Surface: Brick

Rapid response to rising attacks

Paint attacks are on the rise.

A guerrilla tactic used by activists to express disapproval of government and institutional policies, buildings are targeted without warning and, under the cover of night, visibly defaced using spray cans, paint-filled fire extinguishers and even entire pots of paint.

Fortunately, OneFifty are fully equipped and ready to respond.

ON DUTY, AT THE DOUBLE

Following our recent rapid response to a paint attack on County Hall in Taunton, an early morning call-out to a property in Bristol City Centre saw OneFifty pull out all the stops.

We don’t plan for emergencies, but we understand the urgency and the impact these attacks can have. So, as far as possible we prioritise this type of work and provide a skilled team and effective cleaning solution as quickly as we can.

A complex clean

This attack was significant in both scale and the number of substrates impacted – brick, stone, metal, glass – but our range of specialist cleaning solutions and years of experience enabled us to determine the best approach for each without an on-site assessment – saving precious time.

Within 2-3 hours of arriving and without any damage to the building, we had successfully removed 80% of the paint. Not only did our work dramatically reduce the visual impact of the attack but, vitally, it enabled the building to function and staff to return to work.

Devil’s in the detail

While our rapid response removed the bulk of the paint, once applied, paint quickly permeates and penetrates, and the residual spray from fire extinguishers is particularly challenging to remove, so returning the building to as-new requires a follow-up visit. But on the day, with the emergency swiftly managed and our client clearly relieved, for us, it was a tough task well tackled.

To find out more about our superior external building cleaning services, contact Max or Andy Morris on 0333 234 1445, or email your enquiry and we’ll get right back to you.

High-level graffiti removal

We recently worked to remove some unwanted graffiti from St Stephen’s House, a six-storey mixed use building that sits alongside the historic church of St. Stephen’s in the historic centre of Bristol.

A high-value mixed use property

The buiding houses contemporary open-plan offices on the lower ground and ground floors with four storeys of student accommodation above, including studios and apartments. Its central city location makes St Stephen’s House a very desirable place to work and live and the building owners/managers are keen to keep everything in tip top condition and looking well maintained.

Dealing with tricky high level access

Bristol’s busy city centre can be a tricky place to work, and the graffiti was at the very top of the building. Luckily there is a wide paved area running along one side of St. Stephen’s House and we were able to obtain permission to set up our MEWP in this space. We used our MZ350, a 35-metre truck mounted elevated platform that affords excellent reach both in terms of height and outreach. It also has extra capacity in terms of load, allowing two of our operatives to go up in the basket, and work together to completely remove the offending graffiti.

Project completed in good time and to highest standards

When we were planning this project the weather was quite challenging, strong winds were getting in the way of a number of high-level cleaning projects. However, we managed to take advantage of a day of better weather and get everything in place to allow us to get the job sorted.

Our in-depth knowledge of how to remove graffiti from different building substrates means we can work very efficiently, and achieve the best possible outcome. This, plus having access to our own high-level access equipment, helped ensure we were able to completely remove the offending graffiti from St. Stephen’s House and meet our client’s deadline.

Exterior cleaning for large residential development

Doudney Court and Squires Court together form a sizeable residential development on the edge of Bedminster, close to Bristol’s city centre.

Comprised of more than 100 private apartments, these courtyard developments are popular with young professionals, offering urban living, plenty of amenities right on the door step, and just a stone’s throw from Temple Meads station.

Atmospheric staining and biofilms

The apartments are built around a central courtyard, with gated access to communal gardens, and an area for resident parking.

Two sides of the building face outwards onto busy roads and theses facades had become stained by atmospheric pollution from passing traffic. There were also a few graffiti tags on the facade of the building, as well as algae and moss on many of the sills, ledges and walls, especially on parts of the building which are largely in shade which creates an ideal environment for biofilms to flourish.

Challenges of the clean

OneFifty was contracted to carry out the exterior cleaning of the building facades, walls, roofs, paths and stairways. It was a big project, and took several weeks to complete.

One of the main challenges was that much of the cleaning work needed to be carried out right next to very busy roads and pavements. To address this issue, we scheduled the cleaning of these areas to be done outside rush hour, helping reduce impact on peoples’ journeys to work.

Our experienced team set up our equipment, and coned off areas where we were working, in order to meet all health and safety requirements, keeping both our operatives, and passers-by, safe throughout the duration of the works.

Private balconies

Some of the private balconies on the building also needed to be cleaned. We knew from experience that liaising with residents, and coordinating the cleaning in these circumstances, can be a challenge. However, our efficient team diligently contacted the individuals who might be impacted by the work to check it was OK to go ahead.

What a difference! 

You can see from the images below the transformation we achieved  through our careful cleaning. Also, residents and passers-by constantly complimented us as we worked, saying what a remarkable difference the cleaning made to the appearance of the building.

To find out more about our reliable and efficient exterior building cleaning services call Max or Andy Morris on 0333 234 1445 or email your enquiry and we’ll get back to you.

 

Exterior cleaning for a Health Centre

We were contracted to carry out exterior cleaning by the managers of a large health centre in Nottingham. This modern building unit is a mix of red brick and white render, with one stand-out, bright yellow render wall. All of the windows are surrounded by wide, soft yellow stone frames.

Removing algae to improve appearances

The main purpose of our cleaning was to remove unsightly black algae which had built up on the render, particularly on the parapets on the roof and the window sills.

The staining looked particularly visible on the pale stone frames surrounding the windows, making the building look rundown and rather miserable. This did not reflect the clean and welcoming interior of the building, nor the caring, efficient health care patients could expect when attending the centre.

Our team are experts at removing algae and having all the right kit at our disposal (access equipment and pressurised steam) helped make light work of the cleaning. We also applied a growth inhibitor to help discourage re-growth and keep the buildings surfaces looking clean and algae-free for longer.

Work arranged to suit health centre’s requirements

Exterior cleaning work was arranged to be done over the weekend to minimise any disruption to staff and patients attending the clinic. The building looked clean and smart by end of play on Sunday, ready for the medical team to start their busy week, and the centre managers were delighted with the outcome.

To find out more about our reliable and efficient exterior building cleaning services call Max or Andy Morris on 0333 234 1445 or email your enquiry and we’ll get back to you.

Paint attacks on the rise

OneFifty is no stranger to removing unwanted graffiti from buildings; more recently we have also been called out to clean up after paint attacks.

These attacks tend to be politically motivated. People want to make a point, so they often target high-profile buildings. The Telegraph newspaper’s offices, Labour Party HQ, MoD buildings, and numerous university buildings have all been targeted.

A very challenging clean

We were recently called out to help clean up after a paint attack on a County Hall. In this attack paint had been sprayed using a fire extinguisher and covered a multiple different surfaces of the building.

The stone façade, pillars and cornices, the glass panes and painted frames of the windows, and even a low cement wall and paved area at the front of the building – all had been hit and stained with paint. This made it a very complex clean, requiring different cleaning systems to remove the paint from different surfaces without causing damage.

Fast, efficient, and reliable paint removal

As a company specialising in removing unwanted graffiti, we know the importance of getting things cleaned up as quickly as possible. We offer a very rapid and reliable response service and were able to remove the paint and leave the building clean within 24 hours.

Our knowledgeable and experienced team can quickly assess the damage in these situations and select the best way of removing the contaminant without damaging the building’s surface. We also have a range of cleaning systems and access equipment at our disposal which makes it quick and easy for us to get the job done.

To find out more about our paint attack and graffiti cleaning services please contact Max or Andy on 0333 234 1445 or email your enquiry and we will get back to you.  

 

Cladding Cleaning – Tower Park leisure & entertainment centre

Creating a good first impression is really important, especially in the leisure and entertainment industry. The exterior of a venue is seen as a reflection of what people can expect to find inside, as well as the products and services on offer – so a poor appearance is likely to have a negative impact and potentially put people off visiting.

The management company in charge of maintaining the Tower Park leisure and entertainment centre is well aware of this. They contracted OneFifty to clean the exterior façades of this enormous centre.

Tower Park is one of Poole’s largest leisure and entertainment destinations serving the communities within Poole, Dorset and Bournemouth. It occupies an area of 199,000 sq. ft, and has an open plaza between the buildings with outdoor seating for visitors. Leisure and entertainment facilities include; Splashdown – a massive water park with 13 outdoor and indoor flume rides, a 16-screen multiplex Cineworld Cinema, a Hollywood Bowl bowling alley, a kids soft play centre, a bingo hall and a gym. It also has a variety of popular food outlets including Nandos, Pizza Hut, Pizza Express, KFC and Taco Bell.

Keeping up appearances

In a previous refurbishment project many of the building exteriors had been clad with either metal or plastic cladding. Over time, these clad façades had become dirty and stained, and they were in need of a thoroughly good clean.

OneFifty has particular expertise in cleaning clad surfaces, we know the best way to remove dirt and staining as well as how to treat the surfaces so that they stay clean for longer once we have completed our work.

Our experienced team also have the right cleaning equipment and access systems to be able to carry out the cleaning efficiently and effectively, with work being completed out-of-hours to ensure minimum interruption to business.

What a difference a clean makes

The huge branded façades of Cineworld and Splashdown were transformed once we had completed cleaning and the whole centre looked pristine and welcoming. The management company was so pleased with our work that they have added us as a preferred supplier and will be contacting us for other projects in the near future.

To find out more about our high-level cladding cleaning services please contact Max or Andy on 0333 234 1445 or email your enquiry and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.

 

A reliable, efficient partnership with Sisk Rail

OneFifty has recently completed a project to remove graffiti from rail infrastructure for Network rail on behalf of Sisk Rail. This is the third year running that Sisk Rail has used our services, this time the project involved cleaning 36 sites between London and Bristol over an eight week period, with all work carried out to exacting time frames.

Variety of cleaning systems to suit

Rail infrastructure encompasses a variety of building structures including trackside at the stations, bridges, tunnels, sidings and retaining walls, as well as different building substrates – stone, concrete, metal and brick. Each location can require a different method of access and cleaning in order to achieve the best results.

In this round of work, when dealing with graffiti on a metal bridge structure, it was deemed more efficient to paint over the graffiti rather than remove it. We used media blasting with recycled powdered glass to clean the very old brick underpass at Swindon station, as it is the most efficient method for removing graffiti without causing damage to the brickwork.

We also used media blasting to remove graffiti from a long expanse of retaining wall running alongside private farmland. Here we were working above a drainage ditch and media blasting was the most ecologically sound approach.

Efficient planning

All of the cleaning work needed to be completed within an eight week time frame and be planned to fit within extremely exacting timeframes. Some locations needed to be cleaned at very specific times – often out of hours – to fit with other trackside work and take advantage of line closures. We pride ourselves in our ability to plan and manage work and successfully completed all graffiti removal within the required timeframes and to a high standard.

Health and Safety, insurance, traffic permits – sorted

There are very specific requirements associated with working trackside and all work was carefully planned and carried out in line with Network Rails’ strict Health and Safety regulations.

Some of the sites also required traffic management permits while others needed specialist high-level access. Our professional team is experienced in arranging traffic management – including liaising with councils to arrange road closures permits – and in organising access for high-level cleaning. Security and insurance was all sorted out on behalf of our client making their life a lot easier.

To find out more about our exterior cleaning services contact Max or Andy on 0333 234 1445 or email your enquiry and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.

Regenerating the Generator Building

The Generator Building is a striking red brick and stone building located on Finzels Reach by Bristol’s floating harbour. It originally housed the generator for Bristol’s tram system, now it has now been given a new lease of life as state-of-the-art offices.

Unfortunately while the building was empty, graffiti vandals got to work defacing the walls, facias, soffits and roof lantern with unsightly tags. OneFifty was enlisted to help remove the graffiti.

Expert cleaning, minimum risk

For the OneFifty team cleaning the graffiti off the walls at ground level was a pretty straight forward task, however removing the tags on the soffits and facias of the roof posed numerous challenges.

We have a range cleaning systems each suited to dealing with different types of contaminant and surface substrate. After years of experience in removing graffiti we can recommend and employ the most effective method of cleaning while minimising risk of damage to the surface.

Media blasting, using a very gentle media, was effective for removing the tags from walls at ground level, however this method could not be used for the high level cleaning – reaching and removing the tags at the top of the building required a different approach.

ON THE ROPES

As experts in high level access, with IPAF and IRATA trained operatives, we have a number of options for reaching high up, difficult to reach spaces to give them a thorough clean.

With 20 years in the business, our rope access team has both knowledge and experience of using ropes to work at high level. Our combined expertise made us a go-to solution for this tricky project.

How to treat a tricky substrate

One element of the high level cleaning involved removing graffiti from a lead soffit at the very top of the building. Lead is an extremely reactive material, we needed to get the cleaning method right so as to not trigger a reaction which might discolour the lead.

In addition, one of the tags was done in black paint on very old brickwork and the paint had leached into the brick making it extremely difficult to remove. The tag was located at the very end of the building making it difficult to access. Using pressurised steam at 150 degrees, plus skill and determination, we managed to remove this stubborn tag.

Achieving the best outcome for our client

Despite the challenges associated with access and fragile substrates we were able to complete the graffiti removal safely and efficiently and achieve the best possible outcome. We are proud to have played a small part in the regeneration of this iconic historic building and, importantly, our client was absolutely delighted with the work.

The images below tell the story – so do take a look through. If you require any more information about hi-level graffiti removal contact Max on 0333 234 1445 or email info@onefifty.co.uk

No slips for students at Bristol University

As winter approaches and pathways and steps get slippery with algae and moss that grow fast in wet weather, it’s essential that public spaces are kept clean and algae-free to help prevent slips and falls. With students heading back to begin their studies for the new academic year, the External Estates Team at Bristol University knew it was time to tackle their slippery surfaces.

Vital regular cleaning

We have worked with Bristol University over several years, as their go-to cleaning supplier for external areas such as pathways and courtyards. We encourage our clients to complete regular cleans to both prevent danger and maintain aesthetics.

This season, they contacted us to clean outdoor steps, ramp access and pathways to protect students and staff against safety hazards created by slippery surfaces.

Tackling organic contaminants

When we arrived the surfaces were covered in green algae that had proliferated over the past few wet months before the students returned.

We chose pressurised steam as the best method to remove the organic contaminants, finishing the surface with a biocide to inhibit their regrowth. This keeps the steps and pathways clear for longer, especially in inclement weather.

If you have pathways or steps that are slippery with algae, contact Max or Andy Morris on 0333 234 1445 or email your cleaning enquiry and a member of our team will get back to you as quickly as possible.