Churchdown sits in the gap between Gloucester and Cheltenham, tucked under Chosen Hill — the 510-foot wooded hump locals just call "the hill" — with open countryside on three sides. That's a postcard setting and a moss problem in the same sentence. The hill is broadleaf, conifer and gorse scrub, much of it looked after by the Woodland Trust and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, and all that tree cover throws long shade across the streets that climb its lower slopes. A roof that barely catches winter sun stays damp for months, and damp tile is exactly what moss, lichen and algae are waiting for.
The geography makes it worse. The village sits low in the Severn Vale, so on a still night damp valley air pools around it and settles on the rooftops before the morning burns it off — if it burns off at all between October and March. The streets on the northern slope, around Parton and up towards the hill, are the better residential addresses precisely because of the elevation and the trees, but those same trees mean the roofs there are some of the greenest we clean in this corner of the county. South-facing pitches a few doors down can look fine while the shaded side is a quarter-inch of moss.
Most of Churchdown's housing is inter-war and post-war semis with later estate infill, and the bulk of it is concrete interlocking tile — Marley and Redland patterns that are textured enough to give moss spores something to grip. We deal with that the only way that lasts: lift the bulk growth off by hand from a tower or roof ladder, clear it out of the gutters as we go, then treat the whole roof with biocide so the regrowth is killed at the root. The same picture carries straight on into Innsworth, Hucclecote and Brockworth, which is why we tend to be working somewhere in GL3 most weeks.
Each one has its own approach. Method matters more than equipment.
The bulk of the village — Sandfield, the St John's Avenue end, the post-war and modern estate infill. Marley and Redland tiles, textured enough that moss really digs in on the shaded slopes. Manual moss removal by hand first, then biocide. Expect a noticeable colour shift as the biocide cures over a few weeks.
Around Brookfield and Church Road near the old centre, on the cottages and older terraces. Brittle when wet — we don't walk these without a roof ladder hooked over the ridge. Hand-scrape and biocide, with extra care at the hipped junctions and valleys where tiles are bedded in mortar.
Found on some of the older properties climbing the hill towards Parton and Chosen Hill. Slate lasts a century; the issue is moss in the laps and rust weeping off lead flashings. Method: hand-clear the laps, low-pressure rinse, biocide. Slate gets the gentlest end of our toolkit — never pressure.
The newer Innsworth and Imjin estates and recent Churchdown infill. Lightweight modern interlocking tile, often only ten or fifteen years old but already greening on the north pitch because the plots are tight and shaded. These clean up quickly — usually a controlled low-pressure wash where the tile allows, then biocide.
Most roof-cleaning enquiries we get from Churchdown come down to the same thing: one half of the roof is fine and the other half is green. That's the hill doing its work. Chosen Hill rises straight out of the village to 510 feet, crowned by the Grade I listed Norman church of St Bartholomew's on what was once an Iron Age fort, and its wooded flanks cast long shade across the streets below. Any pitch that faces into that shade — usually the north and east faces — barely dries out from autumn to spring, and a roof that doesn't dry is a roof that grows moss.
The trees themselves add to it. Leaf litter and the constant drip of damp from overhanging branches feed the organic film that algae and lichen colonise first, and that film is what the moss roots into. It's why a pressure-wash on its own is a waste of money here — you blast the green off in the morning and the spores are still in the surface, ready to bloom again the next wet autumn. The biocide is the part that actually changes the outcome, because it keeps killing regrowth for up to two years after we've packed up.
Churchdown has no large designated conservation area, so for the everyday inter-war and post-war housing there's no planning hurdle to a clean — it's simply a maintenance job. The exception is the genuinely old fabric: St Bartholomew's, the old listed cottages and a handful of historic houses near the original Brookfield centre. We don't touch the listed stuff without flagging it first, and on anything with original clay or stone we'll always recommend method over pressure. If you're not sure whether your place counts, send the postcode and we'll check before we survey.
Churchdown isn't one place — it's two old centres and a lot of estate in between. Each part has its own roof story.
The streets climbing the northern slope towards the hill — some of the better-elevated addresses in the village, and some of the most tree-shaded roofs we clean. Elevation buys you the view; it also buys you a north pitch that stays damp half the year.
The original centre around Church Road and St Andrew's, where the older cottages and clay-tile terraces are. This is the part of Churchdown where we slow right down: brittle old tile, careful hand-work, no pressure anywhere near it.
The newer centre around St John's Avenue and the post-war estate streets. Mostly concrete interlocking tile on inter-war and post-war semis — the workhorse Churchdown roof, and the one most likely to be carrying a thick moss layer when we arrive.
Out towards Pirton Lane on the railway side of the village, where a golf course once ran before the First World War. A quieter edge of Churchdown with a mix of older and newer stock — and the open, low-lying ground that holds the vale damp overnight.
Just north, built up after the war around the old RAF station with its bird-named roads, prefab and "no fines" houses, and now the new net-zero Imjin Barracks estates. Almost all post-war and modern concrete tile — heavy moss, but it cleans up beautifully.
Either side along the A417 corridor towards Gloucester. Same Severn Vale damp, same inter-war and post-war semi stock on concrete tile, same long-shade moss problem. We're through here often enough that there's no extra travel charge.
We come out, look at the roof, the access, the tree cover and the gutters, and tell you exactly what's needed and what it costs. No hard sell, no pressure to book on the spot.
Heavy moss is removed by hand from a ladder or tower, gutters cleared at the same time. On Churchdown's thickly mossed concrete tile — especially the shaded slopes under the hill — the bulk growth has to be lifted off before the biocide can reach the spores beneath.
An approved biocide is applied at the correct dilution. It kills algae, lichen and remaining moss spores at the root, without high-pressure water touching the tiles.
The biocide keeps working after we've left, preventing regrowth for up to two years. Even on a shaded Churchdown roof, most customers don't need us back for a top-up before then.
A Churchdown roof clean keeps us on the ladders or tower most of the day regardless, so it makes sense to pull the gutters through while we're up there — and on these shaded pitches the biocide is what holds the result for two years. You pay for neither; both come as standard.
Get my Churchdown quoteMost Churchdown roofs are concrete interlocking tile on a semi, which is straightforward work — but the heavy moss the hill and the tree shade leave behind takes real hand-scraping time, and the older clay-tile cottages need careful method rather than fast pressure. That's why we won't quote a flat rate over the phone. Every roof's different. But to be straight with you, most roof cleans are £550–£950. A standard terrace or semi sits in that range; larger, steeper or more difficult roofs (heavy moss, awkward access, big detached houses) go up from there.
What moves the price:
Always included, never an add-on: a free gutter clear while we're up there, and the biocide that keeps moss off for up to two years.
How we quote: a free no-obligation survey, a written price the same day, no deposit, pay only when it's done. See our full roof cleaning cost guide →
No roof stays clear forever — spores are always airborne, and under Chosen Hill there are plenty of them — but treating the cause keeps it clear for years not months: we scrape or soft-wash the moss off, then apply a biocide that carries on killing spores for up to two years. Pressure-washing alone just removes what you can see — on a shaded Churchdown pitch it's back next autumn. Biocide (plus, on the right surfaces, a sealant) is the longest-lasting answer.
Spring (March–May) and early autumn are ideal — dry enough for the biocide to bond, and it sets the roof up before the damp months when moss grows fastest. That matters more in Churchdown than most places, because the hill and the tree cover keep north-facing pitches damp well into spring. We clean year-round, though; the biocide works whenever it's applied in dry conditions.
Depends on the tile. The modern interlocking concrete tiles on most Churchdown semis and estate houses can take a controlled low-pressure wash where it's the right tool; older clay plain tiles on the village-centre cottages, and any slate, should never be pressure-washed — it strips the surface, cracks tiles and forces water underneath. On those we hand-scrape and treat with biocide. We always tell you the method first.
Two things stack up here. First, Chosen Hill — the 510-foot hill the village sits under is wooded broadleaf, conifer and scrub, much of it managed by the Woodland Trust, and it keeps the lower slopes shaded and damp, especially on the north side where the better residential streets climb the hill. Second, the village sits in the Severn Vale between Gloucester and Cheltenham, surrounded on three sides by open countryside, so damp valley air settles overnight. Add the textured concrete interlocking tile that covers most of the housing stock and you get moss that grips fast and grows back faster than on an exposed roof.
Yes — they're all on the same run for us. Innsworth roof cleaning is a regular job; the old RAF Innsworth estate and the newer Imjin Barracks developments are almost all post-war and modern concrete tile, which mosses heavily and cleans up well. Hucclecote and Brockworth sit either side along the A417 corridor, same Severn Vale damp, same mix of inter-war and post-war semis. We also cover Longlevens, Down Hatherley, Innsworth, Longford and the rest of the GL3 footprint. Same pricing across the catchment, no extra travel charge.
Yes, when applied properly. We use approved biocides at manufacturer-specified dilutions, applied in dry conditions so the active ingredient bonds to the tile rather than running off. Pets are kept indoors during application and for an hour after; planted borders are sheeted and watered down before and after. We've never had an issue with garden ponds or wildlife in years of doing this.
Victorian terraces, the docks regeneration, post-war estates — minutes down the A40 from Churchdown.
Roof cleaning GloucesterRegency villas and Cotswold-stone homes, the other side of Churchdown towards the escarpment.
Roof cleaning CheltenhamEast-Gloucester estate suburb, modern concrete-tile housing all hitting moss age together.
Roof cleaning AbbeymeadThe Guys did a fantastic job on my roof and worked nonstop all day to get the job done and left everything clean and tidy after themselves, highly recommend and would look to use again 👍, made a massive difference to the house.
The Guys did a fantastic job on my roof and worked nonstop all day to get the job done and left everything clean and tidy after themselves, highly recommend and would look to use again 👍, made a massive difference to the house.
Would strongly recommend. Swift with good work quality and kept the surrounding areas tidy. Looks like a new roof! Would 100% recommend.
Would strongly recommend. Swift with good work quality and kept the surrounding areas tidy. Looks like a new roof! Would 100% recommend.
Blake and Daniel cleaned my patio and path at the front and did a great job. They were friendly and professional and explained well what they were going to do. I also had a bad dark patch which came up really well which others had failed to remove. I would definitely recommend them if like me you have a patio or driveway that badly needs a thorough clean
Blake and Daniel cleaned my patio and path at the front and did a great job. They were friendly and professional and explained well what they were going to do. I also had a bad dark patch which came up really well which others had failed to remove. I would definitely recommend them if like me you have a patio or driveway that badly needs a thorough clean
100% recommend this team . From start to finish was kept informed.On the morning a text to say what time they will be there and arrived on time . Worked from 9:30 till 7:30pm on the roof and jet washing all the area after. Very professional and had all the kit even a drone to show you the results of the whole area . The difference is amazing and looks like a new roof . Really happy with the results and so many comments from neighbours too saying how good it looks . You will not be disappointed .
100% recommend this team . From start to finish was kept informed.On the morning a text to say what time they will be there and arrived on time . Worked from 9:30 till 7:30pm on the roof and jet washing all the area after. Very professional and had all the kit even a drone to show you the results of the whole area . The difference is amazing and looks like a new roof . Really happy with the results and so many comments from neighbours too saying how good it looks . You will not be disappointed .
Had our drive re sealed and repaired amazing job by Blake and Dan thanks very much for your hard work it looks amazing highly recommended company
Had our drive re sealed and repaired amazing job by Blake and Dan thanks very much for your hard work it looks amazing highly recommended company
What can I say other than WOW !! Massive thank you to Blake and Dan for all of your hard work, so professional and such an amazing job! Left everything spotless so pleased, highly recommend to everyone. Extremely happy
Blake and Dan did a great job cleaning our roof and driveway. We're really happy with the outcome and would highly recommend Aquapro Cleaning to friends and family.
Blake and team did a great job of cleaning and resealing our roof. They worked hard and communicated well by proactively keeping us updated at every stage. We are happy with the end result and the transformation was epic!
Blake and team did a great job of cleaning and resealing our roof. They worked hard and communicated well by proactively keeping us updated at every stage. We are happy with the end result and the transformation was epic!
We had excellent service from start to finish. The guys were very professional, discussed everything over the phone initially then a visit with the drone to allow accurate quarter and expectation management. On the day they were considerate with the neighbours, did a wonderful job with the roof and gutters and cleared up so well that everything looked far better than when they started. Cannot recommend more highly.
We had excellent service from start to finish. The guys were very professional, discussed everything over the phone initially then a visit with the drone to allow accurate quarter and expectation management. On the day they were considerate with the neighbours, did a wonderful job with the roof and gutters and cleared up so well that everything looked far better than when they started. Cannot recommend more highly.
Great guys. Amazing job on the drive and always answers the phone. Recommend 100%
Great guys. Amazing job on the drive and always answers the phone. Recommend 100%
Really impressed with Aquapro Roof cleaning. Very professional guys that done such a good job, that it looks like I’ve had a new roof installed, (after 40yrs of dirt and moss). Blake talked me through everything in detail, and answered any questions I had. Showed me the end result with his drone footage and left house clean and tidy. Highly recommended.
Really impressed with Aquapro Roof cleaning. Very professional guys that done such a good job, that it looks like I’ve had a new roof installed, (after 40yrs of dirt and moss). Blake talked me through everything in detail, and answered any questions I had. Showed me the end result with his drone footage and left house clean and tidy. Highly recommended.
Great service, lovely & friendly team. So happy with the patio.
Great service, lovely & friendly team. So happy with the patio.
Free gutter clean and biocide treatment with every roof clean. The shaded, hill-side pitches done properly. Fully insured, no-obligation quote, written the same day.
