Walls, render & house washing
Algae & Lichen Removal Falkirk
Algae and lichen are two of the most common problems we deal with across Falkirk and Denny, and while they often get lumped together as "that green stuff on the wall," they're genuinely different organisms that respond differently to treatment. Steam King removes algae and lichen from render, brick, stone, and roofing across the area, using an approach suited to whichever one you're actually dealing with.
- 15+ Years of Experience
- Fully Insured
- Transparent Pricing
- Same-Day Service
Two different organisms
Algae vs Lichen:What's the Difference?
Green algae is the most common growth you'll see on damp, shaded surfaces, walls, paths, patios, roofs, and it spreads relatively quickly once conditions favour it. It tends to appear as a fairly uniform green film or staining across the affected area.
Lichen looks different and behaves differently. It typically appears as light grey, white, or orange-tinted patches, often slightly raised or textured compared to the flat staining of algae, and it grows much more slowly. Because of that slow growth, lichen is often a sign a surface has gone a long time without proper cleaning or maintenance, and it can be more stubborn to remove than algae alone, sometimes needing repeat treatment to fully clear.
Where it takes hold
Where We FindAlgae and Lichen
Render and rendered walls
, particularly shaded, north-facing elevations, where green algae staining is one of the most common complaints we deal with. Covered in more depth on our render cleaning page.
Brick and stone
, especially older, more porous masonry where both algae and lichen can establish more readily than on smoother modern materials. More on this is on our brick and stone cleaning page.
Roof tiles
, where moss tends to get the most attention but algae and lichen are just as common, particularly on shaded roof slopes. Full detail on roof treatment is on our roof cleaning page.
Driveways, patios, and paths
, where algae in particular thrives in shaded, damp conditions and can make surfaces genuinely slippery if left untreated.
The stubborn kind
Black Spotand Other Staining
Beyond general green algae, some surfaces develop darker black spot staining, a more concentrated, stubborn form of growth that can be more resistant to a standard clean. We treat this with the same soft wash principles, but often with additional dwell time for the cleaning solution to properly break down the more established growth before rinsing.
The method
Our Treatment Process
- We assess the surface, material, and which type of growth we're actually dealing with, since algae and lichen sometimes need slightly different treatment approaches or dwell times to properly clear.
- We apply an eco-friendly cleaning solution suited to the surface, giving lichen in particular longer to work given how much more established it typically is compared to algae. Pressure is kept low throughout, since both algae and lichen removal are generally soft wash jobs rather than high-pressure ones, particularly on delicate surfaces like render or older stone.
Preventing Regrowth
Algae and lichen will generally return over time in the same conditions that caused them originally, damp, shade, limited airflow, since cleaning removes the existing growth rather than permanently changing the environment that caused it. For roofs specifically, biocide treatment can meaningfully slow down regrowth, covered on our roof moss and biocide treatment page. For walls and hard surfaces, regular cleaning every couple of years tends to be the most practical way of keeping on top of it.
Is It Just Cosmetic?
Mostly, yes, algae and lichen are primarily an appearance issue rather than a structural threat in most cases. The exception is on paths, patios, and steps, where algae in particular creates a genuine slip hazard, and on porous, older masonry, where prolonged moisture-holding growth isn't doing already-vulnerable material any long-term favours. Either way, most people get in touch because it simply doesn't look good rather than out of structural concern, and that's a perfectly reasonable reason on its own.
Pricing
Pricing depends on the size of the affected area, the surface material, and how established the growth is. A small patch of algae on a path is a different job to lichen covering a significant section of an older stone wall. We'll give you a proper quote once we've seen the job or had a description and photos.
What it costs
Free, fixed quote
before we start
- No call-out fee
- No obligation to book
- Fully insured
Render to old sandstone
Why ChooseSteam King
We've been treating algae and lichen across Falkirk and Denny for over 15 years, on everything from modern render to old sandstone. We're fully insured, we use eco-friendly products wherever possible, and we know that lichen and algae, despite often looking similar from a distance, don't always respond to exactly the same treatment.
Coverage
Areas We Cover
We remove algae and lichen across Falkirk, Denny, Larbert, Stenhousemuir, Grangemouth, Bonnybridge, Camelon, Polmont, Bo'ness, Cumbernauld, and the surrounding 10-mile radius.
Generally yes, lichen is more established and slower growing, and can sometimes need a repeat treatment to fully clear compared to algae.
In damp, shaded conditions, some regrowth over time is likely without further treatment, which is why periodic cleaning every couple of years tends to be the most practical approach.
It can make surfaces genuinely slippery, particularly in wet weather, so treating it is worthwhile for safety as well as appearance.
Yes, we assess the whole affected area and treat accordingly, even where both types of growth are present together.
It can contribute to gradual surface wear on porous materials over a long period, though in most cases the main concern is appearance rather than structural damage.
While we're there
Getting more than one thing done in the same visit usually works out cheaper. Just mention it when you call.
Get a Free Quote
If algae or lichen has taken hold on your walls, roof, or hard surfaces, get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote. Call 07393 523260 or send us a WhatsApp message with a photo, and we'll let you know what it'll take to clear it.