Moss removal across Surrey
Roof moss removal in Bookhamand across Surrey, before itblocks your gutters
Moss stripped back off the tiles and cleared out of the gutters and outlets, with the roof checked over while we are up there, so you find out about slipped tiles before they become a leak.
Workmanship guaranteed in writing on any repairs found. £2m public liability, £10m employers' liability.
30+ years
Matt's experience on Surrey roofs
Guaranteed
Workmanship guarantee in writing
£2m / £10m
Public and employers' liability cover
Bookham based
Local across Surrey, not a call centre
The service
Moss is not just untidy; it holds water exactly where you do not want it
Moss grows well in Surrey. Tree-lined roads, shaded north-facing slopes and damp winters give it everything it needs, and once established on a tiled roof it forms a mat that holds water against the tile surface long after the rain has stopped. Tiles are designed to shed water quickly, not to stay wet.
The second problem is where the moss goes when it comes off by itself. It washes down the slope and into the gutters, outlets and downpipes, which is how a moss problem becomes an overflowing-gutter problem and then a wet-wall problem.
Our moss removal takes the growth back off the roof and clears what has accumulated in the gutters, outlets and downpipes, so the water route off the building is proven clear. We work carefully; a roof damaged by careless cleaning is worse off than a mossy one.
Because we are on the roof anyway, you also get an honest report on what we found: slipped or cracked tiles, failed pointing at the verge, tired flashings or a chimney that needs attention. Finding those in autumn is a great deal cheaper than finding them through a ceiling in January.
Houses with visible green growth on the tiles
Thick moss on the slope, particularly on shaded or north-facing elevations, holds moisture against the covering all winter.
Anyone finding moss in the gutters or on the drive
Moss shedding off the roof ends up in the gutters and outlets, and clumps on the driveway mean the run above is filling up.
Properties surrounded by trees
Shade, leaf fall and damp are the ideal conditions. Around Bookham, Fetcham and Ashtead that describes a great many houses.
Owners wanting a roof check with it
If you would like to know the actual condition of your roof without a leak forcing the issue, this is the least disruptive way to find out.
What happens if it waits
What moss actually costs you if it is left to build up
Held moisture is the core issue. A mat of moss keeps the tile surface wet, and wet tiles in a Surrey winter freeze. Frost expands what is in the pores of the tile, and repeated cycles break down the surface over time: worst on older or already weathered coverings.
Moss also lifts and displaces. Growth working into the joints between tiles, and along verges and ridges, gets under edges that were designed to sit flat. Once wind has an edge to work with, tiles slip, and a slipped tile exposes the membrane beneath to direct rain and sunlight.
The predictable consequence is blocked drainage. Moss travels downhill into gutters, outlets and downpipes, where it silts up and stops the system carrying water away. Overflowing gutters put water down walls, into brickwork and behind fascia boards, where it rots timber. That sequence starts with something you could have brushed off a roof.
On flat roofs the same debris holds standing water on the surface, which is the single most reliable way to shorten a flat roof's life. All of this is prevented by periodic clearing that costs a fraction of any of the repairs it avoids.
Common mistakes we get called out to fix
- Jet washing a tiled or slate roof, which drives water under the tiles, strips the surface and cracks what it does not lift.
- Walking the roof without proper access, cracking more tiles than the clean was worth.
- Clearing the roof but leaving the gutters and outlets full of everything that just came down.
- Scraping moss off aggressively at the verge and ridge, taking the mortar with it.
- Treating the moss as purely cosmetic and never looking at why that slope stays damp.
- Ignoring slipped tiles noticed during a clean, which is the whole point of being up there.
How the job runs
How a moss removal visit works
Step 1
Inspection
We look at the extent and location of the growth, the condition of the tiles beneath it, the verges, ridge and flashings, and the state of the gutters and outlets.
Step 2
Diagnosis
You are told what is safe to remove, what condition the covering is in underneath, and anything that needs repairing rather than cleaning.
Step 3
Detailed written quote
The clearing work, gutter clearing and any repairs found are itemised separately, so you decide what to include.
Step 4
Removal
Moss is taken back off the tiles carefully, without high-pressure washing, protecting the covering, the mortar at verges and ridge, and the surface of the tiles.
Step 5
Gutters, outlets and flow check
Everything that has come down is cleared from the gutters, outlets and downpipes, and the run is flushed to confirm it carries water away.
Step 6
Report, clear down and guarantee
Debris is bagged and removed, the ground is left clean, and you get an honest account of anything found. Any repairs carry our written workmanship guarantee.
What you get out of it
What clearing the roof gives you
Tiles dry out as designed
Removing the moss mat lets the covering shed water and dry, which is what reduces frost damage over the winters.
Gutters that stay clear
Stopping the source is the difference between clearing gutters once and clearing them every year.
Tiles kept in place
Growth working into joints and edges is what lets wind lift tiles. Clearing it removes the leverage.
You learn what your roof needs
An honest report on slipped tiles, verges, flashings and chimney condition: found now rather than after a leak.
Very low cost, high protection
This is among the cheapest work you can have done, and it prevents some of the most expensive water damage a house can suffer.
Nothing left behind
All debris is bagged and taken away, and drives, paths and borders are left as they were found.
In detail
Method, timing and what else gets looked at
Moss removal is simple work done badly by plenty of people. The method and the follow-through are what make it worth doing.
Why we do not jet wash tiled roofs
High-pressure water forces its way under tiles and slates, where it lands on membrane and battens rather than running off the surface as designed.
It also strips the weathered surface of concrete tiles, leaving them more porous than before (the opposite of the intended result) and blows out mortar at verges and ridge.
Careful removal takes longer and protects the roof. If a covering is too fragile to be cleared safely at all, we will say so rather than take the job and cause damage.
Clearing the gutters, outlets and downpipes
Roof clearing and gutter clearing belong together. Everything removed from the slope has to be taken out of the gutters, outlets and downpipes, then the run flushed so the route is proven clear.
Silted outlets are the usual hidden fault. A gutter can look clean from the ground while the outlet beneath is completely blocked.
Where gutters are already sagging or leaking at the joints, we will tell you whether they need repair or replacement; both come with a 10 year workmanship guarantee.
Flat roofs, valleys and shaded slopes
On flat roofs, moss and grit hold standing water on the surface and block outlets, which is the fastest way to shorten a flat roof's life. Clearing them is basic maintenance.
Valleys collect debris from two roof planes, so they silt up faster than anywhere else and overflow into the roof when they do.
North-facing and heavily shaded slopes will regrow moss faster than the rest of the roof. That is worth knowing so the timing of future visits is realistic rather than optimistic.
The condition report you get with it
Being on the roof is the only way to see slipped or cracked tiles, missing verge mortar, tired lead flashings and the state of the chimney. That information is the real value of the visit.
Anything found gets explained plainly, with what it will take to sort it. Anything we would recommend against gets said out loud.
If repairs are needed, they carry our workmanship guarantees: 25 years on tiled work, 15 years on flat roofs, 10 years on chimney and leadwork, 10 years on guttering and fascias.
Timing and Surrey conditions
Autumn, once the leaves are down, is the natural time for this work: the roof and gutters are cleared before winter rain arrives.
Properties in Bookham, Fetcham, Ashtead and the surrounding villages sit among mature trees, so shade, leaf fall and damp all favour regrowth and periodic clearing is genuine maintenance rather than a one-off.
Because we are local, coming back to look at something is straightforward, and you are dealing with the same person who did the work.
Where we work
Covering Bookham
and the towns around it
We are based at The Manse, Eastwick Road, Bookham, Surrey and work across these Surrey towns and villages.
- Moss Removal in Bookham
- Moss Removal in Great Bookham
- Moss Removal in Leatherhead
- Moss Removal in Fetcham
- Moss Removal in Effingham
- Moss Removal in Ashtead
- Moss Removal in Epsom
- Moss Removal in Cobham
- Moss Removal in East Horsley
- Moss Removal in West Horsley
- Moss Removal in Shalford
- Moss Removal in Woking
- Moss Removal in Guildford
Not sure whether you are in range? Call 07877 013968 and we will tell you straight away.
Related work
Often done at the same time
See every roofing service we offer or go back to the homepage.
Questions
Straight answers
before you commit
Anything not covered here, ask Matt directly on 07877 013968.
How much does roof moss removal cost in Surrey?
It depends on the roof area, the pitch and access, how heavy the growth is and whether gutter clearing and any repairs are included. Matt looks at the property and gives an itemised written quote before anything starts.
How long does it take?
Most domestic roofs are a single visit. Larger or heavily overgrown roofs, or where access has to be set up, can take longer, and you will be told before it is booked.
Do you jet wash the roof?
No, not on tiled or slate roofs. High-pressure water drives moisture under the tiles, strips their weathered surface and blows out mortar at verges and ridge. Careful removal protects the covering.
Is anything guaranteed?
Cleaning is maintenance rather than construction, so what carries a guarantee is any repair work we do: tiled work 25 years, flat roofs 15 years, chimney and leadwork 10 years, guttering and fascias 10 years, all confirmed in writing.
How often does moss need removing?
It depends entirely on shade, tree cover and which way the slope faces. A heavily shaded roof under trees will need it more often than an open, sunny one. We will give you a realistic view for your roof rather than a sales schedule.
Will removing the moss damage my tiles?
Not the way we do it. Growth can be holding a weathered tile together in rare cases, and if a covering is too fragile to clear safely we will tell you that instead of taking the job.
Will you clear the gutters as well?
Yes: clearing the roof without clearing the gutters, outlets and downpipes below it just relocates the blockage. The run is flushed afterwards to prove it drains.
Will you tell me if you find other problems up there?
Yes, plainly. Slipped tiles, missing verge mortar, tired flashings or chimney faults all get reported with what it would take to sort them, and anything we would recommend against gets said out loud.
Do you clear flat roofs too?
Yes. Debris on a flat roof holds standing water and blocks outlets, which shortens its life faster than almost anything else. Flat roofing is one of our strongest areas.
Which areas do you cover?
We are based in Bookham and cover Great and Little Bookham, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Effingham, Ashtead, Epsom, Cobham, East and West Horsley, Shalford, Woking and Guildford.
Next step
Clear the roof beforewinter finds the gaps
Send the form and Matt will look at the roof and gutters, tell you what is worth doing and what is not, and put a detailed quote in writing. To talk it through, calling is quicker.
Call 07877 013968The Manse, Eastwick Road, Bookham, Surrey, KT23 3BE
Mon–Sat 8am–6:30pm · Sun 9am–4pm