There are a variety of reasons why render is used in buildings, commercial and otherwise. Traditionally render has been used in various homes and buildings, especially in areas near the sea. This was done to protect the walls from damage due to salty air. Once the render has served its purpose and its expiry is close, it can simply be removed and replaced with a new render and that will go on for many years. Currently renders are often used for the same purpose as well as for nostalgic reasons. Many prefer the old looks and would love to replicate them in modern times. Traditional render was made of cement, sand and water and sometimes lime. Modern render varies widely and makes use of many additional ingredients or even completely different ingredients to make renders for external walls of homes.
What Type Of Render Has Been Used On The Building?
The type of render that has been used on a building is one of the most important things to see before deciding upon the best methods to clean it. Today there are a large variety of renders that are used in buildings today. Many renders use polymers with the traditional render mix, others use acrylics and other newer ingredients. Assessing this is highly important. The next most important thing is to understand the type of dirt the render has attracted. This will vary from place to place. A city building might attract a lot of pollutants and dust. A building situated on the seaside will have salt air damage to it. Rainy areas might cause buildings to grow algae, mould, mildew and similar dirt and stains. Knowing the type of dirt that is attached to the render will help in understanding what methods are best to clean renders.
Pressure/Power Washing
This method cleans renders and other surfaces with water that is pumped at a higher pressure. The pressure itself will suffice to rid the surfaces of any dirt and stains. This method can remove rust, algae, mould and mildew very easily. And it can even remove a certain level of discolouration on the surfaces. But this method is not suitable for all renders. Some render types such as the more traditional render might be easily damaged due to the fast and high pressure of the water. It is best to first understand the render manufacturer about the safest cleaning methods. The next best is to avoid using pressure washing in case of doubts.
Soft Washing Render
Soft washing is a method that can be considered the opposite of power washing. This method uses water that is of much lower pressure. The main focus is to clean the surfaces using detergents, surfactants, soaps, bleach or fungicide among others. The product or solution that is used will depend on the kind of damage that the render has. The process is to spray the surface with the cleaning solution that will be prepared according to the type of dirt or damage. And then it is washed off with water. This method works very well and can do a thorough job of cleaning the surfaces.
Use Of Detergents
Many render cleaning services companies make use of detergent, be it soft washing or pressure washing. Detergent is a good way to remove mild stains and discolouration from the surfaces. Detergent also works well in removing mild dirt from the surfaces. So if the dirt is not too heavy but simple power washing will not suffice, then the companies go for detergents to clean the surfaces.
Using of Fungicide
Using fungicides is an excellent choice in cleaning renders in areas with heavy rainfall or high humidity. They often give the surfaces a green colour and can grow on the surfaces spreading over time. If left alone, they will eventually begin to damage the surfaces too. So it is highly important to spot fungi on the surfaces and clean them regularly. Using fungicides will clean any existing fungi and will also keep them from regrowing for a good measure of time.
Using Of Biocide
Like fungicides, biocides are used to clean algae growth. This is usually applied on the surfaces after the algae are cleaned out. This will keep the algae from recurring for a good while. Algae is the same as fungi when it comes to surfaces. Letting them sit will result in damage over time.
Rendering The Surfaces Again
Re-rending is often used on top of existing render. This may be required if the render has been far too damaged to be recovered for simple render leaning. In this, instead of redoing the entire render, only the problem areas are removed and reapplied.
Custom Solutions Provided By Render Cleaning Companies
This is the best method for when the business or homeowners are not aware of the type of render they have on their buildings or would prefer a professional opinion. Many render cleaning companies offer custom solutions suited to the unique problems that each building face. This will attack those specks of dirt and organic growth that are on the specific building and work to avoid it. This will guarantee the render is protected and safe from cleaning mishaps as well as dirt.
