Case Study:Dramatic Render Cleaning Before And After In West Sussex

Introduction

This residential property in West Sussex had not had its facade cleaned since it was built and was suffering from extreme algae staining. Though the render was originally white, the entire property was covered in severe black staining. These dormant algae spores had left the building looking very dark and dirty.

Our team were called in to provide a total facade restoration, complete render cleaning, and steam cleaning of the timber cladding, doors, facia, PVC soffits and windows. We have worked with AD Construction Group on similar projects before, with our team offering a full external restoration for the property.

The Project

At our initial site visit, our team noticed the following factors:

• The render was covered with severe algae staining.

• We would need our patented pole equipment to access all areas of the property.

• There was a lot of surrounding vegetation that would need to be covered to protect it from the biocide.

• Some brick walls would need to be DOFF cleaned as there was also extensive algae growth on the bricks.

The most important part of the process was the steam cleaning. Our operatives used superheated steam combined with a specialist biocide solution to remove dirt, carbon staining and organic matter from a building’s façade. This type of steam cleaning is incredibly effective at removing the discolouration from render and cladding while protecting the underlying substrate.

The Challenge

Although the walls looked black, the render beneath was actually white. The staining is not carbon pollution or dirt, though this may also be present, but dormant algae spores which are black while dormant and turn green in summer. The severity of the staining was extreme and our team knew the facade may require several rounds of treatment to return the render to its original colour. 

Biocide kills all organic plant matter it comes into contact with so site setup is an imperative part of the render cleaning process. e are always incredibly careful with the application of the solution. We covered plants and grass with protective sheets, after watering all the plants. Watering the plants before beginning biocide treatment means that in the event any biocide off spray does land on the plants, they will be quenched and therefore less likely to soak up the off spray.

​​With the variety of cleaning services and building maintenance involved in this project, completing the services in the most appropriate order was crucial to ensure we remained cost-effective and efficient for the client. For example, leaving the facia and window cleaning to the end meant that any debris that had spread across the facade and windows during the algae removal could be washed off to ensure a perfect finish. Leaving these aspects until later would have added unnecessary repetition of services, and would probably have resulted in an additional cleaning of surfaces that our teams had already tended to. This approach ensured our teams were operating efficiently and within client budgets. 

The Logistics

We provided a tailored scope of work to the client, detailing the work that would be required to elevate this property’s facade. This included using our patented pole system. Due to the design of this equipment, we were able to apply the biocide treatment and remove it with steam, using the same piece of equipment. Our vans all have built-in water tanks and pressure pumps installed so we can work fully off the grid if required.

Due to the range of services being provided, it was helpful to have our team of multi-trained operatives on site. Each member of staff is trained to operate a range of specialist machinery and equipment. We always provide a tailored approach to every project, depending on the client and the property's needs. In this case, to clean the render our team followed our patented P.A.S.T. technique which has 4 stages: 

P - Planning and Preparation

A - Application of Biocide

S - Steam

T - Treatment to stains

Firstly, the biocide treatment is applied from top to bottom on the surface of the render, leaving significant time for the chemicals to set in and sterilise the substrate. Next, DOFF steam cleaning techniques wash off the biocide at 150°C degrees through a low-pressure, high-temperature method suitable for the render. This render cleaning method enabled us to successfully remove the algae and return the surface to its original condition. When these four P.A.S.T stages are combined, they are exceptionally effective at removing stains from modern render. 

The DOFF steam cleaning system uses super-heated water while maintaining a low pressure to not damage the render or substrate below. We use this to remove the biocide and to clean other external areas like soffits and facia. 

To access the full surface of the facade we used our bespoke equipment designed and 3D printed by Spectrum’s innovation team. This enables our operatives to work safely from ground level. This specially designed and printed mechanism allows us to access hard-to-reach areas without having to send operatives up in a cherry picker. We can also use this same piece of equipment for gutter cleaning. The investments we made in equipment design and development helped us to stay at ground level. Our teams didn’t need to work from height or use ladders, saving time and complexity.

We cleaned downpipes using our modular gutter vac attachments before repairing and replacing the brackets which had perished, the vertical piping had detached the wall. With some of the guttering dislodged, it meant rainwater was not flowing from the property properly which added to the discolouration of the facade. Once the gutters were clean, we used our steam cleaning capabilities to clean the PVC, fascia, and external soffits, using a lower temperature to not damage the PVC soffits.

The Result

The property has now been restored to its original condition, with repaired guttering and downpipes. By using our years of skill and experience in the render cleaning trade, our team were able to fully restore this property in just 1 week. 

Our innovative solutions, dedication to safety, and multi-trade efficiency made this transformation possible, ultimately exceeding our client's expectations.