Spring cleaning a hotel in historic Bath

Bath – a World Heritage Site – is known for its Palladian architecture and the famous golden stone. Even modern buildings stay true to the classic skyline, including the Hilton hotel at the heart of the city.

On the riverfront

Perched on the river Avon, the Hilton is exposed to the elements all year round. We were called by building firm Edgewater Contracts to tackle the building façade, which was showing major signs of weathering. The entire building is undergoing a refurbishment, presenting the perfect time to clean the exterior.

Tackling organic growth

The façade is constructed from imprinted concrete blocks, or faux Bath stone. Thanks to the cold, damp weather of winter, it was covered in organic contaminants and biological growth, including algae and lichen. This caused dark staining across the stone, which was worse at the top of the building as a result of water running off the capping.

Our problem-solving approach

The clean required large machinery to cover the surface area. We used a combination of steam cleaning and a biocide to remove and inhibit the growth. Access was tricky around the back of the hotel, as it faces onto the river – as we couldn’t use cherry pickers, we overcame the obstacle with rope access so our operatives could abseil down the building façade. We worked around contractors on site and left the Hilton with a thoroughly clean finish to welcome the first guests of spring.

For expert cleaning of organic growth, call Max or Andy Morris on 0333 234 1445 or email your enquiry.