Cladding Cleaning
Cladding Cleaning: A Comprehensive Guide
Types of Cladding
Plastic Coated Steel Cladding
Plastic coated steel cladding is the most common type of cladding seen in commercial buildings throughout the United Kingdom. It comes in a variety of colours, it is durable, minimal maintenance and has a modern appearance.
Weatherboard or Cedar Wood
Weatherboard or Cedar Wood is commonly used for homes and apartment blocks. This type of cladding gives a traditional and natural look to the property. However, it requires regular maintenance to keep it in good condition.
Powder Coated Metal
Powder coated cladding is found in a variety of colours. Careful planning to avoid UV damage occurring should be considered at the beginning of its life. Once UV damage has occurred the powder coated surface colour will look dull and washed out. At this stage restoration rather than cleaning is required.
Other Materials
Other types of materials used for cladding buildings include aluminium, zinc, copper, and additional varieties of wood like cedar. Each material has its own advantages and cleaning requirements.
Why Cladding Cleaning is Important
Cladding cleaning ensures a longer lifespan for the cladding. It keeps the building looking pristine. It prevents the build-up of mould and grime which will damage the surface. Visitors and employees will find the building more appealing when the cladding is clean.
Easily start the process of getting your quote by filling in the form below:
Methods of Cladding Cleaning
Pressure Washing
When anyone thinks about exterior cladding cleaning the pressure washer always comes to mind first. Although pressure washing can clean many types of cladding it is not always the best choice. Pressure washing can use cold or hot water. The water flow used is important, it could be from fifteen litres per minute to thirty litres per minute, which is a lot of water used during the day.
- Pressure washing cladding gives you a low cost quick clean.
- Pressure Washing uses a LOT of water.
- Pressure Washing does not kill the root of the organic matter therefore it will re-grow quicker and thicker than before.
Soft Washing
Soft washing is the alternative to pressure washing it uses one third the amount of water. It uses safe bio-degradable chemicals to treat the organic matter and leaves surfaces sanitised clean. Re – growth is therefore eliminated although in time NEW GROWTH will occur.
- Soft Washing lasts 2-3 times longer when compared to pressure washing.
- Soft Washing uses quiet battery powered low pressure pumps.
- Soft Washing allows the use of additives to leave the building shiny.
Manual Cleaning/Restoring
When damaged by the suns UV rays, cladding cleaning will still leave the building looking dull and washed out. Therefore, a manual restoration clean is required. Using specialist restoration creams and coatings to bring back the original colour.
- Restoration type cleaning is labour intensive and expensive.
- Not many cleaning companies have the relevant experience to restore natural colours.
- Prevention of UV damage is certainly cheaper than the cure.
Choosing the Right Cleaning Method
When selecting a cladding cleaning contractor, you should consider what cleaning methods they intend to use. Do they have several types of cleaning equipment to remove safely the contaminants affecting your building.
- Plastic Coated Steel: Soft Washing or Pressure Washing for organic matter and grime.
- Weatherboard and Cedar Wood: Soft Washing or manual cleaning to prevent damage.
- Aluminium, Zinc, Copper: Manual restoration style cleaning after gentle soft washing to remove organic matter contamination.
Why Nautilus Exterior Cleaning?
Darran Smith the co-founder has over forty years’ experience in cladding cleaning to residential and commercial buildings throughout the United Kingdom. He runs support groups for other exterior cleaning companies and teaches them how to prevent damage whilst cleaning cladding.
How do I arrange for Nautilus Exterior Cleaning to clean my cladding?
- Contact us by phone or via email with your full address and any images if possible. Ask any questions you may have.
- Arrange a convenient time to meet us at your property and receive a fully written quotation.
- Accept the quote and pay a 30% deposit to “book in” your render cleaning service on a mutually convenient date.
- The render cleaning team will arrive at about 8 am and begin the soft washing process to sanitise and remove all organic matter.
