Tewkesbury sits in a low-lying basin where the Severn and the Avon meet, ringed by floodplain on three sides. It's the same geography that makes the town flood — the 2007 floods famously put well over a thousand properties under water — and it's the same geography that wrecks roofs. Even in a dry summer that flat, wet ground keeps the air sitting heavy with moisture, and moisture is exactly what moss, lichen and gloeocapsa algae feed on. A roof here will carry noticeably more growth than an identical house a few miles up onto the drier slopes towards Bredon or the Cotswold edge.
You see it most starkly in the old town. The tight Y of Church Street, the High Street and Barton Street, and the 30-odd surviving medieval alleys and courts that thread between them, are packed with tall timber-framed and Georgian properties standing shoulder to shoulder. They shade each other for most of the day, the streets are narrow enough that very little direct sun reaches the lower pitches, and the original clay, stone and hand-made tile holds damp far longer than modern materials. By the time someone calls us, a black-looking roof above the High Street is usually a thick mat of moss sitting in the laps, with rust weeping off old lead and valley metal.
Out on the estates it's a different roof but the same problem. Northway, Newtown, Mitton, Priors Park and the newer Wheatpieces and Walton Cardiff developments are mostly post-war and modern concrete interlocking tile. Those tiles are textured, which gives spores something to grip, so in this humid basin they mat up heavily — we lift the bulk off by hand from a tower or roof ladder before the biocide goes on. Whether it's a 15th-century cottage or a 1990s semi, the cause is the same Severn-Vale damp, and so is the fix.
One thing that's specific to Tewkesbury is the age clustering on the estates. Northway and Mitton went up across the same few post-war decades, so a whole road of roofs hits the point where moss is impossible to ignore at roughly the same time — which is why, once we're booked on one house, we'll often end up doing two or three more on the same street that same week. It's also why we don't believe in pressure-blasting concrete tile that's already three or four decades old: the surface coating has thinned with age, and hammering it with high pressure takes years off the tile to buy you one clean season. Lifting the moss by hand and then treating with biocide is gentler on the tile and lasts far longer, which matters when you're looking at a roof that still has plenty of life left in it.
Each one has its own approach. Method matters more than equipment.
Common on Church Street, the High Street, Barton Street and the alleys behind them. Often a century or more old and brittle when wet — these are scraped by hand, never pressured, working off a roof ladder hooked over the ridge. Extra care around the bedded ridges, hips and valleys where the tiles are oldest.
Found on the timber-framed and Georgian properties throughout the conservation area, and on older cottages out towards the Mythe and Ashchurch. Durable but unforgiving — slate and stone get hand-clearing of the laps, a low-pressure rinse and a neutral biocide. We keep everything off the lime mortar and old leadwork.
The bulk of Northway, Newtown, Mitton and Priors Park. Marley and Redland tiles, usually heavily mossed because the textured surface grips spores and the basin keeps everything damp. We remove the moss by hand first, then biocide. Expect a noticeable colour shift as the treatment cures over a few weeks.
Wheatpieces, Walton Cardiff and the newer Tewkesbury Park developments — 1990s onward, smoother concrete and the odd plain or pantile roof. Younger but still greening in this microclimate. These take the bulk-off-then-biocide treatment, and on the right surfaces a sealant to slow regrowth further.
From the medieval core to the post-war and modern estates ringing it — same Severn-Vale damp, slightly different roof on each.
The tight Y of Church Street, the High Street and Barton Street, plus the surviving alleys and courts behind them — tall, shaded, listed and timber-framed, on original clay and stone that gets hand-scrape only.
A post-war estate that grew up around the old Dowty works after the war, with the last of the early prefab plots since rebuilt — almost all concrete interlocking tile, and almost all carrying heavy moss by now.
A long-established residential pocket just east of the centre, sitting between Mitton and Northway across the M5 — settled streets of post-war semis on textured concrete tile that mat up fast in the damp.
The estate brought into the borough in 1965 from over the old Worcestershire line — uniform post-war housing where whole streets of roofs reach moss age together, which is usually how we end up doing several on one road.
A residential suburb on the south side of the town, near Walton Cardiff and Wheatpieces — mid-century concrete-tile homes that take the standard bulk-removal-then-biocide treatment well.
The newer developments out on the western edge, mostly built up from the 1990s onward — younger, smoother tile, but already greening in this basin, so worth treating before the moss takes proper hold.
Tewkesbury has around 345 listed buildings and a town-centre conservation area built around its medieval grain — the tight street pattern, the half-timbered black-and-white frontages, the Georgian red brick filling the gaps, and the warren of alleys and courts behind. A lot of those roofs are original clay, stone or hand-made tile sitting on old timber frames, and they need a completely different hand to a 1980s semi. On these we hand-scrape only, never pressure, because force cracks old tile and drives water into a structure that has stood for centuries by staying watertight.
For listed buildings, cleaning sits in a careful zone. Straightforward removal of biological growth normally doesn't need listed-building consent, because you're not altering the fabric of the building. Anything that touches mortar, lead or the original tile-fixing usually does — and we'll tell you upfront if a job crosses that line so you can speak to Tewkesbury Borough Council's conservation team before booking. We keep biocide off lime mortar by sheeting and rinsing the edges, and where old lead flashings have weathered to a soft grey patina we'll usually recommend leaving them rather than scrubbing them back to bright metal, which is exactly the kind of thing heritage officers, reasonably, don't want to see.
It's worth remembering why Tewkesbury looks the way it does. The town grew up in the Middle Ages around its great Norman abbey — saved at the Dissolution when the townspeople bought it from the Crown for the value of the lead on its roof — and the wool and milling trade that followed filled the streets with merchants' houses. In the seventeenth century, when space ran short inside the medieval bounds, dozens of alleys and courts were squeezed in behind the main frontages to cram in more homes. The result is a town centre where buildings of very different ages lean against each other, roofs run at odd angles into shared valleys, and a single terrace can carry three or four different tile types. None of that is a problem to clean — but it's exactly why we survey each property properly rather than quoting a roof we haven't seen.
At quote stage we check whether your property looks listed and glance at the Historic England map before the survey. It costs us five minutes and can save you a planning headache.
We come out, look at the roof, the access, and the gutters, and tell you exactly what's needed and what it costs. No hard sell, no pressure to book on the spot — and on the older town-centre properties we flag anything that touches listed-building rules first.
Heavy moss is removed by hand from a ladder or tower, gutters cleared at the same time. On Tewkesbury's damp, thickly mossed concrete tile and on fragile old clay alike, 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 — which matters even more in this high-humidity riverside basin where regrowth comes back fast.
The biocide keeps working after we've left, preventing regrowth for up to two years. Most customers don't need us back for a top-up before then.
A Tewkesbury 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 the biocide is what holds the result for two years, which counts for a lot in a basin this damp. You pay for neither; both come as standard.
The free gutter clear is more than a nicety here. In a town that already deals with too much water, a gutter packed with washed-down moss and grit is the difference between rain running cleanly away and rain spilling down the wall, soaking into render and finding its way to the eaves. We clear what comes off the roof as we go, so you're not left with a clean roof and blocked gutters. And because the biocide carries on working long after we've packed up, most Tewkesbury customers get two seasons or more before they'd even think about booking us back — in a microclimate this damp, that's the part that earns its keep.
Get my Tewkesbury quoteTewkesbury throws up everything from brittle hand-made clay on listed town-centre houses to big modern estate roofs out at Wheatpieces, and the fragile ones take careful hand-scraping rather than fast pressure — which is part of 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. The old clay tiles, Welsh slate and stone you find on the timber-framed properties around Church Street and the High Street get hand-scrape and biocide only — pressure on those will damage the surface. The modern interlocking concrete tile on Northway, Mitton and Wheatpieces can take a controlled pressure-wash where that's the right tool. Either way, it's the biocide that stops the moss coming back, not the force of the water.
Up to two years, often longer, because the biocide we apply carries on killing fresh spores after we've left. Tewkesbury is a damp town — the air coming off the Severn and Avon floodplain keeps roofs greening faster than higher, drier ground, and north-facing pitches in the shaded older streets may colour up sooner than open south-facing ones. Pressure-washing on its own buys you about a season — the moss is back the next autumn because the spores are still in the tile. The biocide is the difference between cleaning the surface and treating the cause.
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. In a riverside town with a lot of gardens backing onto the floodplain we're careful about run-off, and we've never had an issue with ponds or wildlife in years of doing this.
Yes, and this is exactly the work we take most care over. Tewkesbury has around 345 listed buildings and a town-centre conservation area, so a lot of roofs along Church Street, the High Street, Barton Street and the alleys are old clay, stone or hand-made tile on fragile structures. On those we hand-scrape only — never pressure — and we keep biocide off lime mortar and old leadwork by sheeting and rinsing the edges. Straightforward removal of moss and algae usually doesn't need listed-building consent because you're not altering the fabric; anything touching mortar, lead or the original fixings does, and we'll flag it before we start so you can speak to Tewkesbury Borough Council first.
It does. The town sits in a low-lying basin where the Severn and the Avon meet, which is why it floods — 2007 famously put more than 1,500 properties under water — and even in a dry year that same low, wet ground keeps humidity high. High humidity is what moss, lichen and algae live on, so Tewkesbury roofs tend to carry heavier growth than houses a few miles up onto drier ground. It doesn't change how we clean, but it does mean the free biocide treatment earns its keep here — without it the regrowth comes back quickly in this microclimate.
For most jobs, no. We work from a ladder or scaffold tower with a long-reach lance, which means no concentrated weight on the tiles and no boot scuffs on the ridges. On steeper or older roofs — including the tall, narrow town-centre houses and the brittle clay common in the old streets — we use a roof ladder hooked over the ridge to spread the load safely. We'll tell you in advance which method we're using on your property and why.
Three reasons that matter, in order. Tile and slate life — moss holds moisture against the surface, accelerating freeze-thaw damage and shortening the life of the roof, which on hand-made clay or old stone in the conservation area is a serious replacement cost. Gutters and downpipes — moss sheds and washes into the gutters, blocking them and pushing water down the wall instead of away from the house, which matters even more in a town that already deals with too much water. Insurance and resale — some insurers query roofs visibly covered in growth, and a clean roof is a quiet but real factor in kerb appeal, especially for the character properties buyers pay a premium for in the old town. Cleaning costs a fraction of replacing tiles or repointing ridges.
No roof stays clear forever — spores are always airborne, and in a damp town like Tewkesbury they're never far away — 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 — 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, which in this riverside basin is most of the winter. We clean year-round, though; the biocide works whenever it's applied in dry conditions.
Depends on the tile. The modern interlocking concrete tile on the Tewkesbury estates can take a controlled low-pressure wash where it's the right tool; the old clay, stone and Welsh slate on the town-centre and listed properties 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.
Regency villas, Cotswold-stone homes, post-war estates — eight miles south down the M5.
Roof cleaning CheltenhamVictorian terraces, the docks regeneration, post-war estates.
Roof cleaning GloucesterForest of Dean edge, tree-shaded clay tile cottages, heavy moss country.
Roof cleaning NewentThe 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. Timber-framed and listed properties handled correctly. Fully insured, no-obligation quote, written the same day.
