Is the roof of your house looking a bit worse for wear? Is it patchy and discoloured, or do you have moss growing where it shouldn’t be?
If you want to give your roof a good clean, remove the moss and make it look brand new again, there’s a quick and easy solution: roof coating. If your roof is sound in construction with no leaks, applying a roof coating will make it look fresh and new again – all without the expense of an actual roof replacement.
In this article, we’ll be discussing how much roof coating costs, what affects the cost of roof coating, how to save money on roof coating, what’s involved in coating a roof and how to find and hire a professional.
So, if your roof is structurally sound, but its appearance has seen better days, then choosing to coat it can be a great way to rejuvenate the look, without the need to replace your entire roof. Let’s get started.
How Much Does Roof Coating Cost?
If we look at costs per square metre for roof coating, you can expect the following prices:
| SERVICE | COST (PER SQUARE FOOT) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof cleaning and coating | £2.40 to £3.10 | ||
| Pressure washing roof | £12.00 | ||
| Biocide treatment | £9.00 |
It’ll cost you between £2.40 to £3.10 per square metre for roof cleaning and coating.
For pressure washing your roof, it’ll be £12 per square metre; while biocide treatments to your roof will be around £9 per square metre.
Accounting for the use of scaffolding for safe access to the roof, a biocide treatment and two coats of the roof coating solution, the price falls between £1,500 to £2,500.
Prices will vary depending on where you live in the UK, as well as the size of the property. You may even find lower-priced contractors if no scaffolding is required to access the roof, such as for small bungalows.
What Affects the Cost of Coating a Roof?
As you’d expect, some non-negotiables impact the price you’ll be expected to pay for your roof coating service.
Size of Roof
Put simply, the size of your roof will impact the cost you pay, as the more roof there is, the more product the roofer will need to cover it.
Height of House
Similarly, the taller your house is, the more the treatment will cost as the roofers will need to hire more scaffolding to reach the higher portions of your home.
Parking Permits
You may not necessarily think about this, but if your home doesn’t have parking for your roofer, you’ll be expected to pay for their parking permit while the job is carried out.
If your home’s front comes out directly onto pavement, the scaffolding will have to get the green light from the council too, so it’s worth checking this out before agreeing to the work to save yourself from any potential fine
How Can I Save Money on Roof Coating?
Although the costs per square metre are relatively low, there are always ways to make roof coating even more cost-effective.
Collaborating with Neighbours
If you live in a semi-detached home, speak to your neighbour before having the roof coating done. They might want the treatment too, in which case you can look to cut the cost of the job in half.
This will help to save you on the scaffolding costs as it’ll be split evenly between the two of you, and your roofer may give you a discount for repeat work in the same area.
Choose Local Traders
You’ll always get a better deal when you choose a local trader as opposed to a national firm. They’re able to be more agile with their pricing and will be competitive where nationals might have to stick to rigid pricing patterns.
What’s Involved in Coating a Roof?
The first day of roof coating will involve scaffolding erection (where necessary), and setting up all safety equipment, including edge protection and harness points.
Once the access equipment is in place, the roofer will conduct a closer inspection of the roof and carry out minor repairs such as replacing broken tiles. The roofers will remove gutters to prevent them from blocking with all the dirt coming off the roof.
Pressure washing of the roof tiles commences, working from the roof ridge downwards towards the edge of the roof. Depending on the moss infestation, it may be necessary to remove the moss manually – pressure washing is a bit messy, so tarpaulin may be used to protect surfaces to keep them clean.
Next, the roofer will apply a biocide wash which discourages moss and algae build-up. Your roof may need further treatment if you live in coastal areas.
The first coat of paint goes on after and is allowed to dry before the roofer applies a second coat. Ensure the roofer allows adequate drying times between the fungicidal wash and the subsequent paint coats.
Finally, the roofer will reaffix the gutters and take down the scaffolding and clean up the ground surfaces as required. Your roof should now look brighter than before, and the coating will last for at least 15 years.
How Do I Find and Hire a Professional?
The best way to find reputable traders is to ask your friends, family and neighbours if they’ve had a similar treatment performed on their roof recently – and crucially if they’d recommend their traders.
If this isn’t the case, then you can look to use online search tools instead to find professionals to get the job done quickly and effectively. Using HouseholdQuotes can help to save you up to 40%, while consolidating your search to just one website, saving you from navigating between tabs and different websites to try to compare traders.
Ensuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
Some roof coating companies take advantage of common misconceptions when quoting their services to you.
Here’s what to watch out for:
‘Roof coating will protect your roof from leaks.’
Only repairs to broken tiles will stop your roof from leaking.
‘Painting your roof will save you money on your heating bill by preventing heat loss.’
Roof painting is largely cosmetic, and won’t have an impact on energy efficiency.
‘Roof coating is a substitute for roof replacement.’
Concrete roof tiles have a lifespan of about 70+ years. Beyond this, even roof coating will not stop natural deterioration.
‘Roof painting will deter and prevent moss growth.’
Do be aware that this type of fungicidal treatment will wear off eventually, and will need to be reapplied to keep your roof consistently free from the growth of moss.
‘You can make your tiles waterproof by roof coating.’
Roof tiles are waterproof as it is and won’t leak unless they are broken.
Be wary of roof coating companies who approach you and try to sell their services by quoting any one of the statements above. Finding a professional contractor with a traceable reputation for this type of work is crucial.
First of all, you’ll want to get hold of a written quote to make sure everything is listed – including scaffolding hire and any cleaning treatments needed for your roof.
Seeking out a trader’s experience is important too, as well as any photos or videos of their past work to make sure the reality lives up to what they’ve written about themselves online.
Finally, make sure they have insurance in place to work at height so that you aren’t left with any liability if something goes wrong during the job.
Final Checklist
If you want to make your roof look brand new again, but don’t want to replace it entirely, roof coating is a great option. Here’s everything you need to know before you get started:
- Make sure your roof is a good candidate for coating, as some tiles are too delicate and will break off under the pressure
- Get a written quote from your contractor, and check that they have insurance to work at height safely
- Make sure the cost to hire scaffolding is included too, as well as any other materials needed for the job
- Keep up maintenance routines on your roof once it’s been coated to keep it looking fresher for longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Coat Any Type of Roof?
This is a very common question when it comes to roof coating – your roofing contractor should assess your roof first at the quotation stage and advise you on whether your roof is suitable.
As a rule of thumb, roof coating is suitable for concrete tiles only. This is because they are able to withstand the the tradespeople traversing them whilst carrying out the necessary washing, treatment and applications.
Clay tiles are fragile, and walking on them is best avoided. Also, a slate roof is not a good candidate for power washing and painting, making it not a suitable option for roof coating.
How Long Do Roof Coatings Last?
Roof coatings should last for 15 years if applied correctly and well maintained. It comes down to the thickness of the paint, and how much of that wears away over time.
If a too-thin layer is applied, it’ll wear off sooner; but if it’s too thick, it’ll break off in chunks. There’s a happy medium to be found in the middle which should yield you the 15-year lifespan before it needs to be repainted.
What Chemicals Are Used in Roof Coatings?
Your roofer will likely use a biocide wash before coating your roof to remove any build-up of algae, as well as a fungicidal wash.
Roof coatings typically contain titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, acrylic polymer resins and fire retardants, according to CheckaTrade.
How Much Does Roof Cleaning Cost?
Having your roof cleaned is a great way to instantly improve the look of it while breathing life into an otherwise downtrodden surface. The price will vary on the size of your home and the subsequent size of the roof, starting at around £400 and going up to £650 and beyond.
For full information, see our dedicated guide here.
