Render Cleaning Contractors

P.A.S.T: The ultimate method for cleaning render. P.A.S.T is a four-stage treatment and includes the following steps:

P = Planning and preparation

A = Application of biocide

S = Steam - the most important part

T = Targeted treatments and retreatment of the process where necessary.

We have used this P.A.S.T. process to transform hundreds of buildings across the UK.

Using the wrong chemicals or method can cause significant damage to your building, and may invalidate any warranties you have. We use our extensive knowledge to survey your render and establish what products need to be used. We then apply the best methods to produce a brilliant result every time. There are many ways to tackle dirty render such as:

• Softwashing render
• Bleach cleaning render
• Pressure washing render / jet washing render
• Steam cleaning render / DOFF cleaning render
• P.A.S.T. - our recommendation

Cleaning render is a very complicated process – even though we make it look easy. There are many types of render and varying stages of soiling. The state and type of render determine what method and products will be used to carry out the cleaning safely and effectively. We would always advise you to proceed with caution if approaching a render clean yourself or with an inexperienced contractor.

Render cleaning is not a one-size-fits-all approach, as different building types may require unique considerations and techniques. In particular, residential properties often require a gentler approach to render cleaning, as the materials used are expensive.

We can clean render on any building, at any height, anywhere in London or across the UK. But, our most common projects fall under two main categories:

Residential properties

Residential properties often require special attention to maintain curb appeal and prevent damage caused by dirt, algae, and other contaminants. It’s essential to avoid pressure washing and instead utilise gentle cleaning methods such as hand cleaning or soft washing with a bleach solution for residential render cleaning.

Commercial buildings

Commercial buildings have unique requirements and considerations for render cleaning, including maintaining a professional appearance and adhering to safety regulations. Non-aggressive cleaning techniques such as soft washing and steam cleaning are suggested for render cleaning of commercial buildings to avoid potential damage to the rendered surface.

If you’re considering hiring a professional render cleaning service, it’s essential to look for experience, accreditation, and tailored solutions for your property. An experienced and accredited render cleaning service guarantees safety, quality work, and peace of mind.

Let’s explore what to look for in a professional render cleaning service.

Experience and accreditation

Choosing a render cleaning service with experience and accreditation ensures quality work and peace of mind. Accreditation guarantees that the render cleaning service is competent and proficient in the domain and utilises the most up-to-date techniques and technologies to deliver optimal results.

Experienced render cleaning services possess the expertise and knowledge to detect and address potential issues before they become serious, ensuring the best results for your property.

We recommend looking into case studies the company shares, which will give you a huge insight into the company's credibility. If you want to review all of our render cleaning projects take a look at our render cleaning case studies.

Tailored solutions

It’s essential to find a clean render cleaning service that offers custom solutions for your specific property and render type. Personalised solutions can offer an improved and streamlined cleaning process, safeguard the render from harm, and prolong its lifespan.

Whether you have a residential property or a commercial building, a professional render cleaning service that caters to your unique needs will ensure the best outcome.

For the best results when cleaning rendered walls, we suggest softwashing and steaming. This method utilises a gentle detergent and next to no pressure to effectively clean the walls without damaging them. With a pumping system and water-fed pole with a brush attachment, you can achieve fantastic results.

It is not recommended to use a pressure washer on render, as the pressure is too strong and can cause damage to the render surface. If you have to clean it yourself, gently wash with a soft brush and warm, soapy water.

Maintaining clean render is essential in protecting both the aesthetic and structural integrity of any building. Neglecting to do so can result in damage to the facade, diminished property value, and potential health risks due to the growth of mould.

Regular maintenance of render is the best way to ensure that a building remains in good condition. This includes cleaning, repairing, and replacing any damaged render. Regular inspections should also be conducted.

Soft washing is a gentle cleaning process that utilises biodegradable detergents and low-pressure water, while pressure washing uses a combination of high-pressure water and chemical cleaners to remove dirt and grime from surfaces.

Both methods can be used to clean rendered buildings, but the P.A.S.T. approach taken by Spectrum is generally considered to be the most efficient and effective at preserving delicate surfaces.

Using biodegradable and eco-friendly cleaning chemicals is a responsible choice, as it reduces the risk of damage to your property and the environment. However, It is not always possible to achieve the desired result.

Some popular options include:

• RenderKleen
• BacClear Pro BAC50
• SynergyClean Pro
• BioClear Pro – 40% DDAC
• BioClear Pro 50 – 50% DDAC
• ClingFilm Pro
• SafeClean Eco
• Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach)

These chemicals are cost-effective and easy to use, making them an ideal choice for both residential and commercial properties.

When considering render cleaning services, it's essential to know the type of render on your building. Different renders have distinct characteristics and maintenance requirements. Below, we outline some of the basic types of modern render - acrylic-based, silicone-based, and cement-based - to help you identify the best cleaning approach for your property.

Acrylic-based render

Acrylic render is one that uses acrylic (a sort of plastic) in the mix, and this, in turn, makes this render strong, flexible, and less likely to crack or flake and the pigment/colour of it is well lasting.

Acrylic render is a versatile option as its also suitable for a range of different surfaces, such as:

• Concrete
• Painted walls
• Timber
• Brick
• Stone

However, due to the strength and tight seal of acrylic render, this compound is less 'breathable' (in comparison to Silicone Render).

The following brands manufacture acrylic render: Wetherby, K-Rend, Parex, and Eco-rend.

Silicone-based render

Silicone-based render is made from… silicone. Silicone is basically a polymer that's rubbery and heat-resistant.

In comparison to acrylic render, it doesn't impede breathability. Yet, this improvement does come at a cost.

This render type has great flexibility (unlikely to crack) and is highly durable (with paint required after 10 years).

Silicone render is a more costly option and involves four different stages of application - it's not the quickest alternative.

JUB Render, K-Rend and Wetherby all manufacture silicone-based render.

Cement-based render

Cement render is composed of three different elements: lime, sand and of course cement.

This type of render is breathable and cost-effective - allowing you to render large areas without breaking your budget.

However, cement render is not suitable for all surfaces (commonly used only for bricks) and may also be prone to cracking.

Here are some cement-based rendering manufacturers: EZ Design and Construction, Wetherby, and K-Rend.

Coloured render requires special attention and care when it comes to cleaning. Choosing the right cleaning process and understanding the differences between very light jet washing and soft washing is crucial to maintaining the appearance and preventing damage to your coloured render.

Let’s explore these special considerations in detail.

Choosing the right cleaning process

Selecting the appropriate cleaning process for coloured render is essential to prevent damage and sustain the aesthetics of your property. Power or jet washing with clean water and a low concentration of mild detergent is an option.

Mixing in Green Wash is also an option. Green Wash has been formulated for a specific purpose: to be mixed with bleach in order to clean stained render. It can be used as a powerful cleaning agent when combined with bleach.

Very light jet wash vs. soft washing

Very light jet washing is a low-pressure technique of cleaning render that utilises a jet of water to eliminate dirt and debris. While it can be efficient in cleaning render, it may not be the most suitable approach for cleaning coloured render that has algae growth on it.

The jet wash can cause significant damage to a building if in the wrong hands. We have been called to support with many commercial rendered buildings where inexperienced contractors have simply turned up the pressure in order to try and get a pristine finish and in doing so actually cut through the layers of the render, causing irreversible damage.

Soft washing is a gentle method that employs a combination of detergents and water to remove dirt and debris, making it more suitable for coloured render; however, you will find that simply softwashing will not result in a pristine finish, especially where you have areas of heaving staining from carbon staining, pollution, graffiti or severe algae growth, which is why we use the P.A.S.T. method.