Cleaning roof tiles, questions

Just got my son to go on roof and do a test re getting the tiles cleaned and moss removed.

Doing a well good job that would remove all moss and clean up the tiles would take around 10 hours with a cheap power washer and then I have the issue should they then be sealed, I have googled this and get conflicting reports as to whether its worth sealing or not.

Doing a quicker job that will get rid of most of the moss but not clean the tiles to well will take under an hour and would think unlikely to require sealing. This method may require this being done more regularly to clear moss when required.

I am favouring the quicker version but whats the panels view? I am not too bothered about `looks` as I am more interested in getting rid of the moss but dont want it to be a yearly event.

Reply to
ss
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Concrete tiles dont need sealing. Pressure washing only has the advantage of cleaning them, but will also cause a lot of water ingress. Moss can be prevented with copper wire.

NT

Reply to
NT

What thickness of copper wire as I see stuff for making jewellery from

0.25 mm which is cheap. (£2 for 35 mtrs)
Reply to
ss

There's a comment on moss in the sixth paragraph of this article:

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have you got against the moss, apart from bits of it occasionally ending up in the gutters?

Reply to
mike

Moss blocked the gutter,s the water from the gutters overflowed and ran down the wall staining the wall red in some parts (on a white painted building) where it contained red dust from the roof tiles. Plus its a pain when there is a lot and continually falling below.

Reply to
ss

And there am I deliberately buying lichen and moss covered old clay tiles by the thousand to keep the weathered old look! 7000 arrived today!

AWEM

Reply to
Andrew Mawson

What does it save you, six months of weather?

Reply to
dennis

No, a lot more than that. To age them to as these are would take decades. They take on a darker shade, but subtly varied across the roof. New pegs or nibs shout at you for years

AWEM

Reply to
Andrew Mawson

Fair enough, if it's all coming loose. As NT has said, water will get under the tiles with pressure washing. I'd just go over it with a brush.

Reply to
mike

Is it true that painting them with yoghurt or buttermilk encourages moss to grow? Or do you just end up with a stinky roof?

Reply to
mike

Copper wire is on my list of jobs, when I get the scaffold up to repoint and paint the walls!

Reply to
newshound

Diluted cow pats are favoured locally, sprinkled on with a watering can and rose, but I've not had to do that yet !!

AWEM

Reply to
Andrew Mawson

In message , Andrew Mawson wrote

Or a quick coat of yoghurt

Reply to
Alan

Doesnt sound too robust! 1mm from mains cable should do

NT

Reply to
NT

I recall one job where they sprayed liquid "fertiliser" on them... (that and mixing a few of the old tiles in with the new). Looked pretty good within a couple of years.

Reply to
John Rumm

Thanks NT

Reply to
ss

A bit of both. Anything that provides a bit of stick'um and nutrients for lichen and moss spores will encourage them to get started.

It also depends if you have a real fire and how many birds visit your roof and TV aerial. The latter now being almost redundant but not worth the effort of removing it. I much prefer my roof with lichen on - it breaks up the monotony. Life is too short to clean roofs! I expect the main result of cleaning will be to damage the roof and shorten its life.

I only remove moss that is threatening to fall off anyway and block the gutters. The lichens and other markings show true age. It would be an act of vandalism to pressure wash them off - not sure it would work either I have a feeling they etch into the clay for nutrients.

Reply to
Martin Brown

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