Cleaning a heritage building
OneFifty is experienced in cleaning historic buildings and trusted by many to carry out exterior surface cleaning of listed and heritage buildings. We recently carried out exterior cleaning of a Grade II listed building in Birmingham.
This six-storey, Victorian stone building is currently used as offices and is located on the junction of Colmore Row and Newhall Street, a prime position in Birmingham’s central office core. It is a stand-out building, featuring elegant Doric columns, balconies with stone balustrades, and a stunning glass topped roof. Unfortunately over time the soft stone surfaces of the building had become stained by atmospheric pollution and colonised by algae and other organic growths which needed to be removed.
Removing organic growth to help protect masonry
The UK’s damp climate encourages the growth of algae and other biofilms on building facades. Stone is particularly vulnerable because it retains water, which creates the perfect environment for these organic pollutants to thrive and grow. Left untreated, they can cause serious damage and deterioration to masonry which is both challenging and costly ro repair.
The best system for cleaning historic buildings
Extra care always needs to be taken when cleaning listed buildings, or any historic building, as the stone is often soft and may be particularly vulnerable. We use pressurised steam, a system used throughout the world for cleaning historic buildings and monuments of note. Pressurised steam is far gentler than many other cleaning systems. The steam causes a thermal shock effect which causes surface pollutants to overheat and break up so they can be removed without damaging the surface.
It also allows us to precisely control both the pressure and the temperature of the steam jet. This makes it ideal for cleaning delicate stonework and enables us to achieve a far superior clean while minimising risk of damage. This was particularly helpful when cleaning the stone balconies and window surrounds.
Our Multitel cherry picker provided flexible access the higher levels of the building, while the pressurised steam allowed us to give the exterior surfaces a thorough clean. The steam also helps kill off biofilms which, together with the application of a biocide post cleaning, will help deter future growth.
Well planned, safe project implementation
Work was done outside normal working hours to help minimise interruption to business, with all required HSSE regulations relating to working in a busy location with pedestrians passing by, even late at night, being fully met. Our operatives are IPAF trained and experienced in high-level cleaning and we are also correctly insured for the work we carry out, providing peace of mind for our clients.
The exterior of the building was utterly transformed by our cleaning, so much so that passers by stopped to admire the work we were doing.
If you would like to know more about our process for cleaning historic buildings, please give us a call or email your enquiry. We would be happy to visit your premises and carry out a test clean to demonstrate exactly what we are able to achieve.