The Quick Answer
Roof cleaning in Medway typically costs £350 to £1,000 for a house in 2026, depending on size, roof type and access. A bungalow or small terrace sits at £350 to £550, a semi-detached home at £450 to £700, and a larger detached home at £600 to £1,000 or more. The price should include moss removal and an anti-moss biocide treatment, and the work should be done with soft washing or hand scraping, not high-pressure jetting. A properly treated roof stays clean for two to three years. A pressure-washed roof is often green again within 6 to 12 months.
This guide is written for homeowners in Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham and the villages around them. It explains what drives the price, which method protects your tiles, how often to clean in the Medway climate, and what to ask before you book.
What does roof cleaning cost in Medway in 2026?
These figures are typical 2026 market ranges for domestic roof cleaning in Kent and the Southeast, based on national UK price guides from MyJobQuote and Same Day JetWash and the way local exterior cleaners price the work. The Southeast usually sits at the upper end of national averages, so we have used the higher half of those ranges.
| Property type | Typical Medway examples | Typical price (2026) |
| Bungalow or small terrace | Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Chatham and Gillingham, bungalows in Rainham | £350 to £550 |
| Semi-detached house | 1930s and post-war semis in Strood, Rochester and Walderslade | £450 to £700 |
| Detached house | Detached homes in Wigmore, Lordswood, Cuxton and Hoo | £600 to £1,000 |
| Large detached, extensions or complex roof | Dormers, valleys, multiple roof sections | £900 to £1,500+ |
| Added to a gutter, fascia or conservatory clean | Same visit | Usually discounted against separate visits |
Priced per square metre, the market range is roughly £8 to £16 for a hand scrape or soft wash with biocide, and £5 to £12 for pressure washing. The cheaper figure for pressure washing is misleading, because the result lasts a fraction of the time and the method carries a risk of damage (more on that below).
What affects the price of roof cleaning?
- Roof size and pitch. More area and steeper slopes mean more time and more safety equipment.
- How much moss is there? A light green film is a quick job. Thick moss cushions, lichen crusts and moss packed into valleys and ridge lines take far longer.
- Roof material. Concrete tiles, clay tiles and slate each need a slightly different approach. Older clay and slate need the gentlest treatment.
- Access. Most Medway homes can be cleaned from ladders and roof ladders. Scaffolding, where a cleaner genuinely needs it, adds several hundred pounds. Beware of any quote that adds scaffolding by default.
- What the quote includes. Some cheap quotes leave out the biocide treatment or the clean-up of moss that falls into your gutters. That is where the price gap usually comes from.
- Bundling. A roof clean is a good moment to clear gutters and clean fascias, because the debris comes down the roof and into the gutters anyway.
Is soft washing or pressure washing better for a roof?
Soft washing is better for almost every domestic roof. Soft washing means applying a low-pressure biocidal cleaning solution that kills moss, algae and lichen at the root, then rinsing gently. Pressure washing blasts growth off the surface with force. Roof tile manufacturers advise against high-pressure cleaning because it can strip the protective surface layer from tiles, force water under tile laps and, in some cases, affect warranty cover.
| Method | How it works | Typical price per m2 | How long it lasts | Risk to tiles |
| Soft wash with biocide | Low-pressure treatment kills growth at the root | £12 to £16 | 2 to 3 years | Low |
| Hand scrape plus biocide | Heavy moss removed by hand, then treated | £8 to £15 | 2 to 3 years | Low |
| Pressure washing | High-pressure water blasts growth off the surface | £5 to £12 | 6 to 12 months | Medium to high |
| DIY with a hose and brush | Cleaning from a ladder or the ground | Cost of materials | Varies | High, plus fall risk |
Our guide to soft washing vs pressure washing a roof goes into the chemistry and the damage risks in more detail.
Why do roofs in Medway go green so quickly?
Moss, algae and lichen need three things: moisture, shade and a surface to grip. Medway has plenty of all three.
- Damp, mild air. The Medway valley and the Thames estuary keep humidity high through the autumn and winter, which is exactly when moss grows fastest.
- Trees and shade. North-facing slopes, roofs under mature trees and homes close to hedgerows or woodland stay damp for longer and green up first.
- Bird activity. Gulls and pigeons are common across the Medway towns. Droppings feed algae and moss, and pigeons nesting at the eaves or under tiles add debris.
- Porous tiles. Concrete tiles from the 1960s to the 1990s have rough surfaces that hold moisture and spores, so they colonise quickly.
- Cluttered gutters. Blocked gutters keep the roof edge wet, and the first row of tiles above the gutter is usually the greenest.
Left alone, moss does more than look untidy. It holds water against the tiles, can lift tile edges as it grows, and sheds debris into the gutters. Our guide to moss damage to your roof explains the hidden risks.
How often should you clean your roof in Medway?
For most Medway homes, a professional clean and biocide treatment every two to three years keeps a roof in good condition. Shaded, tree-covered or north-facing roofs often need attention every 18 to 24 months. Open, south-facing roofs with few birds can go longer. A biocide-only re-treatment between full cleans typically costs less than the original job and keeps growth from taking hold. Our guide on how often to clean your roof in Kent has a full frequency table.
Can you clean a roof yourself?
You can, but we rarely recommend it. Falls from ladders and roofs are one of the leading causes of serious injury in domestic maintenance, and the Health and Safety Executive advises that work at height should be planned carefully and only done when it is safe to do so. Hiring a jet wash and blasting the tiles also risks cracking or stripping them and pushing water into the loft. If you simply want to deal with a small patch of moss at ground-reachable height, a soft brush and a moss treatment applied from the ground is the safest option. For anything on the main roof slope, use a professional.
Does roof cleaning actually make a difference?
Yes, in three ways. First, appearance: a cleaned roof can lift a home's kerb appeal noticeably, which matters if you are selling. Second, protection: removing moss stops tiles holding water and reduces freeze-thaw damage in winter. Third, drainage: moss that washes into gutters is one of the main causes of blockages, overflow and damp on walls. Roof cleaning is not a substitute for repair. If the survey shows slipped, cracked or missing tiles, those need fixing by a roofer first, and a good cleaner will tell you so.
What should you ask before booking a roof cleaner in Medway?
- Which method do you use? The answer you want is soft wash or hand scrape with biocide, not high-pressure jetting.
- Is the biocide treatment included? Without it, moss returns quickly.
- Are you insured? Ask for public liability cover, and check what it covers.
- Will you clear moss from my gutters? Moss comes down the roof into the gutters, so it should be cleared or at least checked afterwards.
- Is the quote fixed-price? Beware of per-hour pricing or vague "from" prices.
- Do you offer before and after photos? Good cleaners document the work.
- Do you have local reviews? Check that reviews come from real customers in Medway and Kent.
Roof cleaning near me: which Medway areas do we cover?
M&T Elite Cleaning covers the Medway towns and the wider Kent area, including Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham, Walderslade, Lordswood, Wigmore, Cuxton, Halling, Higham, Cliffe Woods and the Hoo Peninsula, as well as Maidstone, Ashford and Sevenoaks. We are family run and fully insured, and we can combine a roof clean with a gutter clear, a fascia clean or a conservatory clean on the same visit to save you a second call-out.
Book roof cleaning in Medway
See our roof cleaning service in Kent and Medway or get a free, fixed-price roof cleaning quote. If your gutters are full of moss, ask about our gutter cleaning and repairs at the same time. For a wider look at pricing across the county, read our roof cleaning cost guide for Kent.
Call 07862712401 or message us on WhatsApp for a same-week quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much does roof cleaning cost in Medway?
Most Medway homes pay £350 to £1,000 in 2026. Bungalows and small terraces sit at £350 to £550, semis at £450 to £700 and detached homes at £600 to £1,000. Heavy moss, complex roofs and difficult access push the price higher.
Is it worth getting your roof cleaned?
Yes, if there is visible moss, algae or lichen. Cleaning and treating the roof removes moisture-holding growth, protects tiles, reduces gutter blockages and improves the look of the home. It is not a substitute for repairing damaged tiles.
How long does roof cleaning last?
A soft wash or hand scrape with biocide lasts two to three years on most roofs. Pressure washing alone usually lasts 6 to 12 months because it removes surface growth without killing the roots.
Is pressure washing bad for roof tiles?
It can be. High pressure can strip the protective surface layer, force water under the tiles and affect warranty cover. Soft washing is the safer method for concrete, clay and slate roofs.
Can moss be removed from a roof without damaging it?
Yes. Gently scraping heavy moss by hand and then applying a biocidal treatment removes moss without harming the tiles. The biocide then keeps killing remaining spores over the following weeks.
When is the best time of year to clean a roof in Medway?
Spring and autumn are the best windows. Mild, dry days let the treatment work properly, and cleaning before winter stops moss holding moisture through the coldest months. Avoid frosty days and heavy rain.
Should I clean the roof or the gutters first?
Roof first, then gutters. Roof cleaning washes moss and debris into the gutters, so clearing the gutters afterwards means you only pay for one clear-out.
Do I need scaffolding for roof cleaning?
Usually not. Most domestic roofs can be cleaned safely with ladders and roof ladders. Scaffolding is only needed for unusually high or complex roofs, and you should ask why if a quote adds it by default.
