Facade cladding is perhaps one of the most essential tasks in constructing buildings and private houses. Selecting the right material, texture, and colour is only half the task. It is crucial to preserve the facade’s appearance over time because it protects the entire building from weather conditions and mechanical impact, as well as the face of the building, which creates the homeowner’s first impression. Therefore, do not neglect cleaning the facade, as it will preserve the aesthetics of the appearance and protect it from destruction.
High-Pressure Cleaning
The simplest and most common method is washing walls with water using high-pressure equipment. The facade can be cleaned with water and special chemical solutions, which are selected based on the type of building surface. It is possible to wash out a small layer and parts of the facade, so it is forbidden to hold the hose in one place for a long time; it must be in constant uniform motion. You can order pressure washing to get your walls clean. It is convenient and does not require purchasing equipment. Specialists will do the work for you.
Mechanical Cleaning
Mechanical facade cleaning is carried out using brushes, scrapers, a hammer with a chisel, spatulas, a hammer drill, and an angle grinder. Metal brushes and other tools are suitable for removing dirt buildup, paint, putty, and cement. Their main disadvantage is the possibility of damaging a soft facade, such as plaster, but they are indispensable for brick, stone, and wooden masonry.
The mechanical method is also a preparatory stage before new building cladding. It can be done before the next painting of a wooden house. The old paint dries out and rises from the surface as dust and scales. In this case, brushes and scrapers will not help much; it is better to use grinding.
There is an opinion that timber cannot be sanded since, during the process, the protective natural layer is removed. Therefore, fire retardants and protective solutions for the impregnation of wood should be prepared in advance before work.
A brick facade requires patience and significant time when cleaning with the solution. First, large pieces are removed with a hammer or chisel, and small ones are scraped off with a spatula and brushes. Blows on the hardened solution are carried out only along the bricks to avoid notches on the material.
Steam Cleaning
Steam can handle even the most stubborn and deeply ingrained stains, chemical deposits, and grease stains. It can replace a pressure washer; steam generators also cope well with paint and varnish surfaces and disinfect wooden structures.
Sandblasting Cleaning
The method is based on the effect of an abrasive (sand) under pressure on the surface. This way, you can clean the facade from paint, corrosion, ingrained dirt, and graffiti. The main advantage is that the facade is ready for further restoration with the right abrasive, but sandblasting is expensive.
Cleaning the Facade from Efflorescence
Efflorescence can be removed easily or with difficulty; it usually appears on materials containing a large amount of salt. You can try to remove dirt with water under pressure (hot or steam). If this method does not help, all stains and growths are first mechanically cleaned off the facade with a brush. Then, the cleaner is applied with the same brush. After finishing the work, the wall is washed with water under pressure to wash off the chemical residues. They should be removed as much as possible. Otherwise, the subsequent layer of water-repellent impregnation applied to protect the wall will not be effective.
Types of Facade Pollution
Any building, even if treated with care, loses its attractiveness. This feature is associated with the human factor and is largely influenced by the environment. This is especially true for urban buildings and houses near roads and industrial facilities.
Industrial emissions form a thick layer of dust and soot on the walls, are difficult to remove, and build up over a short period.
- Exhaust gases. The products of oxidation and incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels exceed the maximum permissible concentration of toxic substances and carcinogens in the atmosphere. They settle not only in human lungs but also on the surface of walls and roofs of houses, forming marks on the facade and deteriorating the owner’s health.
- Pollen and dust. Dust particles and plant pollen are air blockers for the home. They penetrate the pores of the facing material, bricks, and concrete blocks, from where it is almost impossible to wash them out. The moisture that penetrates inside due to these “blockers” has no opportunity to evaporate. In winter, it turns into ice, expands, and gradually destroys the house cladding.
- Webs, insects. The remains of insect activity and webs also do not enable the facade, and if the latter can be easily washed off with water, then it is difficult to wash off traces of dead insects.
- Precipitation. Rain and snow initiate chemical processes, bringing various mixed compounds to the walls. The latter reacts with the building’s coating, which can lead to a change in colour or corrosion of the facade.
- Moss, mould. Moisture contributes to mould and mildew formation between the slabs’ seams. They spread throughout the house.
- Graffiti. Wall drawings cannot be washed off with ordinary water; the composition of the paints eats into the material, and the best option is a combination of mechanical and chemical cleaning.
- Efflorescence. These substances are released from the material, especially brickwork and plaster, under the influence of moisture, and in appearance, they are white salt spots that destroy the surface.
Facade cleaning, regardless of the type of structure (administrative building, residential high-rise, industrial workshops, private country house), should be carried out regularly, at least once a year. The choice of wall cleaning agent depends on the type of dirt.
