The Short Answer
On our estimates, scraping moss off by hand and treating the roof costs £6 to £15 per m² of roof, about £390 to £970 for a typical semi (around 64m² of roof at a 35° pitch). Soft washing is £12 to £20 per m². Add scaffold if the roof can't be reached safely.
You may not need it at all. Marley, the tile maker, says light moss is a natural part of a roof ageing and best left alone unless the roof leaks or the gutters are blocked, because getting on the roof risks damage. If you do have it cleaned, don't let anyone pressure wash it.
Roof cleaning cost calculator
Cleaners price per square metre of roof, which is bigger than your house's footprint: the steeper the roof, the bigger.
Estimated total
£380 to £960
| Hand scraping and moss-killing wash, about 64m² of roof | £380 to £960 |
Roof cleaning prices
| House | Roof area (35°) | Hand removal and treatment | Soft washing | Pressure washing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terraced house | About 54m² | £320 to £810 | £640 to £1,050 | £270 to £810 |
| Semi-detached house | About 64m² | £390 to £970 | £770 to £1,300 | £320 to £970 |
| Detached house | About 94m² | £560 to £1,400 | £1,150 to £1,900 | £470 to £1,400 |
| Detached bungalow | About 114m² | £680 to £1,700 | £1,350 to £2,300 | £570 to £1,700 |
Cleaners price per m² of roof, and a sloping roof has more area than the floor it covers: about a fifth more at 35°, about two-fifths more at 45°, plus the overhangs. Measure your footprint, pick your pitch in the calculator, and you'll have a figure to hold quotes against. A roof of 65 to 85m² usually takes a cleaner 2 to 8 hours.
Do you actually need it?
Marley's technical team says low to moderate moss and lichen is a natural part of ageing on many pitched roofs and normally not harmful. Its advice is to leave it, and stay off the roof, unless the roof is leaking or gutters and outlets are blocked. Heavier build-ups are different: moss holds moisture against the tiles and can degrade them over time.
My rule: thin green film or a few scattered cushions on a sound roof, leave it. Thick moss blocking gutters or valleys, or a leak, get it cleaned and the roof checked at the same time.
Which method?
| Method | Per m² | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Hand scraping and moss-killing wash | £6 to £15 | Moss scraped off by hand, then a moss-killing wash over the roof. |
| Soft washing | £12 to £20 | Low-pressure water with a cleaning solution. |
| Pressure washing | £5 to £15 | High-pressure water jets. The one to avoid: see below. |
I'd choose hand removal and a treatment. It's the gentlest on the tiles, and on most roofs not the dearest.
Can you do it yourself?
Marley advises against it. The moss-killing washes professionals use are toxic: they have to be handled with care, kept away from people and animals and disposed of properly, and the work is at height. HSE says ladders are only for short, low-risk jobs. Clearing gutters from a properly footed ladder is one thing; walking on a roof is another.
Keeping moss away
Marley suggests zinc or copper strips along the ridge and hips, or zinc or copper ridge and hip cappings: rain washes small amounts of the metal down the roof, which discourages regrowth. Then look up at the roof regularly; Marley's point is that problems caught early are easier and cheaper to put right.
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Frequently asked questions
How much should a roof clean cost?
On our estimates, £6 to £15 per m² of roof for hand removal and treatment, about £390 to £970 for a typical semi. Scaffold, if needed, adds £16 to £20 per m².
Is it worth having your roof cleaned?
Only if moss is heavy, blocking gutters or valleys, or the roof leaks. Marley says light moss is normally not harmful and best left, because going on the roof risks damage.
Why is roof cleaning so expensive?
You're paying for hours of careful work at height, safe access and a chemical treatment that has to be handled and disposed of properly. Your roof is also bigger than your house's footprint, by about a fifth on a typical pitch.
How often should a house roof be cleaned?
There's no set interval. Look up at it regularly and clean it when moss is blocking gutters or valleys or the roof leaks, not on a schedule.
Is pressure washing bad for roof tiles?
Tile makers advise against it. High pressure can crack tiles, force water into the roof and lift tiles when sprayed upwards from the ground.
Can I remove roof moss myself?
Marley advises against going on the roof yourself: the treatments are toxic and the work is at height. Clearing gutters from a properly footed ladder is a different matter.
How long does it take to remove moss from a roof?
Usually 2 to 4 hours for a roof of about 65m², up to 6 to 8 hours for 85m².
How we priced thisView sources (4, 1 official)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- IndustryHow do I remove moss or lichen from my roof? (updated 11 September 2024), Marley. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- IndustryRoof tile maintenance: a homeowner's guide (9 March 2022), Marley. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialSafe use of ladders and stepladders: when to use a ladder, Health and Safety Executive. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Trade guideRoof cleaning cost in the UK, Checkatrade. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
