What a Mackay roof collects
Salt along the coast
Mackay's Northern Beaches, from Bucasia and Shoal Point to Blacks Beach and Eimeo, sit right on the coast, and the beaches nearest the city run from Illawong to Harbour Beach. Salt left on steel in places the rain can't reach does the damage, which is why BlueScope wants sheltered areas hosed more often near the sea.
Mould after the wet
The wet season runs from December to March, with high humidity and intense rain. Afternoon humidity at Mackay Aero peaks at 72% in February, against 60% in October. By the end of summer, shaded roofs and the south side of the house are often streaked with growth.
Leaves and debris near the bush
The 2018 Central Queensland bushfires burnt about 110,000 hectares of Eungella National Park and hit Finch Hatton, while people at Sarina Beach and Campwin Beach were evacuated. If you live near bushland, the NSW Rural Fire Service's advice is to clear leaves off roofs, valleys and gutters before fire season.
Dry winters for the job
Wikipedia describes Mackay's winters as very mild and dry. That's the window to clean, let a roof dry properly and, if you're painting, get coatings on before the next wet.
Cleaning methods that don't do damage
On tiles, Monier strongly advises against pressure washers because they can crack or damage tiles. On Colorbond, BlueScope's prep is a household detergent wash with a mop or soft nylon broom, then a fresh-water rinse. Abrasive or solvent cleaners like kerosene or thinners shouldn't go anywhere near prepainted steel.
Many older Mackay homes have galvanised iron or zincalume roofs rather than Colorbond. Gentle methods suit those too, and a cleaner who finds rust or loose fixings should tell you before they carry on. Our guide to moss and lichen removal explains treatments.
What you can do, and what to hand over
You can
- Hose the undersides of eaves and gutters from the ground, especially near the beach
- Trim branches that hang over the roof from the ground
- Keep downpipe grates and ground drains clear
- Check from the ground for streaks of growth or rust after the wet
Leave to a roofer
- Anything that means getting on the roof, wet or dry
- Soft-washing tiles or metal and applying treatments
- Clearing valleys and box gutters
- Anything on a roof that might be asbestos cement
Asbestos is a hard stop
Council's heritage guide notes some older Mackay houses were partly clad in asbestos cement. In Queensland, water-blasting an asbestos cement roof is illegal and can bring a fine of up to $10,000 plus clean-up costs. If the roof or walls might be fibro, have it tested before anyone cleans.
Before a cleaner starts on your Mackay roof
- Which cleaning method suits my roof, and how much pressure will it use?
- Is anything you use harmful to tank water, pets or the garden?
- Have you checked whether my roof contains asbestos?
- Will you report any rust, loose fixings or broken tiles with photos?
- Are you insured for work at height?
Where we'd start
We'd book a gentle clean in the dry, after the wet season's growth has had its run, and use it as an inspection. Near the beach, we'd add a habit of hosing sheltered steel from the ground every few months. And if you're near bushland, clear the roof and gutters before the hot months.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.
Tell us your suburb and roof type. We'll pass your job to one local roofer who cleans roofs in Mackay, where we have one. See our national roof cleaning page and the Mackay hub.