If your roof is — or is starting to look — dirty, stained or streaky, it’s not just a cosmetic issue. Black mold, moss, and lichen can damage paint, degrade tiles, and shorten your roof’s lifespan. We clean it the right way — with low-pressure, long-lasting treatments that won’t cause costly damage.
At Surface Rescue, we offer safe and effective softwash roof cleaning and roof treatments across Adelaide for both tiled and metal roofs.
A low-pressure application designed to break down mold, dust, grime, and general organic build-up. Great for improving appearance with same-day results.
This is a slow-release treatment that targets stubborn lichen growth. Lichen has a root system that embeds into surfaces — especially on tiled roofs — and pressure washing risks cracking tiles or forcing water into the roof cavity. Our method breaks it down safely over time.
Often found on shaded roofs or homes surrounded by trees. Causes dark streaks or patchy staining and accelerates roof degradation if left untreated.
Spongy and moisture-retaining, moss thrives in wet or shaded areas. It looks bad, causes slip hazards on walkable roofs, and leads to water retention issues.
Tough, crusty growth made of fungus and algae. Lichen roots itself deep into roof surfaces — especially porous tile or old coatings. If left untreated, it can eat through paint and into the surface itself.
High pressure can crack tiles, damage pointing, or force water into ceiling cavities. Softwashing avoids all of that.
Our cleaning solutions kill the mold at its root, not just blast it off the surface. You get a properly sanitised roof that resists future growth.
Unless you're repointing and painting, there’s no need to bring in the big guns. Softwash gets the job done without the potential heavy-handed damage that can come from high pressure washing.
The hose and a broom aren’t enough — and pressure washers are a risk not worth taking. We use a blend of purpose-built cleaning solutions & high volume-low pressure spray equipment to do the job right. It’s faster, safer, and the results actually last.
Call now to book your roof softwash or get a fast quote online. Let’s get your roof cleaned properly — without the damage.
We also offer roof softwash services for commercial buildings, warehouses, schools, aged care facilities, and multi-unit developments.
Whether it’s a maintenance clean to meet insurance or warranty obligations, or part of a larger exterior cleaning project — we can deliver safe, efficient, and compliant results at scale.
Want a clean roof without downtime or disruption?
Most of the time — no.
The majority of roofs are cleaned from the gutter line using a ladder. We rarely need to walk on the roof itself. This approach is safer, cleaner, and gets great results without the risk of damaging tiles or sheeting.
For taller buildings or tricky access, we might need equipment like a scaffold or lift — but if that’s the case, we’ll let you know upfront and provide pricing as part of the quote.
We use two different cleaning methods depending on what’s growing on your roof:
Roof Treatment (for lichen)
This is a low-pressure treatmentdesigned to kill off lichen, moss, algae, and other organic growth.
We apply this specialised solution across the entire roof — it gets into the overlaps, joins, and porous surfaces where organic growth hides.
Over the next 12–18 months, the treatment gradually breaks it down, and weather takes care of the rest.
Roof Softwash (for mold)
For streaky mould and mildew, we use a low-pressure softwash that gives same-day results.
It’s a controlled application of a cleaning solution that sanitises the surface &removes the staining fast, without blasting the roof.
Both options are safe, effective, and designed to clean your roof without causing any damage. We’ll assess the condition of your roof and recommend the right method.
In most cases — no.
High pressure cleaning can do more damage than good, especially on tiled or older roofs. It can crack tiles, force water into the roof cavity, and strip away protective coatings, which shortens the lifespan of the roof.
The only time high pressure cleaning is really recommended is if you’re planning to repaint the roof as part of a full restoration. In that case, a more aggressive clean is needed to prep the surface for new coatings.
But that’s not something we handle — if you’re going down that route, it’s a job for your roof restoration contractor.
For everything else — like removing mould, lichen, or moss — low-pressure treatment or softwashing is safer, cleaner, and gets results without the risks.
Most roofs stay clean for 5+ years after a professional treatment — but it really depends on your environment.
If your home is surrounded by trees, especially ones that overhang the roof, you’ll likely see moss, lichen, and grime come back sooner. Shade, moisture, and organic debris all speed up regrowth.
In more open areas with plenty of sun and airflow, your roof will usually stay cleaner for much longer.
We’ll always give you an idea of what to expect based on your property when quoting.
Yes — we take every precaution to protect your property.
Our cleaning solutions are biodegradable and designed to break down safely, but we still treat your garden like it’s our own. We pre-wet plants and landscaping before and after the job, and we apply the treatment carefully to minimise any overspray or runoff.
Our goal is simple: get your roof clean without causing any harm to what’s below it.