Here at Spectrum, we are experts in specialist stone cleaning and maintenance. That’s because we know that the reputation of your business lies behind the face of your building. If your façade is made of stone, over time it can become dirty and tired-looking. Which means it won’t be creating the ideal first impression.
Unlike some other building exteriors, you can’t just give stonework a fresh lick of paint. Just like render, stone needs to be cleaned using specialist equipment. That’s just one of the many services we offer here at Spectrum.
We can restore almost any stonework including cornices, windowsills, keystones, window surrounds, ashlar blocks, arches, quoins, copings and pier caps, corbels, porticos, columns, date stones and plaques, as well as balustrades.
Why Stone Cleaning is Effective
Keeping a building clean is critical for its well-being, especially in the UK where the weather can be harsh and unforgiving for long periods of the year. If the exterior of your building is partially or wholly made of stone, as is common with many older structures (and many new ones), this can lead to problems.
For example, dirt and moss can gather on the surface, which can cause unsightly blemishes as well as providing shelter for animals and other plants to take root. This can then cause further long-term damage. Water ingress can also be a serious consideration for stone buildings.
Stone cleaning is the process of cleaning these stones to ensure that they are in the best possible condition and looking their best. Often this involves using specialist cleaning equipment as well as gaining access to potentially dangerous parts of the building.
Often, the decision to clean is made on a town or street basis, but it may be up to the individual owner to carry out the cleaning.
The Difficulty of Stone Cleaning and Restoration
There is often a lack of consideration given to the range of natural materials being dealt with when cleaning stone. Some of the stone used for building has a susceptibility to deteriorate, either due to lack of cleaning or even during the cleaning process.
In addition, materials such as sandstone, limestone, granite, brick and terracotta are often joined by lime mortar. The interaction of these materials is key to the overall appearance of the building. Decay may also require that repairs are made before any cleaning can be carried out, or it may further complicate the issue.
Another key difficulty is deciding where to stop, as overcleaning can cause damage or cause the building to stand out too much. Cleaned stones may also require some form of treatment to prevent premature damage once exposed.
Three types of stone cleaning and masonry methods are generally used. These are physical, chemical and special techniques (which can involve ultrasonic equipment, heat lances and surfactants).
Why use Us for Stone Cleaning?
Knowledge and Expertise
We can help you to restore your building to its former glory. Our extensive range of exterior stone cleaning methods can be used both on historic buildings as well as modern stone or concrete-clad buildings. In short, if it’s stone, we can clean it.
No Limits to Access
We offer a full range of access options ranging from rope access, BMU and cherry pickers, to our own in-house patented modular pole systems. We can access the most complex buildings in a smart way, helping to keep your costs down in the process.
Communication is Key
We understand the importance of communication in everything we do. After each project, you will receive images (we can also take videos if you would prefer) of the finished surfaces. We will deliver a full report containing any further information you might need regarding your building.
