Lichen & Moss Removal Melbourne
Lichen and moss don't wash off — they hold on. We kill the growth at the root and remove it without damaging the surface underneath, from roofs to render to paths.
Lichen is the crusty grey-green growth that laughs at your pressure washer. It bonds into the surface it grows on — roof tiles, render, concrete, natural stone — and blasting it off hard enough to win takes the surface with it. Moss is softer but wetter: it holds moisture against the surface year-round, degrades coatings, and turns shaded paths into skating rinks every Melbourne winter.
Proper removal is chemistry first: a treatment that kills the organism at the root, dwell time to let it work, then gentle removal — soft washing on delicate surfaces, controlled pressure only where the substrate can take it. Dead growth on treated surfaces also weathers away progressively after the visit, which is why treated roofs keep improving for months.
Because killed lichen doesn't regrow from live spores left in the surface, treatment lasts seasons rather than weeks — the difference between our method and the annual scrape-back most DIYers are stuck in.
What's Included
- Roof lichen treatment and removal — tile and metal, no destructive blasting
- Render and painted walls — soft wash treatment, growth killed at the root
- Concrete paths, driveways and pavers — moss removed, slip hazard eliminated
- Natural stone and heritage surfaces — treatment-led, surface-safe
- Shaded and south-facing problem areas treated to slow regrowth
- Gutters cleared of the moss and debris the removal dislodges
How It Works
Identify surface & growth
Lichen on terracotta needs a different approach to moss on concrete — surface and growth type set the treatment mix and the fixed quote.
Treat & dwell
Biocide treatment goes on and gets time to kill the growth at the root — the step DIY blasting skips, and the reason DIY results don't last.
Remove & rinse
Dead growth is removed at a pressure the surface can handle; stubborn roof lichen keeps weathering off over the following months as the treatment completes the job.
What Drives the Price
Lichen and moss work is priced on area affected, surface type (roof work involves height and care; concrete is straightforward), and how established the growth is — decade-old roof lichen is a different job to first-winter moss on a path. Treating early costs a fraction of restoration.
Photos of the growth to 0414 078 847 get a fixed quote — and an honest opinion on whether your surface needs full removal or just treatment.
Common Questions
How do you remove lichen without damaging roof tiles?
Treatment first: a biocide kills the lichen at the root, then dead growth is removed gently or left to weather off over following months. Blasting live lichen off tiles takes the tile surface with it — which is why we don't.
What kills moss and lichen permanently?
A proper biocide treatment kills the organism including the parts bonded into the surface. Nothing is literally permanent on Melbourne's weather side, but treated surfaces stay clear for seasons — versus weeks for scrape-and-blast approaches.
Why is my shaded path so slippery in winter?
Moss and algae hold a film of water on the surface — on shaded concrete that's a genuine slip hazard, and for rentals and body corporates a liability issue. Treatment plus cleaning removes the hazard and slows the regrowth.
Will lichen damage my roof if I leave it?
Over time, yes — it holds moisture against the surface, degrades coatings, and on older tiles accelerates wear. It also shows in valuations and building inspections. Treatment is cheap insurance by comparison.
Is the treatment safe for gardens and pets?
We manage application and rinsing to protect gardens — pre-wetting and rinse-down are standard — and advise on any re-entry time for pets. It's part of every job, not an extra.
Related Services
We service the whole metro area — see our Melbourne service locations, including the western suburbs, north-west, northern suburbs, inner Melbourne and Melton & Sunbury.
Growth that grips needs more than a blaster.
Free, no-obligation quotes — over the phone or from photos in minutes. Fully insured, 5.0★ from 126+ Google reviews.