How to Clean Facade: Cleaning from a Professional

Green algae frequently occur on thermal insulation composite systems on house facades. In addition, the growth of these organisms is favored by some components in car exhaust gases such as CO2 and nitrogen oxides. Dirt also accumulates over time on plastered facades or wooden facades. A professional facade cleaning removes deposits and can seal surfaces so that, in the best case, your facade is protected from renewed dirt and corrosion damage for years to come. Sometimes window cleaning is included in the cost.

Facade cleaning: Like paint care for your car

Just like your motor vehicle, the maintenance of a property is important to maintain or even increase its value. A polish and subsequent sealing makes the paint of your car shine in new splendor. What reconditioning is to your motor vehicle, facade cleaning is to your property. It removes road dust and debris from the exterior of your building and signals at first glance that it is a well-maintained property. While completely preventing algae growth and environmental deposits is not possible in the long run, it can be kept to a minimum with a facade cleaning. Sealing the facade helps with this. It makes it difficult for green algae to form and multiply again in the first place.

Do-it-yourself or hire a craftsman’s company?

In principle, it is possible to clean a house facade yourself using commercially available preparations. However, depending on the height of the property, the procedure can be difficult if neither a lifting platform nor a ladder is available. The nature of the facade also plays a role. Open-pored surfaces such as sandstone should rather be cleaned by a professional. Due to the surface texture of the natural stone, it is rather difficult to remove the impurities with commercially available agents.

If you still want to tackle the cleaning yourself, you should consider a few things. First of all, it is advisable to determine the type of contamination. Do you want to remove green algae, environmental deposits or graffiti? The choice of cleaning agent depends on this. Before you start, you should put on appropriate protective clothing. This includes appropriate work clothes, protective gloves and, if necessary, safety glasses to protect your eyes from injury. Pure water may be sufficient for removing algae. Add vinegar essence or soda to enhance the cleaning effect. Then use a sponge to wash the surface, cleaning it piece by piece from the dirt.

Professional facade cleaning from a specialist company

In contrast to the high cost of repainting the facade, professional cleaning by a trained painter or plasterer is usually much cheaper. In order for you to get an idea of the effectiveness, some craft companies offer a trial cleaning. In this case, a small piece of the house wall or facade is subjected to a cleaning procedure. Within a short time you will see the result. In this way, the test cleaning gives you an impression of how the work would affect the entire building.

Usually, the painter or plasterer uses a hot water high-pressure cleaner and a special, environmentally friendly cleaning agent. The professional regulates the pressure of the high-pressure cleaner so that effective cleaning is possible without damaging the surface of the facade. In addition, he is familiar with the legal regulations for a special cleaning of this kind and pays particular attention to the disposal of the resulting dirty water. For this reason alone, it is advisable to have the work carried out by a specialist company.

The procedure of the professional company in the cleaning of the building

The first step of a facade cleaning is the protection of windows, doors and all other elements that should not come into contact with the cleaning agent. For this purpose, the professional company tapes or wraps these elements and possibly existing balconies, terraces and plants with a protective film. Then the facade is sprayed with cleaner that kills the algae. Depending on the height of the facade, a spray lance may be sufficient to reach higher areas without problems. Since biocides are used to kill the organisms, it is necessary to collect the run-off liquids. For this purpose, the craftsman installs a drainage system that collects any dirty water that accumulates.

Either the wastewater is discharged into the sewerage system or disposed of in compliance with legal requirements. The next step is thorough cleaning of the facade with a high-pressure cleaner and pure water. This is often followed by sealing. It protects the facade from renewed infestation and curbs algae growth. The result is a clean facade, which is often very different from its condition before maintenance.

Regular facade maintenance is part of the upkeep of a property and can make the need for costly repainting a distant prospect. Find a plasterer or painter on local.ch as a specialist for building cleaning, window cleaning and facade maintenance!

Who cleans facade surfaces and house walls?

Painters and plasterers perform special cleaning of this type. The knowledge is acquired by the craftsmen in their training and in special training courses. Many specialized companies have years of experience. They know how to treat the different facade surfaces to avoid damage. If cracks are present or particles flake off as a result of the work, the painter or plasterer can repair damaged areas directly.

Why should you hire a professional for facade cleaning?

Stubborn dirt and algae can often only be removed with great difficulty using pure water. Biocides and other cleaning additives, on the other hand, are effective, but under current law they are generally not allowed to enter the environment. To prevent this from happening, the painter installs a drainage system. It catches dirty water and the cleaning agent it contains. The specialist company then disposes of the dirty water in accordance with the law.

How long does the facade maintenance take?

Depending on the size and dirtiness of the surface to be cleaned, the work can take a few hours or several days. Even if drying afterwards takes more time, a single house wall is often cleaned within one working day. If scaffolding is used, it still has to be erected and dismantled. It is cheaper to use lifting platforms or a spray lance.

What preparatory measures are required?

Windows and window frames should be masked with foil to prevent damage or soiling by splashing water. If there is a garden pond, you should also cover it for safety reasons, as well as electrical outlets or lighting elements. If a specialist company carries out the work, it normally ensures that glass panes and window or door frames are protected with film or other suitable materials.

Is scaffolding required for cleaning in the higher areas?

That depends on the height at which the cleaning is to take place. Sometimes ladders or lifting platforms are sufficient. Spray lances may be used if work is to be done up to a height of about ten meters. Scaffolding may be required for multi-story buildings. Erection usually takes place a few days before the cleaning, and dismantling shortly after the cleaning is completed.