Roof cleaning improves the longevity of your roof by preventing damage caused by debris and algae. The cost to clean a roof ranges from $0.20 to $0.30 per square foot of roofing, including material and labor.
The average roof size in the U.S. is 1,700 square feet. So, most homeowners pay between $340 and $510 for complete roof cleaning. Your specific costs depend on the type of cleaning, roof size, and material.
The cost estimates in this pricing guide are based on the average roof cleaning prices across the U.S., including both metropolitan and rural areas.
Cost by Location
While the chemicals and equipment needed to clean a roof will cost about the same, labor costs vary depending on where you live. In general, labor costs are low if you live in a small town with a low cost of living. On the other hand, homeowners in metropolitan areas pay more.
See the table below for the average roof cleaning cost in a mix of big and small cities across the U.S.:
| Location | Average Cost Per Square Foot (Including Labor and Materials) |
| Northeast U.S. | |
| Pawtucket, RI | $0.18 – $0.34 |
| New York, NY | $0.23 – $0.45 |
| Southeast U.S. | |
| Dothan, AL | $0.15 – $0.28 |
| Atlanta, GA | $0.16 – $0.30 |
| Midwest U.S. | |
| South Bend, IN | $0.17 – $0.32 |
| Chicago, IL | $0.19 – $0.36 |
| Northwest U.S. | |
| Corvallis, OR | $0.17 – $0.32 |
| Seattle, WA | $0.21 – $0.40 |
| Southwest U.S. | |
| Roswell, NM | $0.16 – $0.30 |
| San Diego, CA | $0.19 – $0.36 |
Cost by Home Size
Roof size is the biggest indicator of what your roof cleaning budget will look like. The larger the roof, the longer it will take to clean, and the more you’ll pay a professional roof cleaner in hourly labor rates.
You can use the following formula to help estimate the size of your roof:
- Home Size in Square Feet X 1.5 = Roof Size in Square Feet
Once you have a ballpark estimate of your roof’s size, you can calculate the total cost of roof cleaning for you using the typical range of $0.20 to $0.30 per square foot.
The table below shows the typical cost range of several common roof sizes.
| Home Size (in square feet) | Approximate Roof Size (in square feet) | Average Cost (Including Material and Labor) |
| 1,000 | 1,500 | $300 – $450 |
| 1,500 | 2,250 | $450 – $675 |
| 2,000 | 3,000 | $600 – $900 |
| 2,500 | 3,750 | $750 – $1,125 |
| 3,000 | 4,500 | $900 – $1,350 |
Cost by Cleaning Method
There’s more than one way to clean a roof, and each method has a different cost. The best way to clean your roof will depend on the material and the type of buildup you need to remove. You will learn which method best suits your roof later in this article.
The table below shows the cost of the most common roof cleaning methods.
| Cleaning method | Average cost per square foot |
| Chemical wash | $0.20 – $0.30 |
| High-pressure wash | $0.20 – $0.60 |
| Low-pressure wash | $0.30 – $0.70 |
| Soft wash | $0.30 – $0.75 |
- Chemical wash: If your roof’s main problem is moss, algae, or lichen, a chemical wash may be the most effective and affordable option. The chemicals will kill off living growths. As a chemical wash doesn’t involve a pressurized stream of water, this method likely won’t remove leaves, twigs, or caked-on dirt.
- High-pressure wash: Power washing with a high-pressure stream of water blasts off all kinds of dirt and muck. Along with dirt, the high-pressure stream can forcibly remove or damage shingles. So, standard pressure washing isn’t a good idea for roofs with asphalt shingles, slate shingles, wood shakes, or any kind of tile.
- Low-pressure wash: Low-pressure washing is less intense than standard power washing, which makes it gentle enough for some shingle roofs but still powerful enough to remove debris. This cleaning method also includes gentle chemicals to kill moss and other living growth.
- Soft wash: Soft washing is similar to low-pressure washing in that it combines pressured water and chemicals. It uses an even gentler stream of water and specialized chemical mixtures (usually including bleach) that remove algae, moss, mildew, bacteria, and some stains.
Cost by Roof Type
Different roof materials call for different cleaning methods. For example, flat roofs made of tar and gravel or rubber can’t take pressurized water, so the best cleaning method is a straight chemical wash.
Other materials, such as shingles, wood shakes, and tile, can take some gentle power washing but often suffer damage from high-intensity pressure. Then there’s metal roofing, which is durable and made of solid panels that won’t come loose from standard pressure washing.
In the table below, we’ll go over the best cleaning method for each type of roof and the associated cost.
| Roof Material | Best Way to Clean | Average Cost per Square Foot |
| Tar and gravel | Chemical wash | $0.20 – $0.30 |
| Rubber | Chemical wash | $0.20 – $0.30 |
| Metal | High-pressure wash | $0.20 – $0.60 |
| Slate shingles | Low-pressure wash | $0.30 – $0.70 |
| Wood shakes or shingles | Low-pressure wash | $0.30 – $0.70 |
| Asphalt shingles | Soft wash | $0.30 – $0.75 |
| Clay tile | Soft wash | $0.30 – $0.75 |
| Concrete tile | Soft wash | $0.30 – $0.75 |
Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
On average, pros charge $24 to $59 per hour to clean a roof, which is 90% more of the total cost. Although hiring a professional can be expensive, it’s worth it because they ensure your roof isn’t damaged during the cleaning process.
Additionally, without the proper safety equipment, there’s a risk of falling and injuring yourself. To avoid these risks, it’s best to hire a professional.
Other Factors That Affect Cost
In addition to roof size and cleaning method, there are a few factors that can affect the overall roof cleaning cost. If you want a clearer idea of what your budget should look like, you’ll need to consider all of this information. We’ll go into detail about these additional cost factors now.
Multi-Story Home
If your home is a two or three-story, it could increase your costs by about $0.13 to $0.18 per square foot. With an extra story or two, roof cleaners will have to work much higher off the ground, which might make the job take longer and make labor costs higher.
Moss Removal and Prevention
If you need to remove existing moss on the roof, choose a cleaning method that includes chemicals. That means you need a chemical wash, low-pressure wash, or soft wash. Moss removal is included in the overall cost of these three, which ranges from $0.20 to $0.60 per square foot.
You can opt for a moss-prevention treatment to prevent moss from growing back. On average, moss prevention costs between $133 and $250.
FAQ
Most professional roofers don’t recommend power washing roofs because the intense pressure can damage or loosen shingles and tiles. However, metal roofs are solid and durable enough to power wash.
No. It isn’t safe for you to get up on the roof. Another reason you should always hire professional roof cleaners is that they have access to better equipment and cleaning products than the DIY kits you can buy at the hardware store.
Roof cleaning at least once every year can extend the roof’s life. Your roof might need more frequent cleaning if you live somewhere with a lot of wet weather or another climate that exposes your roof to dirt, moss, or salt.
It’s true that dirty solar panels are less efficient than clean ones, but you usually won’t have to worry about cleaning them because rain will wash off dirt and debris for you. If you live in a very dry climate where it doesn’t rain often, you may need to clean your solar panels occasionally.
Keep Your Roof in Top Condition
Though roof cleaning might seem like a lot of money now, this regular maintenance can prevent leaking, saving you money on repairs in the future. Roof cleaning can also postpone the need for an expensive roof replacement by several years.
If you decide to get professional help, Home Gnome has you covered. You can get the best home service experience at the click of a button. Book licensed, skilled roof maintenance services, and let our pros take care of your roof.
Read More:
- How Much Does a Roof Replacement Cost?
- How Much Does a Roof Inspection Cost?
- How Much Does Roof Leak Repair Cost?
Main Image: Worker pressure washing mossy roof tiles near chimney. Image Credit: Branimir / Adobe Stock
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