September 20, 2026
A pitched roof changes a solar cleaning job more than the panels do. The pitch decides how the crew gets up, how they move, and what can go wrong underfoot.
Here is how it is done properly, and what to watch for on your own roof.
Should you clean them yourself?
On a pitched roof, no. A fall is the obvious risk, and it is the one most people underestimate until they are on the ladder.
The less obvious risk is the roof. Walking tile without knowing how is the fastest way to crack it, and a garden hose leaves mineral staining on the glass that builds with every rinse. We cover that in what to use to clean solar panels.
We clean from the rooftop, not the ground
Almost every job we do is cleaned from the roof. We find it safer and quicker for our team than working from ground level.
Ground level cleaning with long poles typically takes longer and is not executed as well. You are scrubbing a surface you cannot see properly from 20 feet away.
You usually see ground level cleaning from companies whose background is office windows. They are not trained or equipped for rooftop work, and they often do not carry insurance that covers rooftop conditions. That last point is worth asking any company about before they start.
Geared for the steepest roofs
Golden Rays cleans even the steepest roofs. We require every technician to carry the gear for the harshest job, not the average one.
- Company boots chosen for grip on tile and composition
- Company apparel suited to rooftop work and Valley heat
- Safety harnesses for steep pitch and two story homes
That preparation is why we take on jobs other companies turn down, and why we can usually complete them for less. Real rooftop experience and the right equipment make a hard roof routine.
You can see it for yourself. We post live jobsites, including steep rooftops, on Instagram at @goldenrayssolar.
Will walking on my tile roof crack it?
It is very rare for us to crack a tile. Three things keep it that way:
- Knowing how to walk a roof. Where you place your weight on a tile matters more than how much you weigh.
- Athletic technicians. Balance and footwork are part of the job.
- Nothing heavy to carry. Our equipment is light, so our crew can watch every step.
Cracked tiles are more common than you think
More often than breaking a tile, we are the ones who find tiles that were already broken.
On newly built homes
When we work in newly built communities, we find cracked tiles 30 to 50 percent of the time. They were there before we arrived and were missed at inspection.
The reason is simple. Most inspections do not involve anyone walking the roof. They are commonly done by drone, and a cracked tile is easy to miss from the air.
After a solar installation
We also regularly see cracked tiles on roofs with a newly installed system. It is an understandable part of the work. Installers carry heavy panels across the roof and cannot always watch their footing while they do it.
Good installation companies plan for it. They budget for a few cracked tiles, bring spares, and replace them on the spot. Not every contractor does, and a homeowner rarely finds out until a leak shows up.
Photos and a rooftop guarantee
For the homeowner’s sake, we document every job. You get before and after photos of the rooftop and the surrounding area we worked on.
We also back our work with a rooftop guarantee. If we happen to break a tile, we repair or replace it free of charge.
If we find tiles that were cracked before we got there, you will see them in the before photos, and we will let you know.
Get photos every time someone is on your roof
This is the one piece of advice that applies no matter who you hire. Whenever anyone works on your roof, ask for photos before and after. It is the only way to know they left it how they found it.
Book a steep roof cleaning
Roof height and pitch are part of how a cleaning is priced, and our guide to solar panel cleaning costs explains how. For a number right now, use the cost calculator, or see our residential solar panel cleaning service.