Lichen is the most damaging growth found on QLD roofs. Unlike algae, it physically bonds to your tile surface and penetrates it — causing structural damage that gets worse the longer it's left. Early treatment is essential.
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Lichen is not just another type of roof staining — it's the most damaging biological growth that affects roof tiles across Queensland, and it requires specific treatment to remove safely. Unlike algae which sits on the surface, lichen is a symbiotic relationship between algae and fungus that physically attaches to your tile and penetrates the surface with root-like structures called rhizines. These structures bond to the calcium carbonate in concrete tiles and the glaze on terracotta, creating micro-fractures in the tile surface that allow water ingress and accelerate structural deterioration. Lichen left untreated for years can cause tiles to crack, lift and leak — what started as a cleaning job becomes a roofing repair. Burnett 2 Bay removes lichen from roof tiles across Redlands, South Burnett, the Gold Coast and all of South East Queensland.
Algae and moss sit on the surface and can be removed without structural damage if treated correctly. Lichen is different — it physically etches into tile surfaces, creating strong adhesion that makes removal genuinely difficult. Attempting to scrape or pressure blast lichen off tiles without the correct chemical pre-treatment can cause more tile damage than the lichen itself. The correct approach is a chemical soft wash solution that kills the lichen and breaks down the adhesion, followed by a low-pressure rinse.
We apply a professional grade biocidal solution that penetrates and kills the lichen at root level, breaking down the adhesion between the lichen and the tile surface. The solution is left to dwell for the appropriate time — longer for established lichen colonies — then rinsed at low pressure. In heavily infested cases, some residual staining may remain after the first clean as the dead lichen slowly weathers away over the following weeks.
Concrete tiles, terracotta tiles, slate and older cement tiles all respond well to soft wash lichen treatment. Terracotta in particular requires extra care — the glaze can be damaged by high pressure, so soft washing is the only appropriate method. Colorbond and metal roofs are less susceptible to lichen but can develop surface staining that responds well to soft washing.
Once lichen has established on a roof, it will return without a regular maintenance program. Properties in shaded, humid or tree-lined positions typically benefit from cleaning every 12 months. Open, sun-exposed roofs may go 18 to 24 months. The key is treating it before it re-establishes strong adhesion — early treatment is significantly easier and cheaper than dealing with heavily entrenched colonies.
Yes. Lichen that is left untreated for years can cause significant damage to tile surfaces — particularly concrete tiles where the rhizines penetrate the porous surface and create micro-fractures. This can accelerate water ingress and tile failure. Early treatment prevents this damage.
Yes — soft washing is specifically the correct method for terracotta. High-pressure washing can damage the glaze on terracotta tiles. Our low-pressure chemical treatment kills the lichen and allows it to be rinsed away without any glaze damage.
With professional soft wash treatment, lichen typically takes 12 to 24 months to re-establish significantly. With pressure washing alone it returns much faster because the spores and root fragments aren't killed, just displaced.
In most cases yes. In heavily entrenched cases where lichen has been established for many years, some residual staining may remain after the initial clean as the dead matter slowly weathers away. A follow-up treatment may be recommended.
Serving Redlands and all of South East Queensland. We reply within 2 hours, Mon–Sat.
0412 291 614