The size of your roof and your roof material will influence your costs more than any other factors.
Low-pressure washes for slate and wood roofs can cost twice as much as soft washes for asphalt, clay, and concrete roofs.
Aim to have your roof cleaned every 10 years, or every five years if you live in an area with a lot of trees or pollution.
Couple this project with other services, like pressure washing siding and window cleaning, to save money.
Homeowners looking to have their roofs professionally cleaned should expect the project to cost an average of $460. A single worker on a flat roof blowing away debris will cost much less than a team doing a soft wash on a high-angle roof. There are other cost factors too, which explain the large cost gap—anywhere from $150 to $1,000.
But cost isn’t the only factor to consider as uncleaned roofs can lead to moisture problems and even structural damage. Your best bet is to err on the side of caution and get your roof cleaned on a regular basis. Learn all the factors that affect roof cleaning costs.
Roof Cleaning Cost Factors
Types of Cleaning
You won’t have much choice when it comes to the cleaning method since it’s determined by your roofing material. For example, a high-pressure wash is usually reserved for metal roofs, as they can handle the pressure. More delicate materials, like wood shake, need a lower-pressure option.
A severely dirty rubber roof that requires a good deal of extra chemicals will drive up the price, while a roof that only requires a high-pressure water cleaning may not increase in cost so quickly. The costs below are based on a 1,600-square-foot roof and include both material costs and labor costs.
Cleaning Method
Roofing Material
Average Cost
Soft wash
Asphalt, clay, concrete
$560–$900
Chemical wash
Tar and gravel, rubber
$450–$840
Low-Pressure wash
Wood, slate
$600–$1,100
High-Pressure wash
Metal
$350–$700
Guide to Roof Repairs
Size
Most of the cost of a roof cleaning will be labor costs, so it makes sense that the larger the roof, the more work is required and therefore the higher the price. However, the larger the project and total bill, the more room you have to negotiate small discounts.
The ranges below are for standard, easily accessible roofs. You’ll pay a premium on high-angle roofs, unique shapes, or roofs with difficult access.
Roof Size in Square Feet
Average Cleaning Cost
750
$150–$450
1,000
$200–$600
1,250
$250–$750
1,500
$300–$900
2,000
$400–$1,200
2,500
$500–$1,500
3,000
$600–$1,800
Number of Stories
Most homes are two stories and cleaners shouldn’t have too hard of a time accessing the roof with ladders. Three-story homes will cost significantly more to clean for two reasons: more difficult access and a higher risk factor.
However, if the third-story roof is flat, there may be no increase in cost or even a discount when compared to a sloped two-story roof.
Roof Type
The type of roof you have also determines the cost of cleaning. Common roof types like gabled roofs, flat roofs, and hip roofs shouldn’t see any increase in cost due to roof type. Roof types like Dutch gable, butterfly, or clipped gable may cost more due to the complexity of those types.
Photo: stevecoleimages / E+ via Getty Images
Labor
Labor costs will be the most significant when cleaning a roof, and homeowners can expect to see quotes with as much as 90% of the total price being labor. If this job were closer to the ground, it would make an excellent weekend DIY project, but due to the safety considerations, it’s best left to professionals. Expect to pay each worker $35to$80 per hour for simple cleanings.
Whether you tip a pro or not is up to you. You may be less inclined to tip a general contractor if they’re performing other work at the same time, whereas adding a small percentage to someone just starting out or is a one-person crew is a welcome gesture. While tips aren’t always expected, they’re likely appreciated. We suggest if you’re very happy with the work and the pro was easy to work with, a tip is something to consider.
How Often Should You Have Your Roof Cleaned?
You should clean your roof every five to 10 years, depending on your local climate and the specific state of your roof. An old wooden roof directly under a tree and on the coast will require more regular cleanings—every two years or so—than a metal roof in Arizona. That being said, a metal roof near the sea will get dirty faster than the same roof in Arizona, so it may need to be cleaned even more frequently than the wood roof example due to its material and texture. If in doubt, or your roof is looking smudgy, best to call a pro.
If there are already people working on your roof, why not consider adding some other work? Doing both at the same time will lower your cost basis quite a bit. Consider some of the following exterior projects while getting your roof cleaned:
Gutters are essential to moisture control and drainage for your roof. Clogged or blocked gutters can lead to rotting fascia, pest infestation, and mold and algae buildup. Regularly cleaning your gutters is vital to keeping them working.
If you have a two-story house or don’t have a flat roof, you should contact a local roof cleaning expert to discuss quotes. While you may be able to hose down a dirty roof with a pressure washer or hose attachment, you aren’t really cleaning the roof. Having a professional dedicate their time and expertise—while safely using any required chemicals—is worth the cost.
Considering the long-term benefits of a clean roof, and the fact you’d only save a couple hundred dollars doing it yourself, we strongly recommend leaving this particular job to the pros. After all, there are plenty of other home improvement projects that are a better fit for DIY work.
Tips to Reduce Cost While Having Your Roof Cleaned
Usually, the best way to reduce cost is by buying less expensive materials or materials on sale. However, roof cleaning is a labor-based project and it’s much harder to negotiate labor costs. There aren’t many ways to save money on the work itself, but you can consider some of the ideas below which may result in a lower overall cost for all work involved:
Schedule work when the pros don’t have other work.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleaning your roof is worth it when you consider the impact it can have on its longevity. Regular cleaning can extend a roof's life span by preventing decay and moisture issues from moss growth. Annual roof cleaning can help delay the need for full roof replacement, which costs significantly more than cleaning. Your roof cleaner may also catch common roof problems before they become severe.
Other than it looking like a dirty car, there are some other signs you need to clean your roof. Moss growth, algae (often black streaks), grime buildup, buildup under shingles, and leaf buildup are all classic signs a cleaning is overdue. If you have neighbors, take a look around. If your roof appears different in any way, that’s another sign to call a pro to have it cleaned.
On average, cleaning a roof will take between two to five hours. This timeline depends on the size and slope of your roof and the severity of any stains. Cleaning roof stains can take additional time, especially if there are signs of moss or algae.
In addition, the age of your roof makes an enormous difference in the time it takes to clean it, as older roofs need more gentle care. If you have significant landscaping in your yard by your house, your professional roof cleaner will need additional time to protect it from cleaning chemicals.
The best time of year for roof cleaning depends on the climate in your area, but in most cases late spring or early summer are the best times. You should plan to clean your roof when it’s dry and not too hot or cold. It’s also a good idea to clean your roof in the late autumn to remove any built-up debris like leaves or branches. On the other hand, you shouldn’t clean your roof when it’s too cold, because you can cause ice buildup.
Mitchell loves to share his passion for hands-on work at home. His current writing can be found on Investopedia, Citigroup, LendingTree, and more where he provides financial tips on saving, buying, and investing in homes.
Ami Feller was born and raised in Marshalltown, Iowa. While attending Iowa State, her brother Scott started a roofing crew during the summers, and Ami went to work for him on the crew, eventually becoming the crew foreman. In 2016, Ami split off on her own and opened Feller Roofing of New Braunfels, which was renamed Roofer Chicks in 2021.
The homeowners guide to roof cleaning services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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