Roof coatings and roof painting: are they worth it?

What a roof coating is

A roof coating is a paint or sealant sprayed over the tiles, usually straight after the roof has been cleaned. NFRC says painting is often offered after moss removal, with claims that it improves the roof's thermal efficiency and makes the tiles last longer. It's sold under different names: roof coating, roof tile paint, roof sealing, or a "roof renovation" package.

The usual claims, and what the industry says

The cleaning that comes first

A coating has to go onto a clean roof, and the packages Trading Standards warned about clean it with a pressure washer. That's the part most likely to do harm. Marley, one of the UK's biggest tile makers, says high-powered jet washing is "not recommended as it can damage the surface of the slate or tile". Kevin Taylor, quoted in Marley's homeowner guide, warns that "the high-pressure water jets can crack or damage the roof tiles".

Then there's the foot traffic. Marley "does not recommend foot traffic directly on the roof tiles", and NFRC warns that the extra footfall involved in moss removal can crack or break tiles. A clean followed by a coating means two rounds of work across your roof.

A faded roof isn't a failing roof

Most coatings are sold on looks, so it helps to know what normal ageing is. Marley says roof tiles and slates "gradually change in appearance over time through the action of natural weathering": lichen, algae and moss, dust from the air, rain and sunlight all play a part. It also says "concrete roof tiles rarely require any cleaning or maintenance, other than to ensure debris is removed from the roof", and that tiles are typically expected to last around 60 years.

So a concrete tile roof that has dulled, faded or turned patchy over 20 or 30 years is usually doing exactly what it should. If it's keeping the rain out, the tile maker's advice is simply to keep it clear of debris.

When moss does need dealing with

NFRC says moss "is rarely a problem and only needs to be removed if it is blocking gutters" and other drainage points. Marley's advice is similar: leave it unless the roof is leaking or the gutters and outlets are blocked, because a heavy build-up "will inhibit the flow of water off the tiles". If that's where you are, what you need is the moss removed carefully, not a coat of paint. Our guide on whether moss is a problem shows how to tell.

If you're still considering a coating, ask these questions

• Which UK-based body has independently accredited this product, and can I see the certificate? Then check it with that body directly.
• How will the roof be cleaned first? If the answer is a pressure washer, read our guide on cleaning damage before agreeing.
• Will anyone walk on the tiles, or will the work be done from roof ladders?
• What happens to the run-off, the gutters and the plants below?
• Is my house listed or in a conservation area? Changing how a listed roof looks may need listed building consent.
• Can I have at least three written quotes to compare? NFRC recommends at least three quotes for any roof work, using conventional roofing methods.

If the offer came at your door, remember you usually have 14 days to cancel work agreed in your home.

What we do instead

Our roof cleaning is moss removal by hand. We scrape and brush the moss off, working from roof ladders rather than standing on the tiles, and where it suits the roof we follow up with an approved treatment, sprayed at low pressure to slow regrowth. We clear what falls into the gutters and photograph every slope. If your roof is faded but sound, we'll tell you it doesn't need anything.

Written by Hawkes Roofing, roofers based in St Albans who remove roof moss by hand across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and north-west London. Last reviewed 26 October 2026.