Case Study:How We Completed a Stone Cleaning Job Other Contractors Couldn’t

Our specialist stone cleaning team were hired to complete another challenging project in Central London after it was abandoned by a previous contractor.

Faced with grime, traffic pollution and stubborn graffiti, discover how we applied our DOFF cleaning system and unique patented TORC cleaning equipment to finish the job and satisfy our client.

The Logistics:

After attending one of our CPD seminars, a large London-based property development company contacted us about our stone-cleaning capabilities. The low-level stone cleaning was for a large building on Baker Street, Central London. 

But before we could apply our specialist stone cleaning services, we conducted a pre-site assessment to scope out the project. We discovered the following issues:

• Potential mobility and access challenges for our team due to the building being on a busy street in Central London.
• Years of grime, traffic pollution and graffiti stains covered the surface of the substrate and were especially bad on the stone facade.
• This would require both DOFF and TORC cleaning techniques to finish the job to the desired standards.

After completing our pre-site visit, we developed a schedule for the stone cleaning process, beginning with our DOFF steam cleaner system.

The Project: 

We arranged for the stone cleaning work to commence 1.5 weeks after our pre-site assessment.

Despite the building being on a busy street in Central London, we didn’t require a special pavement licence so the work could commence immediately.

We began the stone cleaning using our DOFF cleaning system. However, after a short period, we realised we would need our patented TORC cleaning equipment to finish the job to the correct standards.

Our team cleaned all they could using our DOFF equipment in a zig-zag motion up and down the stone façade. We then applied the same technique using our TORC system to finish the more challenging aspects, such as the graffiti stains.

Due to the combination of grime, traffic pollution and graffiti left for years on the substrate, the prospective stone cleaning presented a real issue, even for our specialist team.

Despite the challenges, we came through to complete the stone cleaning job and produce the desired result for our client.

The Site:

The building is located at 219 Baker Street in Central London. Due to this busy location, we had to ensure our stone cleaning services would not intervene with the public space or the neighbouring residents.

Luckily, our stone cleaning services required no pavement licence as we could access where we needed on-site without impeding the public footway.

Our patented pole systems required for the DOFF and TORC cleaning meant we didn’t need to erect any scaffolding. Therefore, saving us time and our client money and further inconvenience.

Challenges:

Once we knew the location didn’t present any serious access and mobility issues, our next job was ensuring we could clean the stone to the necessary standards for our client.

The graffiti presented the biggest challenge, as it had been left on the stone surface without being cleaned for several years. Generally, the longer you leave graffiti, the harder it is to remove it.

Plus, it wasn’t just one type of graffiti on the surface. There were multiple substances to contend with, including spray paint and marker pens, with one variation of spray paint burnt into the side of the building.

We quickly found that some areas of the graffiti were on a polished stone surface. Identifying this meant we could remove the stains with a DOFF cleaning system.

This situation required us to utilise more effective and powerful cleaning equipment in the form of a TORC machine. Some damaged areas on the stone façade were so bad that even our patented TORC solution struggled to clean it.

However, due to our persistence, stone-cleaning expertise, and patented equipment, we were able to clean the entire area successfully.

It just goes to show that choosing a specialist stone cleaner can save time and money, rather than opting for a contractor without the experience or necessary equipment to complete the job.

“It’s great to have a team of specialists who can select the right tools for the job.

When our teams survey a site, they can quickly decipher what to use to get the desired result.”

        Elijah Howell - Operations Director

The Result:

At Spectrum, we only hire specialists to ensure we can handle tough stone-cleaning projects like this. Having access to the best personnel and equipment is what makes us the best option for any stone cleaning job in London.

Here is a quick overview of the result of this London-based stone cleaning project:

• We conducted a pre-site assessment to evaluate the building access and stone condition.
• Our stone cleaning team used the DOFF cleaning system to begin the cleaning work.
• Some areas of the building required specialist TORC cleaning techniques to remove the stains.
• The extendable pole system allowed us to clean up and down the building without scaffolding.
• We completed the job in a fortnight after the previous contractors had failed.

If you require stone cleaning services in London, contact Spectrum today for a free quote.