Roof care
Guides
Straight answers on gutters, roof moss and roof care, from roofers based in St Albans. Every guide lists its sources, and we'll always tell you when a job can wait.
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Gutters and downpipes
Leaking joints and sagging gutters: clean, repair or replace?
Why gutters leak at the joints and sag, and how to tell a clean from a repair or a replacement.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guidePlants, weeds or moss growing in your gutter? What it means and what to do
What plants growing in a gutter mean, why buddleia needs removing early, and how to clear it.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideCan I clean my own gutters? How to do it safely, and when to call someone
Which gutters are a DIY job, the ladder rules that matter, and when to call someone in.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideHow to check your gutters without a ladder
Six ways to tell if your gutters are blocked, from the ground, a window or a phone on a pole.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideBlocked downpipe: the signs, the causes, and how it's cleared
The signs of a blocked downpipe, where blockages hide, and why cracks at the back go unseen.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideDamp patch on the wall below your gutter? What it usually means
Why damp below a gutter often starts at the gutter or downpipe, and what to check first.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideWhy is my gutter overflowing? The six usual causes, and how to tell which
The six reasons a gutter overflows, and how to tell which one you've got.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideWhen to clear your gutters: a tree-by-tree guide for the Chilterns
When to clear gutters under oak, beech, pine and lime, with timings for Amersham, Beaconsfield and the Chalfonts.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideRoof moss and roof cleaning
Grit in your gutters from the roof tiles: what it means
Where grit in your gutters comes from, when it's normal weathering, and when to get the ridge checked.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideThe best time of year to clean a roof
When to book roof moss removal, and how nesting season and the weather affect the timing.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideHow to stop moss coming back, and how long a roof clean lasts
Why moss grows back, what slows it down, and how long a roof clean really lasts.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideMoss on the roof when you're buying or selling a house
What a survey comment about roof moss means, and what to do when buying or selling.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideMoss, lichen or algae? What's growing on your roof, and whether it matters
How to tell moss from lichen and algae on a roof, and which ones are worth dealing with.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideRoof moss killers compared: Wet & Forget, Jeyes Fluid, bleach and vinegar
Wet & Forget, Jeyes Fluid, bleach and vinegar compared: what the labels say and what they harm.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideHow to remove moss from a roof yourself (and when not to)
Which roofs you can de-moss yourself, how to do it safely, and when it's a job for a roofer.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideIs roof cleaning worth it? When it's money well spent, and when it isn't
When roof cleaning is money well spent, when to leave it, and what a good clean includes.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideWhy are birds pulling moss off my roof?
Why birds pull moss off roofs, where it ends up, and how to deal with it without disturbing nests.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideDoes roof cleaning damage tiles? Jet washing, scraping and treatments compared
Jet washing, scraping, brushing and treatments compared, and the questions to ask a roof cleaner.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideRoof coatings and roof painting: are they worth it?
What the roofing industry and Trading Standards say about painting and coating roof tiles.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideCleaning moss off a listed or conservation-area roof: what's allowed
What the law says about cleaning a listed roof, what to avoid, and the questions to ask any roofer.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideIs moss on your roof a problem? When to leave it and when to act
How to tell light moss from heavy, when to leave it, and why a roof should never be pressure washed.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideChoosing a roofer
What to check on your roof and gutters after a storm
What to check from the ground and the loft after a storm, and what to photograph for your insurer.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideWho's responsible for clearing gutters? Landlords, tenants, flats and shared gutters
Who clears and repairs gutters in rented homes, leasehold flats and terraces with shared runs.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideHow much does gutter cleaning cost? What changes the price, and how to compare quotes
What changes the price of gutter cleaning, what a quote should include, and how to compare quotes.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideDoes home insurance cover blocked gutters and roof moss damage?
What home insurance usually excludes on gutters and moss, and how to protect a claim.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideSomeone knocked on my door offering to clean my roof: what to do
What Trading Standards advise when someone knocks offering roof or gutter work, and your right to cancel.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Read the guideFree · Photographed · No pressure
Find out what your roof actually needs.
Get a quote for your roofing work. The survey is free. If we can advise from your photos, we’ll tell you; if we need to look, we photograph every part we can safely reach.