A building should not only be functional. It should be aesthetically pleasing as well. This is why you need façade cleaning services. The appearance of your building can have a significant effect on the success of your business.
A neat façade makes a building look more hospitable to prospective clients. It also increases its real estate value. On the other hand, a poorly maintained façade can annoy the occupants, and leave a negative impact on rental returns and building values.
Take note that building facades are sensitive to elements such as dirt. If these facades are not properly maintained, they can have erosion, damp spots, moss, salt deposits, frost damage, and pollution from exhaust fumes, and acid rain, among others.
Nitrogen oxides, sulfur, and other pollutants contribute to the deterioration of a façade. Moisture also causes the masonry to decay. The decaying process accelerates when the moisture combines with atmospheric gases or salts from polluted rainwater.
When the façade is cleaned, the pores of the building open up and allow moisture to naturally transpire. Remember to get rid of moisture before you use waterproofing coating. Otherwise, the moisture will be trapped inside the walls.
Ideally, you should hire a professional cleaning company that has been in business for years. These people know what is best for your building. They also know how to deal with the challenges that come with the job since they have been doing it for a long time.
Different Types of Façade
Different types of building come with different challenges in terms of façade maintenance. For instance, a concrete facade typically gets exposed to moisture, causing it to be damaged and have poor quality masonry. This problem can be solved by coating, hydrophobing, or painting it.
Glass facades are prone to scratches, which are often caused by grime etching into the glass. They may also be stained by water leaching mineral deposits that form mist lines or shadows. Thus, it is important to remove dirt regularly to prevent this problem from occurring.
Stone claddings are expensive but durable. They are resistant to moisture, insects, extreme temperatures, and fire. They are also very easy to maintain. Nonetheless, you should still ensure that your stone façade remains in top shape by having it cleaned regularly.
Metal facades are not prone to water damage since they neither rot nor mold. However, they are prone to rust and discoloration, especially if they are not properly sealed and finished.
Wood facades also need regular maintenance, particularly because they tend to be attacked by termites. You need to have them treated with chemicals annually to keep them in good condition.
Common Building Façade Cleaning Services Methods
Professional cleaners use the following methods to clean and maintain building facades:
Water Soaking
Dirt is loosened and washed away with a steady stream of water. Then, it is scrubbed with a brush or rinsed with 400 psi water. This method is often used for lime stone glaze bricks.
Pressure Washing
Dirt is washed away with pressurized water one inch at a time. This method is ideal for masonry, as well as stone and concrete facades. It effectively removes organic and atmospheric staining.
Chemical Cleaning
Stains are dissolved using chemical products, such as acidic cleaners, organic solvents, alkaline cleaners, and non-sudsing detergents. Once the stains are dissolved, they are rinsed away.
Abrasive Cleaning
The outer areas of substrates that are stained are completely removed. This method is ideal for masonry as well as concrete and stone facades.
Professional cleaners typically use nylon ropes as well as ascending and descending systems to clean building facades. Special products are also used to clean organic coated and anodic oxidised surfaces.
The duration of the cleaning cycle depends on several factors, such as the type of the façade and height of the building. The building owner or the client may also request a specific number of cleaning cycles per year.
The size of a building is measured in “drops” for cleaning. This pertains to the vertical section of the façade that runs from the roof down to the lowest part of the building wherein the basket may descend.
For example, Manhattan skyscrapers take a very long time to clean. One drop can last for up to four hours. So, the façade of the Hearst Tower may take an entire month to be cleaned. The Time Warner Center, on the other hand, may take up to four months.
To ensure that your building is in good hands, take time to evaluate the companies that offer building façade cleaning services. Do your research and check out their professional history and background. Keep in mind that the success of your business can depend on how clean and well-maintained the façade of your building is.