We recently carried out an unusual cleaning project. We were very excited when we received an enquiry about our services from someone at Fox Productions UK (20th Century FOX). They were working on the new Frankenstein movie starring Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and planning to do a shoot by the river Thames. Unfortunately the steps down to the river that they were planning to use had been contaminated by sewage in the recent floods and needed to be cleaned and sanitised.
Their requirement was different from the usual kind of cleaning work that we do, not only because it involved a monster star (ouch), but also because the steps would need to be disinfected whilst keeping them looking naturally discoloured – and using chemicals were not an option.
We had the answer. We used very low pressure steam at 155 degrees to sanitise the steps and make them safe for filming whilst still retaining their natural appearance. The work needed to be completed within a very tight time frame to fit with both tide times and with filming schedules. The filming company was delighted with the job saying that our team was professional and amenable and got everything done without any fuss.
Daniel Radcliffe will star as Igor in the classic tale “Frankenstein” for 20th Century Fox and Davis Entertainment. The film is due to be released in 2015 – when you watch it don’t forget to look out for those steps and think of us!
We were selected (by Hillcrest Estate Management) to clean the flag stone steps in front of the Tescos store located in Contemporis, a stunning residential block in Clifton. The challenge was that in order to not inconvenience their customers, Tescos wanted the work to be completed outside their operating hours of 6.00am to 10.00pm, something other jet washing companies had found it hard to achieve.
With traditional jet washing systems the only way of speeding up the cleaning process is to increase the pressure of the water jet, however this can damage surfaces. Our pressurised steam system allows us to vary both temperature and pressure in order to achieve brilliant results in less time and without causing any damage to the stone. In this case it allowed us to complete the job in a far shorter time frame and still deliver an exceptional outcome. Moreover because our vehicle mounted unit is completely self contained we do not require access to power or water – thus we were able to start work at 4.30am and have everything finished and cleared away before the store opened at 6.00am. We were also conscious that people would still be sleeping when we were carrying out our work and we were extremely careful not to cause any inconvenience to residents or neighbours.
Hillcrest was delighted with our work, so much so that we are now contracted to carry out cleaning on a quarterly basis. Adam Coombs, Regional Director of Hillcrest said; “It is refreshing to work with such a dynamic, enthusiastic and reliable team. They have both the resources and the equipment and go out of their way to get the job done to a very high standard”.
Golden Lion Court in Redcliff Street, Bristol has an attractive Bath stone façade as well as a spacious interior courtyard also in Bath stone. The stone had become discoloured and was in need of a really good clean to restore it to its former glory. BNS Management Services, the incumbent management company, contacted us to carry out the work.
The façade of the building is very high so we installed towers to allow our PASMA qualified operators to reach and clean to the full height. This is a mixed use property, combining both commercial and residential tenants. As always we planned our work schedule so as to cause minimum inconvenience to tenants and customers alike, which included an extra early start to avoid restricting access to the shops. Health and safety is a key consideration when carrying out a cleaning project, especially when people are near by. We are careful to follow best practice at all times and take the necessary measures to minimise risk. We also take the trouble to inform residents of when we will be working on their building which helps manage expectations.
The stone work at Golden Lion Court cleaned up really well – so well in fact that the residents came out to congratulate us on how bright and clean the courtyard looked after we had finished. BNS Management Services were also extremely pleased; Director Ian Simmonds said “OneFifty do a great job. I know that I can rely utterly on the team to get things sorted when they say they will. The fact that they send me before and after pictures for my records is also very useful”.
We carry out regular jet washing for the University of Bristol. We work closely with the University Site Manager to help ensure that their buildings and communal areas are kept clean and safe.
Bristol University, which ranks amongst the top ten universities in the UK and is one of Bristol’s largest employers, owns numerous buildings located both in the centre of Bristol (the University precinct’) and throughout the city. These include an eclectic mix of historic and modern properties with a range of different substrates including soft stone, brick and cement – each requiring a different approach when it comes to jet washing.
A gentle approach to cleaning historic stone
The University owns several of Bristol’s most iconic historic buildings including the Grade II listed Wills Memorial Building at the top of Park Street, The Victoria Rooms and Goldney House in Clifton. It also owns numerous large Victorian and Georgian buildings that have been converted for teaching purposes.
These buildings benefit from the gentle power that can be applied using our steam cleaning system. Because steam cleaning uses a combination of steam and heat we are able to precisely control both the pressure and the temperature of the steam during cleaning. This allows us to achieve outstanding cleaning results, without the use of harmful chemicals, and without having to exert unnecessary force which might damage the stone.
Steam cleaning is also ideal for cleaning the university’s more modern buildings such as the brick and stone facades of the library on Tyndall Avenue, the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering. Here our pressurised steam system achieves excellent cleaning results far more efficiently and effectively than other traditional jet washing methods. Being able to get the job done quickly also makes us more cost effective.
Removing black mould to make pathways safe
Over the summer break, whilst the majority of students were away, we cleaned the communal areas next to the Wills Memorial Building, including pathways and steps. These had become blackened by a bacteria based algae that accumulates on stone, especially in areas that are in shade for a large part of the day. It is unsightly and can be extremely slippery so presents a health and safety hazard.
Our steam cleaning system removes the algae efficiently leaving the stone work looking bright and clean and making pathways safe again. We worked for seven days straight to complete all of the cleaning that was required before the students were back on site in full force. That said, we also carry out regular jet wash cleaning for the University during term time. Our flexible hours mean we can be on site and working by 5.30 am and have the job completed well before the students start arriving.
For more information about our jet washing services contact Max or Andy Morris on 0333 234 1445 or email info@onefifty.co.uk
Hathaway House is a housing association property located on Dove Street in Bristol. It provides a range of low cost social housing for people needing somewhere to live. The property had become a victim of unwanted graffiti which was making it look run down and uncared for.
Removing unwanted graffiti from buildings
There is a clear distinction between ‘Creative graffiti’ which can look quite striking and is characteristic of this area, and messy, unwanted graffiti ‘tags’ scrawled on the sides of buildings. It’s also a fact that once a building has been marked with graffiti tags it becomes a target and soon attracts more of the same – so prompt removal is advisable.
Creating a feel good factor
We are affected by our environment; people don’t usually want the place that they live in to look rundown and poorly maintained. Keeping Hathaway House looking clean and up-together can influence how people living there feel about themselves, helping raise their morale. So the managers wanted the graffiti removed and the building cleaned up as quickly as possible and our steam cleaning system did the job.
Fast and highly efficient jet wash cleaning
Steam cleaning makes light work of graffiti, in fact we can often remove tags in one pass. No harmful chemicals are used, just the power of heat and pressurised steam. Our new vehicle mounted system now has a dual user facility and with two men on the job we are able to get things sorted in almost half the usual cleaning time. The work was, as always, completed to an extremely high standard and the building is now looking clean and fresh. Here’s what Managing Agent Tom Brady of MD Building Services said;
“With the amount of graffiti on the building, and the external material being a brick finish, I had my doubts as to whether the graffiti would come off. I was very impressed with the finish your company produced and how quickly you managed to do it. I would definitely consider you for future projects as I was very pleased with your service.”
If you need help with removing unwanted graffiti contact Max or Andy Morris on 0333 234 1445 or email your enquiry and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.
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