• Cladding Cleaning

Has your cladding lost its sparkly, pristine finish? Is your building exterior starting to look pretty grimy and dirty? Not the most appealing look. Or the best first impression for visitors!

If you’re reading this, you’re more than likely considering cladding cleaning. And we’re not going to try and deter you. Here are just a few reasons why we think you should have your cladding cleaned regularly.

Cladding Cleaning Reason 1: Dirty Cladding Looks Bad

Cladding has many benefits, including increased insulation and weather protection, but it can also really improve a building’s appearance. 

There is a wide range of materials that can be used for cladding, including wood, fibre cement, stone, brick, metal and glass. What you choose depends on your preference and what kind of impression you want to make on visitors. However, as with all materials that are open to the elements and taking the brunt of the UK wind and rain, any cladding is prone to a build-up of dirt and grime. Cladding maintenance is therefore vital to keep it looking great.

If you have customers visiting your business site regularly and they see a dirty, unkempt shell of a building, they’re more than likely going to make a judgement about your business based on what they see. It’s just instinct. So if you want to make a good first impression, it’s important to keep your business premises looking clean and tidy. Cladding cleaning can help with the exterior. The interior is up to you – unless you need help with painting and decorating, in which case, we know just the people (hint – it’s us!).

The look of your business exterior can also affect the way your staff feel when they arrive at work each day. If they arrive and are faced with a building that looks drab and untidy, they are less likely to feel upbeat and positive about the work day ahead. A bright, shiny place of work can do wonders for boosting staff morale.

Reason 2: Dirty Cladding Gets Dirtier

Not only does your dirty cladding look bad and off-putting to customers and any other potential visitors, but you will also find that it rapidly gets dirtier!

The dirt on your cladding is a mix of grit, dirt and organic matter. The organic matter attracts bugs, which then attract birds. As we all know, birds like to drop ‘presents’ wherever they are. And before you know it, your cladding will look similar to when you leave your car parked under a tree – splattered and dirty!

This will then make the cleaning more difficult, as there is a much thicker, more established layer of grime to break up. A regular cladding clean is the way forward.

Reason 3: Dirty Cladding Costs More

If this dirt, grime and bird poo build-up is left on your cladding for a prolonged amount of time, it can eventually damage the coating of the cladding, causing it to become rusty and deteriorate.

If you’re not careful and you don’t pick up on this in time or keep putting off your cladding cleaning, you are either looking at recoating your cladding or replacing it altogether. Both options are a lot more costly than cleaning and are best to avoid.

Reason 4: Dirty Cladding Covers Problems

As we’ve discussed, no matter what material you use for your cladding, general wear and tear is unavoidable. Though the external wall cladding is protecting your property from the elements, the cladding itself can sustain damage over time.

Common problems you may face include:

• Rusting corners and cut edge erosion – where corners of metal panels or the edges where they have been cut begin to corrode and rust.
• Cracked cladding – cladding can crack due to adverse weather conditions, especially if water gets into cracks and then freezes, making the problem worse.
• Paintwork damage – paintwork can crack and bubble. This is caused by the sun’s harsh UV rays or sometimes poor application if the surface has not been prepared properly beneath.
• Scratches and dents – usually found around the bottom of your cladding where delivery trucks are unloading, and cars are parked.

Though this damage is unavoidable to a certain extent, the dirt, moss and grime that forms if your cladding is not cleaned regularly will hide any issues of damage until they present in other ways. Leaving damage for an extended period will allow it to deteriorate and likely turn into a bigger problem, such as a leak or a hole, which can begin to impact the rest of your property.

Cleaning your cladding helps prevent this as it clears the extra barrier, making it easier to spot any damage and catch it early. The earlier you tackle the problem, the easier it is to repair.

Cladding Cleaning Reason 5: Dirty Cladding Is Unhealthy

Dirty cladding is basically a build-up of grit and pollution and potentially algae and mildew. Proximity to this isn’t good for anyone. In fact, it can be really unhealthy.

Some algae forms are completely harmless, but others generate unhealthy toxins. This is why you may sometimes see an algae-covered lake which is closed to the public. Mildew can also cause allergic reactions and skin irritations. Regular cleaning to clear away any algae and mildew is therefore essential.

Big Savings In The Long Run

Cladding cleaning might seem like an unnecessary job, but as we have hopefully explained, keeping it clean has many benefits. It’s not only beneficial in that it boosts your profile, but it also helps maintain your exterior, meaning it lasts longer. In the long run, this can mean a big saving for you!

For more details and to get a free quote for cladding cleaning, visit our website here.

• Cladding Cleaning

Cladding cleaning may not be at the top of your to-do list, but keeping your cladding in good condition not only gives it a better look, it can also extend its lifespan. While cladding cleaning isn’t a complex job, there are certain aspects that need to be done right to ensure that the integrity of your cladding isn’t compromised. In this blog, we share the dos and don’ts of cladding cleaning, so your cladding always looks its best.

What Is Cladding?

You probably know what cladding is, especially if you’re looking at ways to keep yours clean. But just in case you don’t, here’s a quick overview of what cladding is. Cladding is a type of covering that is added to the exterior of a building; it serves a wide range of purposes, some of which might surprise you. 

Thermal Insulation

Cladding is often added to older buildings to improve insulation. 

Weather Resistance

Cladding is ideal for added protection against weathering.

Sound Control

Some types of cladding panels are used for soundproofing a space. 

Aesthetics 

Cladding improves the appearance of your building and can be matched to your business’ branding to enhance your company’s profile. 

What Happens To Cladding?

Unsurprisingly, cladding bears the brunt of the elements, and in the UK, our diverse weather can really put it through its paces.

In winter, the frost and rain cause dirt and grit to build up, especially on cladding that’s textured or corrugated. You’ve probably seen dirty cladding on your local industrial estate – the grey/black coating of muck make even the most vibrant coloured cladding look dull and ugly. 

The summer weather brings another potential issue – sun fade. Bright sunlight causes your cladding’s paintwork to look patchy and uneven, especially if something nearby casts a shadow, as that area is more protected from the glare.

Added to the changing weather is the problem that bird droppings can present. If birds flyer over or sit or nest on your building, then chances are you’re going to have areas where there is bird poop. Aside from the obvious unappealing appearance, streaks of bird excrement also pose a risk to any coatings on your cladding. Cleaning bird poop off quickly is vital, as the ph levels of it are high, meaning it is very acidic. If left, the uric acid can corrode paint and lacquer which then requires a more intense restoration process.

Cladding Cleaning: What You Can Do

Cladding cleaning can be tackled by yourself if you have the right tools and know-how, although we tend to recommend DIY cladding cleaning for small areas since it can be a laborious task that carries some risk (both to you and your cladding) that’s best left to those who do it for a living!

Cladding cleaning is most effective when you use the right method and products for the type of cladding used on your building. The most commonly used cladding is; 

Timber

Wood cladding can transform a building’s look and is currently very popular. But, despite its lovely appearance, wood cladding can begin to look tired and weathered fairly quickly, with black stains which are actually watermarks. You can use a pressure washer on your wood cladding, as long as the pressure is fairly gentle. At high pressure, the jets run the risk of splintering and damaging the wood. If you’re worried about breaking your wood cladding, cleaning with a specialist solution might be a better option. 

Stone/Brick

Brick cladding responds well to a power washer. It’s strong enough to withstand the intense water jets which help to clear dirt and debris. However, brick and stone cladding are prone to algae build-up which sometimes requires more specialised treatment. There are cleaners available to buy, however, it’s essential that you ensure you use the correct solution for your type of stone or brick. 

Glass

Glass cladding is a sophisticated option and is often seen on towering office blocks. From a design perspective, it’s incredibly versatile but from a cleaning perspective – it needs a lot! As you’ll know from your own windows at home, glass quickly shows dirt and watermarks left by the rain. Fortunately, cleaning glass is fairly easy – as long as you use the right cleaner. Streaks left by a cloth and squeegee can be frustrating so make sure you use the right technique to avoid these.

Metal

Metal or aluminium cladding is most popular among industrial buildings thanks to its cost-effective price and strength. A power washer will clean any dirt and grime, and you can use a detergent to lift off any residue, however, DO NOT use chemicals as these can remove or damage the paintwork or coatings on your cladding.

Vinyl

Vinyl cladding is a rising star in the cladding world, mostly thanks to its low maintenance and durability. It’s mostly manufactured to resemble wood grain, so lots of properties are now opting for vinyl cladding instead of wood. Cleaning vinyl cladding is straightforward, firstly, brush off any dirt from the panels and then apply detergent with a cloth. You can use a power washer to rinse the soap away. 

Should You DIY Cladding Cleaning?

This is the real question…sometimes just because you can, doesn’t mean you should! Cleaning the exterior of your building is a huge undertaking, even if you have a relatively small property. And besides the time you need to set aside to complete your cladding cleaning, you’ll also need to invest in the products required to do the job. While the market has some great cleaners and jet washers available for the public to buy, nothing really compares to the professional-grade cleaners that we use. 

The last point to consider is probably the most important one. Personal safety. Chances are, some of your cladding is at roof height, and even on a single storey building, that’s some elevation. You will either need to invest in a good quality telescopic or extendable cleaning pole (cheap ones aren’t worth the money) or look at hiring in a platform. Either way, cladding cleaning is a gruelling task – which is why it’s one of our most requested services. 

Hiring GI Sykes for your cladding cleaning means that not only do you get a professional finish that uses protective products but you also don’t take any personal injury or damage risks. Contact us to find out more about our cladding cleaning and cladding maintenance services.