When carrying out works on washing the facades of buildings, including newly built ones, we are faced with a large amount of pollution of various types and origins. And you need to get rid of such pollution in different ways: for each type of pollution and facade material, there is its own technology and suitable cleaning chemistry, if required.
Nevertheless, there are a number of rules, as well as recommendations developed by specialists for cleaning and washing the facade surfaces of housing stock, public buildings and various engineering structures from oil, grease, oil, soil, atmospheric pollution, traces of soot and soot after smoke or fire, etc. .d.
Washing the facade surface from dirt and soil and atmospheric pollution
To begin with, we determine the types of materials and the current state of the facade surface, the presence of decorative architectural elements and other details that need to be protected from chemicals, and take into account the area of work.
The choice of washing technology, the method of applying detergents (manual or machine), as well as the type of detergent depend on these data, since a specific type is used for each type of facade material (painted, plaster, brick, glass, stone, plastic or metal). cleaning chemistry.
By the way, let’s talk in more detail about the manual and machine methods of applying cleaning chemicals.
With the manual method, the composition is applied with the following tools: brushes, rollers, sponges, as well as special sprayers from top to bottom. The manual method is used:
- if the surface of the facade is heavily soiled, and re-application of cleaning chemicals is required, as well as the use of mechanical processing with metal brushes;
- if the facade is old, or there are signs of destruction;
- if there are architectural details and decorative elements;
- if the building is an architectural monument;
- if the chemical treatment area is small.
Power washing is the application of special cleaning chemicals using a high-pressure apparatus. The cleaning composition is diluted with water in the percentage recommended in the instructions (usually 0.2-3%), depending on the type of material and the current state of the facade, the degree of pressure (water pressure) is selected, and the composition is applied from top to bottom with water pressure at an angle to the facade of the building. Follow the link you can read more of power washing service https://windowwashingexpert.com/power-washing/.
Cleaning solutions are applied to the facade for 3-5 minutes, after which they are washed off with ordinary water. If necessary, if the pollution has not completely disappeared, the chemistry is applied again.
Washing the surface of the facade from oil, grease and oil pollution
Oil-oil pollution is characterized by durability and a high degree of penetration, especially into porous materials. Such contamination cannot be removed either with water or with conventional cleaning agents. To remove them, special chemicals are used with a large amount of surface-active components.
In the manual method, a chemical agent is sprayed on the surface of the facade at a temperature of 60-70 degrees so as to completely cover the dirt. After an exposure of 3-5 minutes, the composition is washed off with a pressure of water, and if the stain remains, then the chemistry is applied again.
If the application method is power washing, then a special foam-generating nozzle is used on the ADV or foam generator. The solution is applied to the facade surface in a thick layer and aged until the foam settles. Foam and dirt residues are washed off by the AED. Follow the link if you need to know cost of power washing https://windowwashingexpert.com/power-washing/pressure-washing-buffalo-grove/.
Washing of soot and traces of fire
Contaminants, namely soot, soot and other combustion products that have arisen after a fire or heavy smoke, are washed off in any way (manual or machine) according to the following technology:
- A solution of a chemical agent is applied to the facade surface until it is completely moistened.
- After keeping for 5-10 minutes, the solution is washed off with a strong pressure of water.
- Further, the first two stages are repeated 3-4, or more times with breaks between treatments of 3-4 hours (the surface of the facade must dry out).
- If the color of facade and finishing materials has changed after a fire, it can be tinted with special dyes before applying the cleaning agent solution.
Any work on washing the facade is carried out at an air temperature of at least +5 C in calm weather in the absence of precipitation. In some cases, when facade processing is required urgently, it is possible to work at a temperature of 0, using an AED with heated water.
