Cost guide

Softwashing and biocide treatment: what the price covers

Softwashing is priced very differently from mechanical cleaning. There is no scraping labour to pay for, so the cost is driven by the treated area, the strength and volume of solution needed, and how long the operator has to spend working the surface evenly at height.

That catches people out. A softwash on a lightly soiled roof can be surprisingly quick and inexpensive, while a heavily colonised roof may need clearing first and then treating, which is two pieces of work rather than one.

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What actually sets the figure

Treated surface area, measured across the slopes rather than the footprint of the house.
Level of colonisation, because heavier algae and lichen need a stronger mix and slower, more thorough coverage.
Surface type. Porous concrete tile drinks solution, glazed and dense surfaces need less.
Height and reach, which decide whether the work is done from ladders, from our own access equipment or from a longer reach setup.
Whether the treatment follows a hand clean or is being used on its own as a maintenance visit.

Treatment on its own versus treatment after a clean

Biocide kills growth and then lets weather wash the dead material away over the following months. On a roof with a light film that is all you need, and it is the cheapest sensible option available.

On a roof carrying thick moss cushions, treatment alone leaves you looking at dead moss for a long time and does nothing for gutters already filling with it. That is why full roof cleans combine hand clearing with the softwash, and it is those full cleans that carry our written 24-month guarantee.

Why patience is part of the value

The reason we softwash instead of pressure washing is that pressure strips the weathered surface off tiles and forces water under the laps. A gentle treated finish takes weeks to reach its best rather than looking transformed the moment we drive away.

You are paying for a slower method that leaves the roof covering intact, applied by a uniformed team that is fully insured and works from our own equipment. That is a different product from a fast jet wash, and the price reflects the method, not just the day.

Getting an accurate figure

For a treatment quote we need to know the roof covering, the rough age of the property, which elevations are affected and how bad the worst slope is. Photographs of the shaded side tell us more than photographs of the sunny side.

Quotes are free, there is no obligation, and if we think a treatment will not achieve what you want we will say so before you book rather than after.

Our own photographs

Images from Sky Scrapers Ltd work showing the methods described on this page.

a roof section showing the difference between treated and untreated tiles, relevant to softwashing and biocide treatment: what the price covers

a cleaned tiled roof slope after moss removal and treatment, relevant to softwashing and biocide treatment: what the price covers

a cleaned pitched roof on a detached house, relevant to softwashing and biocide treatment: what the price covers

Where this applies locally

Towns where this comes up most often on our patch:

Questions we get asked

Is softwashing cheaper than a full roof clean?

On its own, yes, because there is no clearing labour. It is only the right choice where growth is light enough for weather to carry away the dead material.

Does the 24-month guarantee apply to treatment only?

The written 24-month biocide guarantee applies to full roof cleans. A standalone maintenance treatment is a smaller piece of work with a different scope.

Will one visit be enough?

Usually. Very heavy lichen sometimes benefits from a follow-up, and we will tell you at quote stage if we think your roof is one of those.

Do plants and pets need protecting?

We sheet and wet down planting near the working area as standard, and we will ask you to keep pets indoors while we are applying.

Ask about a softwash price

Tell us the roof covering and which sides are worst, and we will quote the treatment honestly, including whether you actually need one.