In facade cleaning the method and the cleaning agent are chosen to suit the cladding. Glass, composite panel, natural stone and painted surfaces each require a different approach, and the wrong product can leave irreversible marks.
Facade cleaning looks like one job from outside. In reality the method changes completely with the cladding material, and what works well on one facade can cause permanent damage on another.
Glass and curtain walling
The difficulty with glazing is not the glass itself but the joints and profiles around it. Limescale and salt staining causes gradual micro-abrasion on the glass. The product used must not attack the joint sealant or the aluminium profile, and pressure washing is used under control because water can be driven into the joints.
Composite panel
Composite cladding scratches easily. Abrasive pads and stiff brushes leave a difference in sheen that is permanent. The condition of the joints between panels is checked during cleaning, which effectively provides a free facade inspection.
Natural stone
Natural stone is porous: it absorbs soiling and is damaged by acidic cleaners. On travertine and marble, the wrong chemistry produces a dull patch. These surfaces need pH-balanced products and longer dwell time.
Painted surfaces and insulation render
On painted facades, cleaning depends on the condition of the paint. On weathered, blistering paint, aggressive cleaning does not merely reveal the problem, it accelerates it. These facades are assessed first; sometimes the right decision is not cleaning but redecoration.
Cleaning as an inspection
Good facade cleaning is also a survey. A team working down the facade centimetre by centimetre sees cracks, loose cladding and perished joints that cannot be seen from the ground. Reporting those findings to building management lets small problems be solved before they grow.
Frequently asked questions
Is pressure washing used on glass facades?
Under control. High pressure can force water into the joints, so distance and pressure are set according to the surface, and the product must not attack sealant or aluminium.
What should be considered when cleaning composite panels?
Composite scratches easily. Abrasive pads and stiff brushes leave permanent differences in sheen, so only soft equipment and suitable detergents are used.
How is natural stone cladding cleaned?
Natural stone is porous and damaged by acidic cleaners. Travertine and marble need pH-balanced products and longer dwell time.