Glass or polycarbonate roof
Conservatory roofs are usually glass or multiwall polycarbonate. Glass tends to collect a film of dirt and algae along the glazing bars and at the lower edge where water runs off. Polycarbonate has an extra problem: its hollow flutes can let in moisture and grow algae inside the sheet, where no amount of surface cleaning will reach.
Knowing which roof you have sets expectations. Glass usually cleans back to clear. Polycarbonate can look much better on the outside while still showing lines of staining within the flutes if the end seals have failed.
Why you should never stand on the roof
Conservatory roof panels and glazing bars are built to carry weather, not people. Kneeling or standing on them risks cracking panels, bending bars and breaking seals, and a fall through a roof is a serious injury. The roof is cleaned from outside the structure using extended reach equipment, working the surface with soft brushes and a gentle rinse, so nothing presses on the panels.
Frames, sills and seals
White uPVC frames pick up a grey film and black mould in the corners and around the rubber seals. These are cleaned by hand with soft brushes and suitable products, because abrasive pads scratch the surface and leave it duller and quicker to soil. Sills and the dwarf wall below are washed at the same time, and the glass is finished so it dries clear.
The conservatory gutter is the hidden problem
The small gutter along the edge of a conservatory roof blocks easily. It sits low, catches leaves from the main house and garden, and is often shallow. When it fills, water spills over the front and runs down the frames, which is why so many conservatories have streaks and green lines below the gutter. Clearing and flushing it is part of a proper conservatory clean, and it often links to the main gutters above, which can be cleared in the same visit.
What a thorough conservatory clean covers
When you ask for a quote, check that the scope includes each of these.
- Roof panels cleaned from outside the structure, with no weight on the roof
- Glazing bars, ridge and roof trims
- Conservatory gutter cleared and outlets flushed
- uPVC frames, sills and seals cleaned by hand
- Glass finished to dry clear
- Paving below rinsed of any run off
Our conservatory results
OOR External has before and after photos of a real conservatory clean on the site, so you can see the change for yourself. Conservatories are often combined with gutter, fascia and soffit cleaning because the same equipment reaches both. We are based in Dover and cover Kent, and every job starts with a free written quote.