Commercial buildings face the same algae and mould as houses, but at a larger scale and with more to plan. Render on blocks of flats, cladding on offices, brick on schools and fascias on shops all need cleaning without damaging finishes or disrupting the people who use the building. A dirty exterior affects how tenants, customers and buyers see a property.
Soft washing suits commercial work because it is low pressure, quieter than heavy pressure washing, and does not throw water and debris around public areas. The main planning points are access for powered equipment, managing run-off away from surface water drains, keeping the public and residents away from the work area, and scheduling around opening hours. Work at height is planned in line with the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
What is included
- Site survey of elevations, materials, access and drainage
- Planning of access, such as cherry pickers, MEWPs or reach-and-wash poles
- Exclusion zones and signage to keep the public and residents clear
- Scheduling around opening hours, residents and deliveries
- Low-pressure biocide cleaning of render, cladding, brick and fascias
- Run-off management to protect drains and planting
- Risk assessment and method statement on request
- Completion photos for managing agents and landlords
Who it is for
- Managing agents responsible for blocks of flats
- Retail units and shopfronts with stained render or fascias
- Offices and business parks with dull cladding
- Schools, surgeries and community buildings
- Landlords preparing commercial units for new tenants
- Industrial units with algae on cladding and walls
How much does it cost?
As a guide, commercial soft washing is usually priced at around £4 to £8 per m², with access equipment, out-of-hours working and complex sites adding to the cost. Most commercial jobs are priced after a survey. See our full cost guide.
