Gold Coast tile roof restored from heavy black mould and lichen staining to a clean, uniform finish using a safe soft wash treatment. Close-up tile detail showing the dramatic colour return after biocide treatment, with no high-pressure damage to tile surfaces or ridge mortar.
Before & After
What We Did
Roof inspection & access setup
Inspected tile condition for any cracks or slipped tiles, checked ridge capping mortar integrity, and set up safe roof access. Confirmed tiles were structurally sound and suited to soft wash rather than replacement.
Surrounds & gutter protection
Protected gutters, downpipes, and surrounding garden beds from biocide runoff. On roof work, the solution naturally flows toward gutters during application — managing that runoff cleanly is part of the job.
Biocide application
Applied a specialised soft wash biocide solution at low pressure across the entire tiled surface, including ridge capping and any heavily stained sections. The solution kills mould, algae, and lichen at the spore level rather than just lifting surface staining.
Dwell & treatment
Allowed the biocide to dwell and break down the organic growth — particularly important for lichen, which has root structures that physically grip into the porous tile surface and won't release under pressure alone.
Low-pressure rinse
Rinsed the entire roof with a controlled low-pressure flow, working with the slope to flush dead organic matter into the gutters for collection. High-pressure cleaning on tile roofs risks dislodging tiles, breaking ridge mortar, and forcing water under the tile line — soft wash avoids all three.
Final inspection & cleanup
Walked the roof to confirm uniform finish across all tiles, cleared the gutters of flushed debris, and removed protective coverings from surrounds.
The Result
The roof was restored from heavily mould-stained to a clean, even finish across all tiles. The original colour and texture of the tiles was fully recovered, with no damage to the tile surface, ridge capping, or surrounding gutter and fascia systems.
Soft wash roof treatments typically resist mould and lichen regrowth for 2–4 years in South East Queensland conditions — significantly longer than pressure cleaning, which only removes visible staining without killing the underlying spores or lichen roots.
Suitable For
Soft washing is the recommended method for almost all tile roof cleaning — it preserves tile integrity, ridge mortar, and any existing sealer or paint while delivering a longer-lasting result than high-pressure cleaning. Particularly important for older tile roofs where high-pressure can crack tiles or strip the protective surface layer.
This Gold Coast home had a tile roof that had become heavily stained with black mould — a common issue across South East Queensland’s humid subtropical climate, where shaded sections of roof retain moisture long enough for organic growth to colonise the porous tile surface. The close-up before shot shows just how dramatic the contamination had become at tile level, with the original colour almost completely obscured beneath layers of dark biological staining.
The restoration was completed via soft wash — the appropriate method for tile roofs of this type. Soft washing applies a specialised biocide solution at low pressure, killing mould, lichen, and algae at the root rather than relying on high-pressure water to blast organic growth off the surface. This matters specifically for tile roofs: high-pressure cleaning risks dislodging tiles, cracking ridge mortar, stripping any existing protective sealer, and forcing water under the tile line where it can cause leaks. Soft wash avoids all of those risks while delivering a more durable result.
After biocide application, dwell time, and a controlled low-pressure rinse, the tiles returned to their original clean colour with no surface damage. Because the treatment kills lichen and mould at the spore level rather than just lifting surface staining, soft wash roof cleans typically hold up for 2–4 years in Gold Coast conditions — well beyond what a pressure rinse alone would achieve. Suitable for terracotta, concrete, and cement tile roofs of any age, plus ridge capping, valleys, and painted tile surfaces.
More Like This
Acit Commercial Facility Full External Clean — 3000m² in One Day
Logan
Single-day commercial external cleaning project for Acit ("We Speak Food") — a 3000m² facility cleaned across one working day. Full soft wash and pressure wash of all external walls, breeze block sections, render, soffits, eaves, and roller doors to remove heavy mould and organic contamination. Coordinated team delivery at scale, with the food industry's particular hygiene and presentation standards in mind.
View project →
Balcony Tile Pressure Clean — Gold Coast
Gold Coast
Heavily stained white tile balcony in a Gold Coast residential property restored to clean original finish via pressure cleaning. Tiles, grout lines, glass balustrade, and white framing all returned to a clean, even appearance ready for use.
View project →
Byron Bay Mansion — Synthetic Turf Maintenance Package (6-Monthly)
Byron Bay
Ongoing 6-monthly maintenance package at a luxury Byron Bay mansion — synthetic turf restoration including debris and algae removal, pressure washing, fresh sand topup, and power brooming to maintain the turf in show-condition year-round. Plus surrounding hardscape pressure washing across stone retaining walls and feature elements. The kind of recurring maintenance contract that keeps a high-end property at presentation standard between major restoration cycles.
View project →