Exterior Building Cleaning In Maryland, Virginia And DC.
Professional exterior building cleaning companies use bio-gradable soaps and detergents with warm water and low pressure cleaning equipment for power washing building exteriors.
Our Exterior Building Cleaning Services
Depending on the building’s exterior different varieties of cleaners and the water pressure and temperature of the water will vary, especially on Limestone, painted surfaces, aluminum, wood siding, and EIFS. Building exteriors made from these types of materials require special cleaners to remove surface dirt and an Algae called Gloeocaspa Magma from the surface.
Exterior Building Cleaning Maintenance Schedules
Typically exterior building cleaning should be performed every 3-4 years to properly maintain the structure. By creating a maintenance schedule for exterior building cleaning the building will not only have a more appealing look, it will also prevent heavy biological growths which hold moisture and slowly deteriorate the structure of the building.
Identifying And Removing Stains Commonly Found On Buildings
White run stains on building exteriors are usually lime run or Carbonate Staining. When biological growths form on sealants they can break the bond of the material and allow water to enter. Two things happen once water enters the exterior walls of the building. Mildew begins to grow inside the walls which is unhealthy for the occupants, and as the water penetrates back out to the exterior of the building, it brings mineral deposits with it, leaving staining behind on the exterior of the building as the moisture dries.
This photo shows Lime Run, otherwise named Carbonate Staining. It is a hard white or gray surface crust concentrated along a mortar joint or running down from a hole or separation crack between bricks and mortar joints.
Black Stains On Buildings Are Usually Gloeocapsa magma
One of the most common problems we remove during facade cleaning jobs is black stains like the ones in this particular photo. These black stains are usually triggered by Hydrocarbons from vehicles and Fuel, or from a Bacterial based algae called Gloeocaspa Magma. Gloeocapsa magma is a species of cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria are an ancient line of photosynthesizing bacteria, which photolyze water generating oxygen gas. Ancient cyanobacteria were ancestral to the chloroplasts of all plants in the world. Gloeocapsa magma has gained notoriety in the Southeastern United States, but, it is also spreading throughout the Midwest. This particular type of cyanobacteria is responsible for creating black stains and streaks on roofs. The bacteria accumulate with time as it feeds upon moisture and calcium carbonate. This accumulation begins to show the black stains as the cyanobacteria develop their dark and hard UV-protective outer coating.
Yellow or gold stains on mortar join and brick faces are usually Acid Burns If you see uneven yellow or gold stains on the brick faces and in mortar joints like in this photo, it is probably Acid Burn This is caused by cleaning the surface with Muriatic acid. The impurities in the acid are rapidly absorbed by porous masonry and when they are not properly rinsed, the acid attacks the mortar and bricks.
White Stains around the brick face near mortar lines are usually White Scum. Uneven white or gray stain on the brick face or mortar joints. Cause: Inadequate rinsing or prewetting when cleaning with muriatic acid or other acidic solutions. by the acid is absorbed by the drywall surface to produce insoluble silicate salts commonly described as white scum.
Tan, brown, or gray stains along mortar joined by brown or tan bricks are usually Brown Managanese.
Tan, gray or brown staining concentrated along mortar joints of brown, gray or other manganese-colored brick. Cause: Manganese dioxide dissolved in rainwater, construction water or Muriatic acid. As water evaporates, manganese reacts with the alkaline mortar joint to create an insoluble brown stain.
Yellow, green or green/brown stains in the heart of light-colored brick units common in new or water-saturated construction. Cause: Water-soluble vanadium salts dissolve in.
rainwater, construction water or muriatic acid. As water evaporates, salts form on masonry surface to create unsightly stains.
Loose, powdery surface deposit that disappears when wet and may reappear as drying continues. Cause: Water-soluble salts dissolved in rainwater, construction water or groundwater. As water evaporates from wet bricks, it leaves the crystallized salts on the surface.
Our Exterior Building Cleaning Process.
After inspecting the building as closely as possible, we will use man lifts, hot water pressure washers, and professional grade environmentally friendly soaps and detergents to clean the exterior of the building using our proven low-pressure cleaning system to remove Gloeocaspa magma, mold, mildew, hydrocarbons, pollen and surface dirt using a special exterior building cleaning process that we designed over the last 230 years to ensure the best results. Locate exterior water sources in the building to replenish our tanks.
Caution tape off the work area as needed.
- Wet down the building exterior and all adjacent areas with water and cover plants as needed with waterproof tarps.
- Pre-treat stained areas with bio-degradable cleaners at 20 PSI 25 PSI.
- Clean stained areas using 400PSI to 600PSI, 120 degree water at 8GPM with stainless steel, 40 degree fan spray nozzles.
- Apply specialty stone, wood, siding, EIFIS, Stucco, brick or concrete cleaners to surfaces as needed.
- Apply bio-degradable soaps and detergents on the rest of the surfaces to be cleaned.
- Clean all surfaces using 400PSI 600PSI, 120 degree water at 8GPM with a stainless steel, 40 degree fan spray nozzles.
- Apply our Polymer Wet Wax solution to add a light luster to the siding, and reduce mildew growth.
- Final rinse of the buildings with our SoSoft water conditioner and water softener to reduce streaks on the windows.
- Remove tarps, and rinse down plants and surfaces adjacent to the work area.
- Inspect the building for quality assurance and perform a final clean-up of the area.
Our system for exterior building cleaning is extremely detailed and will remove all surface dirt, mildew, and mold. Regardless of the methods we use for exterior building cleaning, some stains may have penetrated the surface and they may not come completely clean or they might leave a shadow behind. Of course we will always attempt to remove all staining, and in 99% of our projects the building owner is amazed at what we are able to accomplish.
Our Company Policies For Exterior Building Cleaning.
We will not risk using strong acids, hazardous chemicals or high pressure methods that may damage or stain the surfaces being cleaned. This is what we consider responsible building cleaning practices which we created in order to protect the structure of the buildings that we clean.
All of our exterior building cleaning services will be done in compliance with Federal and Local Clean Water Act regulations by using our specially designed water reclamation pumps and vacuum systems as needed to stop water runoff from exterior building cleaning from entering the storm drains. All runoff will be directed into grassy areas for bio-remediation, pumped into water storage tanks or pumped into sanitary sewer systems for treatment according to the Clean Water Act.
All work will be completed in a professional manner by uniformed employees. Areas that are being cleaned will be roped off with caution tape as needed during the process for the safety of pedestrians, our employees and our pressure washing equipment.
we will bring water to the job and use water from the buildings or from Fire Hydrants (with our permit) to replenish our tanks during exterior building cleaning jobs. If we are unable to access water from the building, we can bring in a water tanker if necessary at an additional charge.