Clay Tile Roof Cleaning and Painting - Northampton (March 2024)

In March 2024, we carried out a full clay tile roof cleaning and painting project on a residential property in Northampton. The scope covered moss removal, pressure washing of the tile surfaces, surface preparation, and roof tile painting to give the roof a refreshed, uniform finish. Access was provided by MEWP (cherry picker) throughout the job.

Project Overview

• Location: Northampton
• Date: March 2024
• Roof type: Clay tiles
• Scope: Cleaning + painting
• Access: MEWP / cherry picker

The Challenge

The clay tile roof had accumulated heavy moss and organic buildup over a number of years. Moss growth was concentrated in the valleys and on north-facing slopes where moisture retention is highest. Beyond cleaning, the tiles needed painting after the clean to achieve a refreshed, consistent appearance - the original tile colour had faded unevenly across the roof.

Height and roof geometry meant standard ladder access was not practical or safe for this job. A MEWP (cherry picker) was required to reach all areas of the roof safely and to allow consistent working across each section.

Our Approach

1. MEWP setup - The cherry picker was positioned to allow safe and systematic access across all roof sections. This gave us stable, elevated working positions for both the cleaning and painting stages.
2. Manual moss removal - Thick moss was scraped and cleared from the tile surfaces by hand before any pressure washing. This prevents large debris from blocking gutters and downpipes during the rinse stage.
3. Pressure washing of tile surfaces - With the bulk of the moss removed, we pressure washed the clay tiles to strip remaining organic growth, embedded dirt, and surface contamination. Pressure was controlled to clean effectively without damaging the tile faces.
4. Surface preparation for painting - Once cleaned and dried, the tiles were prepared for painting. Any loose material was cleared, and the surface was checked for consistency before paint application.
5. Roof tile painting - Roof paint was applied to the cleaned tiles for a uniform, refreshed finish. The painting stage restored a consistent colour across the entire roof, covering the patchy fading left by years of weathering.

Results

The roof went from heavily mossed and faded to clean, uniform, and freshly painted. The transformation was significant - the property's kerb appeal improved dramatically, and the painted finish provides an additional layer of weather protection for the clay tiles going forward.

Related Services

• Roof Cleaning