How to thoroughly clean a conservatory roof

Cleaning a conservatory roof can be a challenging and time-consuming task for a variety of reasons. Not only are conservatory roofs hard to get to physically, but they are also prone to a build-up of tough stains such as algae.

With the right tools and preparation this task is manageable. In this article we will walk you through the process from start to finish.

Preparation

As with most cleaning tasks, preparation is crucial to a successful clean. There are considerations with cleaning a conservatory such as your safety, the logistics of reaching all areas of the conservatory and the tools required to facilitate a thorough clean.

Tools

Cleaning a conservatory roof takes some planning since they frequently feature glass panels that can break and require you to climb ladders or stretch to access hard-to-reach spots. Before we get into how to clean a conservatory roof, here are a few safety precautions to keep in mind:

Tools you will need

• Telescopic brush
• Microfibre cloth
• Cleaning solution
• Warm water in a bucket
• Conservatory ladder

First clean

Conservatory roofs are prone to a build up of Algae and as such, the first time you clean a roof it can be very challenging to remove all the build-up.

The best way to approach a first clean is with the help of a cleaning chemical such as Virosol. This product should first be mixed with water at a ratio of 1:10 (1 part Virosol for every 10 parts water). For extremely suborn stains you can increase the concentration up to as much as 1:4.

With the solution made up, you can apply it to the conservatory roof with a telescopic brush. The solution should be applied across the entire roof area including over the windows and the UPVC frame. Once again, the amount of pressure applied during this application can be altered depending on the level of dirt present.

Once you have applied the solution leave it to settle for 5-10 minutes before washing it off with warm water. Keep in mind that Virosol is a degreaser and as such, it does require a fair amount of washing off to completely remove any residue from the surface.

Once you have washed the roof down with warm water you should find the surface to be extremely clean and shiny and that all dirt and algae should have been removed. If you find the result is not satisfactory you can opt for a more heavily concentrated cleaning solution and you can also leave the solution on for a little longer, as required.

Don’t leave it on for more than 10 minutes though as this can cause damage or discoloration.

Taking care of the detail

Once you have removed the majority of the grime you can get to work on the detail. This is where the conservatory ladder will come in handy as this allows you to safely get up to the roof with your microfibre cloth and manually clean any areas that the telescopic brush has missed.

Look out for tight corners as well as the areas where the glass fits up against the UPVC – algae can often be more stubborn in these areas and manual cleaning should do the trick.

Cleaning maintenance

The first clean will always be a tough one, especially if the roof has not had any attention for a prolonged period of time. However, once this is done, regular maintenance will stop further build-up of algae and will make the cleaning process much easier.

You should aim to thoroughly clean your conservatory roof at least once or twice a year to minimise the accumulation of persistent filth, algae, or moss, which can cause to leaks and other problems.

You can, however, do periodic cleaning of the windows and inside as often as you desire; on the basis that these areas are far easier to access.

Final thoughts

Although the first clean can be a tough one, as long as you have prepared the area, gathered all of the required tools and put together a “plan of attack” the job should be more than doable, and the end result will be well worth the effort.

After the first clean, a periodic “maintenance clean” will keep your conservatory looking brand new all year round.