There are several ways to clean a façade stained with dust and dirt. However, as there are far more types of dirt than we can imagine, it is not always possible to recommend universal methods or cleaning products that work on plastered or painted surfaces. How often and with which product you should wash your façade depends on the specific situation, for example, the reasons for the staining.
There are two ways to clean a façade stained with dust and dirt:
( The given pictures washed the façade with a pressure washer and installed algae and moss remover , as well as removed graffiti from the plinth Paldiski mnt 173 )
We can limit the spread of an insect or fungal colony in two ways – by preventing the problem from spreading, or by preventing it from spreading:
1. the spread of algae and fungi can be prevented by no longer providing them with the nutrients they need to survive, i.e. by choosing a suitable finishing layer and, where possible, by limiting the amount of wetting of the façade (e.g. appropriate overlapping of window sills and parapet with the render);
2. the reproduction of already existing algal cells or fungal growth can be inhibited by biocides. To do this, you need to do some preparatory work and choose the right finishing coat.
In our experience, washing a façade contaminated with algae and fungal colonies will only give results for a few years. Even with certain nuances.
However, by pre-treating and repainting, a clean façade can last up to 20 years (depending on the environment). It is correct and skilful pre-processing that ensures a good result.
Once completed, a wooden façade cannot be forgotten for decades. Wood is a demanding material that needs maintenance and refinishing. If the wood is allowed to decay, the entire surface will need to be sanded and the finish completely renewed. What to take into account?
The sunny side requires more maintenance. On the south side, especially if there is no shade, the façade finishes will deteriorate rapidly. UV radiation eats away at the lignin between the wood fibres, causing the wood to gradually degrade and turn grey over time.
The best defence against this is colour.
On a sunny wall, the paint ages faster. The sunny side should be inspected at least every five years, as it ages almost twice as fast as the shady side.
The guarantee period for facade paint is 5-8 years. Depending on paint type, quality and suitability
its durability is very different. The average warranty period for paint is 5-8 years. However, the range also includes colours with a 15-year guarantee.
The first inspection of the glaze paint should be carried out after 1-3 years. The next renovation interval (which foresees a further glazing of the façade) does not have to be 3-4 years, as is the case in many cases,
but much longer. In the first renovation, any micro cracks that have developed will be covered and the wood will receive additional protection, the risk of water ingress will be eliminated and the paint will continue to protect the wood.
Each wood has its own colour. Because wood comes in many different types, different colours are used for different types of wood. One of the most important determinants is the volume of wood – wood is a variable volume material. There is no timber whose volume does not change.
Good quality paint also protects. The quality of the paint is also important. Good-quality paints are made to be coloured in a way that
to protect the surface as much as possible, not just to give it the colour you want. But even then the colours are different.
Treated and untreated wood. It is not advisable to use excessively smooth (planed and sanded) wood for the façade, as this will make the paint less adherent and less durable. Specialists use a lightly treated material – this will increase the cost of paint, but will give the wood better protection.
The inside of the wood also needs treatment. It is often the case that builders fix boards to the wall with inadequate ventilation and then paint the whole exterior, forgetting the interior. As a result, unprotected wood accumulates moisture in winter. The façade of a wooden house treated in this way does not have a long life.
If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional, wait until you hire an amateur.
FastFassaad is the most experienced facade maintenance company in Estonia, we maintain over 50 000m2 of facades per year.
