Library
Commercial roof cleaning: when is it worth doing, and how is it done safely?
Cleaning a commercial roof is worth doing when it keeps water moving (outlets, gutters and valleys), when growth is holding moisture against a coating or membrane, or when a roof is being prepared for a coating or survey. On fibre cement roofs that may contain asbestos, HSE guidance limits the methods: wet biocide treatment and gentle scraping, or specialist machines that collect the slurry, and high-pressure jetting only in exceptional cases. Cleaning restores drainage and appearance; it does not fix failing coatings, laps or membranes.
Read the noteWhat are composite roof panels, and when do they need replacing?
Composite roof panels are factory-made sandwiches of two metal skins bonded to an insulating core, fixed to purlins in a single pass. They are quick…
2 November 2026
How long does a flat roof last on a commercial building?
A well-installed commercial flat roof typically lasts 20 to 35 years. Basic felt sits at the bottom of that range (often 15 to 20 years), three-layer…
2 November 2026
What fall does a flat roof need?
Most flat roofs need a finished fall of at least 1 in 80 towards their outlets, with no backfalls anywhere, under the British Standard for flat roofs…
2 November 2026
What is a fragile roof, and what does the law expect?
A fragile roof is one that will not safely carry a person's weight, or anything they might be carrying. Fibre cement sheets, old rooflights, corroded…
2 November 2026
No notes on this topic yet.
Describe the roof
Three short steps. The postcode, what the roof is and what it is doing is enough to start. A contractor confirms the detail on a survey.
Your request stays with us until you approve the independent commercial roofing contractor we put forward for your building.
Received. Here is what happens next.
- We look for an independent commercial roofing contractor who covers your area and takes on roofs like yours, then email or phone you with their name.
- Nothing goes to them until you say yes.
- If you agree, they arrange a survey and send a written price. No newsletters and no sales calls from us.