Why moss and lichen grow on Ballarat roofs, the damage they cause, and how to clean and prepare a tile roof before painting.
Cool, damp weather makes Ballarat roofs a perfect home for moss and lichen. Left alone, they hold moisture against the tiles and block gutters.
Shaded, south-facing roof sections stay damp for longer, and moss and lichen take hold. Overhanging trees make it worse by dropping leaves and adding shade.
Moss holds water against tiles, which can speed up weathering and, in freezing conditions, cracking. It also washes into gutters and downpipes and causes overflows.
High-pressure cleaning removes most growth, and a treatment helps kill what's left. Care is needed on older tiles, which can be fragile. See roof pressure cleaning.
Once the roof is clean, cracked tiles and crumbling ridge mortar show up clearly. Cracked ridge caps and loose bedding are worth fixing first, and most roof painters will include them in the quote. Our repointing and rebedding page explains the process.
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