at the root without blasting the surface, and because we work from the cherry picker basket no weight goes on the tiles at all.
Roof Cleaning · Cobham
How a Cobham roof clean works, step by step
We start by setting up the 19m cherry picker on your drive or in a safe spot nearby. On the larger plots that usually means we can reach every slope, including rear roofs over gardens, without ladders or scaffolding. Our IPAF-trained operatives then steam the roof section by section, working down the slope so moss is carried off rather than pushed under tiles.
Once the roof is clean we apply a professional biocide treatment, which keeps working for months to kill off spores the eye cannot see and slows regrowth. We clear what has come off the roof out of the gutters before we leave, and if you have booked windows or patio cleaning as well, we do those afterwards so nothing from the roof ends up on clean surfaces. Every roof clean is covered by our 5-year guarantee.
Roof Cleaning · Cobham
A roof clean is also a chance to spot problems
Being up close to a roof shows things you cannot see from the garden: slipped or cracked tiles, worn ridge mortar, a blocked valley, or a flat roof starting to fail. We tell you what we see so you can decide what to do about it. On one Cobham job our team noticed during the roof clean that the client's fibreglass flat roof was breaking down. We recommended a liquid rubber coating and installed it to make it watertight again.
That is typical of how we work. On Fairmile Lane, for example, we steam cleaned and biocide treated a roof, then hoovered out the gutters and cleaned all the external windows the same day, so the client was left with a finished job rather than a clean roof and dirty glass.
Roof Cleaning · Cobham
Looking after period roofs in the conservation area
If you live in or near the Church Cobham conservation area, or your house is listed, the gentle method matters even more. We do not use harsh chemicals or high pressure on old clay tiles, and we take our time around delicate details such as bonnet hips, old lead flashings and decorative ridge tiles. If your house is listed, it is sensible to check with Elmbridge Borough Council before any work that might alter its appearance, but a careful clean simply removes growth and leaves the roof as it was.
The same care applies to other older roofs locally outside the conservation area, from the older homes around Downside Common to the houses that grew up towards the station after the railway arrived. We will always look at the roof first, explain what we plan to do and give you a free, no-obligation quote before any work starts.
What We See on Cobham Properties
Heavy moss on north-facing slopes in the Mole valley around Church Cobham and Downside.
Pine needles and leaf litter from Fairmile Common and mature gardens building up in valleys and behind chimneys.
Fragile handmade clay tiles on older houses that cannot be walked on or pressure washed.
Large, steep roofs on Fairmile and Oxshott Road properties that are unsafe to tackle from ladders.
Lichen and black algae spoiling the look of red tile roofs on period homes.
Ageing flat roofs on extensions that are easy to miss until someone gets up close.
The Difference Steam Makes
A real roof cleaning job by our team. Drag the slider to compare.
How We Handle Roof Cleaning in Cobham
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01
Roof Assessment
We inspect the roof covering and condition to choose the safest, most effective method.
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02
Safe Access Setup
Cherry picker or safe access equipment positioned and controlled by trained operatives.
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03
Steam Clean
Low-pressure steam removes moss, algae and dirt evenly across the whole roof.
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04
Biocide & Protection
A biocide treatment kills remaining spores and keeps your roof cleaner for longer.
Roof Cleaning Results
Roof Cleaning Across Cobham
We cover every part of Cobham (KT11), about 15 to 20 minutes from our Molesey base.
Also covering nearby
Roof Cleaning Cobham FAQs
Answers to common questions about our exterior cleaning services. Can't see yours? Give us a call — we're always happy to help.
How often should a Cobham roof be cleaned?
It depends on shade and location. Roofs under trees near Fairmile Common or down by the River Mole can need attention every few years, while open, south-facing roofs last much longer. The biocide treatment we apply after every clean slows regrowth, and the roof clean is backed by our 5-year guarantee.
Will steam cleaning damage my old clay tiles?
No. Low pressure is the point. Steam softens and lifts moss, lichen and algae without the force that chips or cracks handmade clay tiles, and we never walk on the roof.
Do you need scaffolding?
No. We use our own 19m cherry picker, which reaches most roofs from the drive, including tall gables and rear slopes, so there is no scaffolding to hire and no ladders on the roof.
What happens to all the moss that comes off?
It falls into the gutters and onto the ground. We clear the gutters with our high-reach vacuum and tidy up below before we leave.
Can you clean the roof if I live on a private estate?
Yes. We regularly work on gated and private estates around Cobham. Let us know about access codes or estate working-hour rules and we will plan around them.
Will you tell me if you find a problem with the roof?
Yes. If we see slipped tiles, worn mortar or a failing flat roof we will point it out and talk you through the options. On one local job we recoated a failing fibreglass flat roof with liquid rubber after spotting it during a roof clean.
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