How to Safely Clean House & Building Exteriors Using Softwashing
Gleam Team Cleaning Services – 07581 681994
We have a great deal of experience in cleaning house and building exteriors and all types of surface including:
- UPVC & wooden cladding
- stone
- stucco
- K Rend, Weber Rend & monocouche render cleaning
- brick walls
- painted surfaces
We understand the importance of cleaning buildings safely and achieving fantastic results without damaging the relevant masonry type. There are also legal considerations that cleaning contractors need to know and take into account. Although in practice most have no knowledge of this.
Code of Practice For Cleaning and Surface Repairs of Buildings came into effect in the UK in 2000 and all contractors should have at least a working knowledge of its provisions.
Why soft wash building exteriors?
Pressure washing services are perfect for many purposes such as block paving and driveway cleaning, but we realise that high pressure water is not always the answer.
We started introducing low pressure softwashing more than 5 years ago and were one of the first soft washing companies in Kent. We were looking for an alternative to blasting any and all surfaces with a pressure washer. Not only because of the obvious risks of, for example, removing mortar from brick walls or damaging soft render, but for structural reasons too.
Water saturation should always be avoided as excess water can penetrate masonry and become trapped within it. During winter it goes through a freeze/thaw process which can lead to internal cracks.
Water soluble salts are also harmful to buildings and can migrate to the surface causing efflorescence.
For these reasons external surfaces should be cleaned using the minimum amount of water possible and pressure washing uses more water and penetrates more deeply than softwashing.
Soft washing is a better alternative using much less water and allowing specialist cleaning chemicals to dissolve dirt, algae and other staining before being rinsed away with clean water.
Gleam Team softwashing, brick cleaning services and building and house external cleaning are available throughout Kent, London, Surrey and the south east.