Plymouth's Exterior Cleaning Specialists
Exterior Cleaning Plymouth
Southside Better Roofs is a Plymouth exterior cleaning company based at the Barbican. We clean roofs, render, conservatories, gutters, fascias and soffits across Plymouth, Sherford, the South Hams and east Cornwall — choosing softwashing or carefully adjusted pressure cleaning to suit each surface. Every job starts with a free, fixed written quote. We don't carry out repairs.
- Method chosen to suit each surface
- Softwashing and controlled pressure washing
- Free fixed written quotes
No pushy sales · Same-day reply · 10-year insurance-backed guarantee
A simple, considered approach.
Our exterior cleaning services
One local team, the whole outside of the house: roofs, render, conservatories, gutters, fascias and soffits. Book one service or combine several in a single visit.
Roof cleaning & moss removal
Moss removal, moss treatment, roof softwashing, pressure cleaning adjusted to the tile, and biocide treatment for algae and lichen.
Free quote →Render cleaning & softwashing
House softwashing and exterior wall cleaning for K Rend, silicone, monocouche, painted and coloured render.
Free quote →Conservatory cleaning
Glass and polycarbonate conservatory roof cleaning, frames and gutters — by hand, low pressure, never standing on the roof.
Free quote →Gutter cleaning
Gutters and downpipes cleared of moss, leaves and silt so water drains away properly.
Free quote →Signs your home's exterior needs cleaning.
If any of these sound familiar, a professional clean will sort it.
Green on render or tiles
Algae, moss and lichen spreading in our damp coastal air.
Staining that gets worse
Green and black growth builds up year on year if left alone.
Gutters overflowing
Leaves, moss and silt block gutters and downpipes in heavy rain.
A tired-looking home
Mossy roofs, streaked fascias and stained render age the whole house.
Plymouth's damp coastal air is ideal for green algae, moss and lichen. Left alone, growth builds up on roofs, render and roofline year after year — and blocked gutters eventually overflow into the house. A professional clean, done with the right method for each surface, resets the lot.
Softwashing or pressure washing?
The right method depends on the surface and its condition. Pressure washing works well on sound, hard-wearing roof tiles when the pressure is set correctly. Softwashing uses low pressure and a cleaning solution that kills algae, lichen, mould and moss at the root — it is the safer choice for render, older or porous tiles, polycarbonate and painted surfaces. We never use high pressure on render.
The right clean for your surface.
Softwash, controlled pressure or hand removal — chosen to suit your home, not the other way round.
Keep your home looking like new
Newer homes in places like Sherford often have through-coloured render that turns green within a few years. Regular softwashing keeps render, fascias, soffits and roofs looking like new — see our Sherford exterior cleaning page.
How we clean — four clear steps.
Assess surface & condition
We look at the surface, its condition and access before recommending anything.
Choose the method
Softwash, controlled pressure or hand removal — picked to suit the surface.
Clean & protect
The clean itself, with a biocide treatment where it helps keep growth away.
Tidy up & photos
Everything left clean and tidy, with before and after photos sent to you.
Why choose Southside Better Roofs for exterior cleaning.
Local Plymouth team
Based at the Barbican, covering Plymouth, Devon and east Cornwall.
Method chosen per surface
We never blast a delicate surface — the approach is matched to your home.
Free fixed written quotes
A fixed price in writing before any work begins — no obligation.
Before & after photos
Photos of the finished work sent to you, so you can see the difference.
Why choose Southside Better Roofs
- Local team — based at 19 Southside Street on the Barbican.
- Method matched to each surface — softwash or adjusted pressure, never one-size-fits-all.
- Free, fixed written quote — agreed before any work begins.
- One visit for the whole house — roof, render, gutters and conservatory together.
Plymouth, Devon & Cornwall.
A locally based crew covering the South West — most projects are within 30 minutes of our Barbican workshop.
Areas we cover
We cover Plymouth and the surrounding area, including Sherford, Plymstock, Plympton, Saltram Meadow, Elburton, Wembury, Yealmpton, Ivybridge, Woolwell, Derriford, Roborough, Yelverton, Tavistock, Kingsbridge and the South Hams, plus Saltash, Torpoint, Callington, Liskeard, Launceston and the rest of east Cornwall.
Roof cleaning & moss removal
Moss holds water against tiles, lifts them in frost and washes into the gutters below. We remove it by hand and brush, then treat the roof so growth doesn't come straight back — with pressure cleaning only where the tiles can take it. Full details on our roof cleaning page.
Render cleaning & softwashing
Green algae and black staining on K Rend, silicone, monocouche and painted render are cleared by softwashing — never high pressure, which can scar the surface. House softwashing and exterior wall cleaning are covered on our render cleaning & softwashing page.
Softwashing explained
Softwashing is low-pressure cleaning with a treatment that kills algae, lichen, mould and moss spores at the root, rather than just blasting the visible growth off. Because the spores are killed, the clean keeps improving over the following weeks and the green takes far longer to return. It's the right choice for render, delicate or older roof tiles, conservatory roofs and painted surfaces.
Conservatory cleaning
Glass and polycarbonate conservatory roofs, frames, gutters and glazing bars are cleaned by hand at low pressure with soft brushes and purified water — never stood on, never pressure-washed. See our conservatory cleaning page.
Gutter cleaning
Gutters and downpipes fill with leaves, moss and silt, and the first sign is usually water pouring over the edge in rain. We clear them out completely and check the flow. Details on our gutter cleaning page.
Fascia & soffit cleaning
White and coloured uPVC fascias and soffits soon pick up green algae and black streaks in our damp coastal air. We clean the roofline at low pressure with a gentle solution, lifting the staining without damaging the boards. It's usually booked alongside gutter cleaning or render softwashing so the whole house exterior is done in one visit.
Pressure washing – where it's suitable
We do use pressure washing — but only where the surface can take it, and with the pressure set to suit it. Sound, hard-wearing roof tiles often clean up well with controlled pressure. High pressure is not suitable for every surface: render, polycarbonate, painted woodwork and older, porous or fragile tiles are always softwashed or cleaned by hand instead. We assess the surface first and tell you honestly which method we recommend — the quote is free and fixed in writing.
Frequently asked questions.
What exterior cleaning do you offer in Plymouth?+
Roof cleaning and moss removal, render cleaning and softwashing, conservatory cleaning, gutter cleaning, and fascia and soffit cleaning — across Plymouth, Sherford, the South Hams and east Cornwall. Every job gets a free, fixed written quote.
What is softwashing?+
Softwashing is low-pressure cleaning with a solution that kills algae, lichen, mould and moss spores, then rinses them away gently. It is our main method for render, delicate roof tiles and conservatories.
Pressure washing vs softwashing?+
Pressure washing lifts moss and dirt from sound, hard-wearing surfaces when the pressure is set to suit them. Softwashing uses low pressure and a treatment that kills the growth at the root, so it's gentler and the results last longer. We choose the method per surface — never high pressure on render or polycarbonate.
Do you clean fascias and soffits?+
Yes. Fascias and soffits are cleaned with low pressure and a gentle solution to remove green algae and black staining, usually alongside gutter or render cleaning in the same visit.
Can I book several services in one visit?+
Yes. Many customers book roof, render, gutters and conservatory together so the whole outside of the house is done at once. We price it all in one free quote.
Do you carry out repairs?+
No. We clean — we don't carry out roof, gutter or render repairs. If we notice a problem while cleaning, we'll tell you honestly.
How much does exterior cleaning cost?+
We don't list set prices because every home is different. Send us photos or book a free assessment and we'll come back with a free fixed written quote — agreed in writing before any work starts.
Got questions?
Straight answers to the things people ask us most.
Get your free quote
Tell us a little about your conservatory and we'll come back to you within 48 hours. No pushy sales, no obligation.
Send us photos for a free exterior cleaning quote
Snap a few photos of your roof, render, conservatory or gutters and send them on WhatsApp. We'll look at the surface and reply with the right cleaning method and a free, fixed written quote — or arrange an assessment if we need to see it in person.