13 / cleaning
Low pressure soft washing and biocide application that kills moss, algae and lichen at the root, without the tile damage pressure washing causes. MEWP access keeps the programme tight and avoids scaffold overrun. Gutter clearance is included in every roof clean.
Roof cleaning before and after
Soft washing lifts moss, algae and lichen without the damage a high pressure jet can do to tiles. These photos show a roof before and after a soft wash.
When this is the right route
Scope · included
Scope · not included
Sectors
Process
01
Tile type identified, moss species and lichen coverage assessed, moisture check for tile soundness, access constraints and MEWP route, gutter and downpipe condition. The biocide chemistry is recommended only after a physical survey.
02
Biocide selected for the moss species and tile material, diluted for low pressure application through a fan nozzle under 5 bar. Weather window agreed. Gutter clearance method and any protective sheeting for sensitive areas written into the spec.
03
Project RAMS covering MEWP operation and exclusion zones, biocide COSHH assessment, weather monitoring, pedestrian and road safety plan for street facing roofs, PPE schedule.
04
MEWP setup, exclusion barriers and street notices where required. Gutter clearance and downpipe flush first. Biocide applied in even passes from ridge to eaves across all affected slopes, then a treatment inspection and final flow test.
05
Written report with biocide product data sheet, batch number, application date and weather conditions. Before and after photos. Note on the moss breakdown timeline: dead growth sloughs off over 4 to 8 weeks, with no pressure washing needed.
Built for the people who buy decorating
We are a specialist subcontractor, not a turnkey fit out outfit. We deliver decorating, spraying, restoration and coatings under main contractors and direct estate teams.
For main contractors
Variations are agreed in writing and delivered without delaying handover. You get a handover record for each store.
For estate + FM teams
Survey to handover without closing the unit. Powder coat restoration is specified to the surveyed substrate. Run off, masking and reopening tracked store by store.
For retail estate leads
We match the paint system to your brand and estate specification. You get progress and handover records for each store. If the timetable moves, we tell you early and replan with the site team.
Find the right route
Most visitors arrive with a sector problem before they know the coating system. These routes match the way buyers search: home and residential work, retail fit out programmes, and industrial painting or warehouse coatings.
House painting and decorating
Painting and decorating for homes in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, inside and out. You get a fixed written quote before we start, and any extras are agreed in writing first. We protect your floors and furniture and leave the house clean every day.
Retail decorating
Retail decorating is about more than paint. We work nights around store teams and other trades, and we match brand colours exactly. Late variations are agreed in writing and delivered without delaying handover.
Industrial painting contractors
Industrial and warehouse scopes need the coating system specified by substrate condition, not by what is cheapest to apply. We survey the floor, the cladding, the steelwork and the roof before recommending a system, then plan MEWP access, exclusion zones and drying time sequencing around live operations.
How we deliver
Every job is director-led. You deal with one contact and one timetable, from survey to handover.
01
Stores stay open. Surveys, masking and run off planned around foot traffic.
02
Night programmes on retail and hospitality estates. Clean before doors open.
03
Rolling store programmes sequenced against the main contractor plan.
04
Based in Poole, Dorset. Our crews travel to sites across the UK.
05
Decorating, on site spraying, powder coat restoration and floor coatings under one PM.
06
Before and after record, sign-off notes and the specified product record.
Frequently asked
No. Soft washing applies a diluted biocide at low pressure, under 5 bar, through a fan nozzle. No pressure washer touches the roof surface. The process kills moss at the root without dislodging tiles or stripping the surface. The survey confirms the tile type before we set the chemistry.
The moss dies within a few days and turns brown or black. It then sloughs off over 4 to 8 weeks as rain and wind clear the dead material. You do not need to pressure wash afterwards, and doing so can damage the tiles. We schedule a follow up check where the spec calls for it.
The biocide is a diluted, approved masonry treatment. During application we cover or wet down sensitive plants and keep run off out of drains. Once dry it is bound to the roof surface and presents negligible risk to pets. You get the COSHH sheet and a plant protection plan before we start.
Yes. Conservation officers often prefer low pressure soft washing, because it doesn't change the look or surface of old materials. We supply the method statement, product data and our accreditation records for your application. You may need listed building consent, and we can talk you through it.
We use compact MEWP models that access narrow residential roads. Where a MEWP will not fit, we use a lightweight tower or, on suitable pitches, roof operatives on a safety line. Access is assessed at survey and the method is confirmed before the start date.
Dead moss dries out and detaches over several weeks, falling into the gutter or to the ground. Because we clear the gutters as part of the clean, the initial debris is removed and the rest washes down gradually. It does not leave a heavy deposit.
Yes. The application is quiet and produces no airborne dust. We set a pedestrian exclusion zone around the MEWP and working area, and you keep normal access via a side door or an agreed route. We walk you through the plan at the start of the day.
Start a conversation
Where we can, we check access and the state of the surfaces before we price, so the quote matches the real job. Email drawings to office@astardecorators.com, or send photos on WhatsApp.
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08 / cleaning
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14 / cleaning
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