A glass roof stays impressive for years with about twenty minutes of attention every quarter. Skip it and the first thing you lose is the light.
Why glass stains here specifically
Our humidity and rainfall make algae growth quick, especially on the shaded edges where water sits longest. It starts as a green tint along the frame line and spreads inward. Left alone for a year it etches into the surface and no longer washes off.
The quarterly routine
- Rinse the glass with a hose from the high side down.
- Wipe with a soft microfibre and mild detergent — never a scouring pad.
- Clear leaves and grit out of the drainage channel.
- Check the sealant line along the wall for gaps.
That is the whole job. The drainage channel is the part most people forget, and it is the one that causes leaks.
Blocked drainage is what causes leaks
When the channel clogs, water backs up above the flashing line and finds its way under. Owners then assume the roof was installed badly, when a handful of leaves is the actual cause.
Nine out of ten leak callouts on glass roofing we attend are blocked channels, not failed seals. Five minutes with a gloved hand before the monsoon prevents almost all of them.
What to leave to us
Resealing, anything that needs you on a ladder above head height, and any crack in the glass however small. Laminated glass holds together when it cracks, which is exactly why it should be replaced rather than lived with.
