A clean commercial building gives a professional image to any business or body corporate. It also reduces the need for costly reactive maintenance.
Washing large buildings can be challenging and requires proper planning. It is important to understand the different commercial washing techniques and equipment required for a successful wash.
Safety
Cleaning the toilets and washroom environments in your business or commercial building is an important aspect of keeping a positive impression for your customers and staff. Having a clean environment is also an essential factor in health and safety regulations. Ideally, restrooms should be cleaned at least once a day and, in busy restaurants or large office buildings, twice a day.
The type of equipment and tools required for commercial washing will vary case by case. A good understanding of different washing techniques, water blasting equipment, different commercial building surfaces and windows is essential.
A first aid course is also a good idea to have on hand for any accidents during the wash, as well as completing a Site Safe heights training course. A professional building wash company should be able to provide you with informative options and have reputable health and safety certifications. They should also be able to send you post job reports detailing what work was completed.
Chemicals
In commercial cleaning, there are many chemicals that are used. Some of these chemicals are eco-friendly, while others are not. It is important to know which ones you are using, and choose renewable or green products as much as possible. Chemicals like House Wash, for example, are a unique blend of biodegradable chemicals that can clean building exteriors, greases, oils, soils, mould mildew and dirt while being safe on plants and all painted surfaces. The list of ingredients is usually given on the product label or packaging.
Equipment
A medium sized water blaster with a 20 litre per minute pump is ideal for retail building washing, light commercial cleaning and smaller roof wash jobs. This size equipment is also great for sandblasting cladding and concrete, removing heavy lichen and mould from retaining walls and for washing car parks, loading bays and bin areas.
A variety of nozzles is also helpful when washing buildings. A black nozzle which applies soft wash chem by opening up a venturi, a white nozzle (also known as a pencil nozzle) and a red nozzle to reach up high and apply water at a higher flow for power washing is essential.
A Site Safe Working at Heights Course is also a must for those washing large commercial sites, completing the course will ensure you are familiar with all the safety aspects when cleaning these types of buildings – especially when water-blasting or mechanically scrubbing / sweeping. It will also help you with the planning of work at heights on your building washing jobs so you can make sure all workers and anyone else that comes in contact with your worksite is kept safe.
Planning
The right preparation and planning is key to a successful commercial building wash in Wellington. This is particularly important if there are many buildings in one location that need cleaning. This can include arranging access times that suit tenants and clients, sharing the use of access equipment if there are several large sites or blocks of apartments to be washed, or setting up temporary parking arrangements to keep cars away from the cleaning area when a site needs washing out of hours.
It is also important to have a plan in place for disposal of the chemicals and other contaminants that are used. This should be a documented plan that ensures the substances do not enter stormwater drains, streams or coastal waterways. It should be updated regularly to take account of changes in regulations or new information on chemical safety. This will also help when reporting to clients after a job has been completed. This will help to build trust and client confidence in your company.