Reach and Wash

About reach and wash

Reach and Wash is a system of up to 24-metre long, water-fed telescopic poles that can safely reach high windows from the ground. Using a combination of soft bristled brushes to remove dirt and grime and pure water jets to rinse, it leaves a spotless finish on all glass surfaces.

The benefits

Being able to carry out high level cleaning without using special access equipment saves money and cleaning windows from the ground is also safer than using ladders. Reach and Wash doesn’t require the use of chemicals, which makes it environmentally friendly as well as cost effective.

A pristine clean at Whitchurch Lane Enterprise Park

Whitchurch Lane Enterprise Park might seem tucked away in the suburbs of South Bristol, but there is nothing discreet about these exceptional light industrial units.

Designed to offer specialist contractors fit-for-purpose spaces to support Bottle Yard Studios – the vibrant, neighbouring TV & Film Production facility – the units were built to a high specification and to BREEAM standards.

They certainly look the part, and it’s hardly a surprise that maintaining the exterior is not a nice to have – it’s an obligation.

But it is not an easy task.

A partnership in perfection

Working with Hartnell Taylor Cook, we developed a proposal and schedule to make sure the new units will always look at their best for years to come. An annual deep clean of the exterior will be supported by a six-monthly maintenance clean, focussing on windows and any challenges that arise, including managing rust.

A walk in the park

We recently completed our first annual clean, where our knowledge and expertise, as well as the relatively new condition of the units, meant that the clean itself was, for us, relatively challenge free.

With no particularly nasty contaminants to tackle, we used our Reach & Wash service to clean the glass, including potentially hard-to-reach skylights and solar panels, while our Pressure Washing service was the perfect solution for the vast metal-clad exterior.

No clear access, no hassle

As is often the way with large buildings, certain areas can prove tricky to reach, and with no clear access to the back of these units, keeping the rear up to scratch could have posed a significant challenge.

But not only is our team highly skilled and fully qualified in accessing high and hard-to-reach areas, our Multitel MZ350 Cherry Picker Truck – with its versatile platform operating at heights of up to 35.5m and outreaching up to 20m – helped us to overcome a potential hurdle hassle free.

When the clean was complete, the units were ready to withstand another six months of notorious West Country weather.

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 back to you in a flash.

Building clean down for the Babcock Technology Centre

The Babcock Technology Centre is a five-storey office building located in the Bristol Business Park, just north of Bristol City Centre. The 85,790 sq ft building has been created to accommodate various operating divisions of the international engineering support services company, the Babcock Group. OneFifty was contracted by the building contractor to carry out a final building clean before the new occupants started to move in.

Two-tone composite cladding and glass

The exterior of the building is comprised of tall vertical composite panels clad in two colour tones and huge glazed window panels all of which needed to be cleaned. Our mission was to clean the panels and windows and ensure everything was left sparkling clean.

Know-how achieves the best results

We used our Reach and Wash system to carry out the work, alongside one of our MEWPs to allow us to access and clean the highest sections of the building.

Reach and Wash uses deionised water applied using a soft brush from a water-fed pole to leave a crystal clear finish. However, the operator needs to achieve an even pressure across all surfaces being cleaned to ensure the best possible result. We find that, the longer the pole, the less control the operator has, especially using a pole longer than 10 meters. Using our MEWP to access the highest areas of the building allows us to use shorter poles, which are lighter and easier to control, thus guaranteeing the best possible finish across both the cladding and the glass.

Our client was delighted with the outcome, and impressed by how we planned and managed the project, including dealing with the Health and Safety element of the high-level access. We are looking forward to working with them again soon.

To find out more about our exterior 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.

High level interior cleaning – Moss House, University College Birmingham

We recently cleaned the glass panels surrounding the spectacular central atrium of Moss House, University College Birmingham.

Moss House is University College Birmingham’s newest campus building. It features a host of cutting-edge facilities for students studying vocational degree courses such as nursing, social work, physiotherapy, sport and fitness.

Award winning building deserves brilliant cleaning

The building won the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) West Midlands Award in 2021 which described it as one of the best buildings in the region. Not surprisingly, keeping the building looking its brilliant best is top of the agenda for the team in charge of the management and maintenance of the building. This was especially important when preparing for a big annual open day.

clever access and elbow grease

OneFifty was delighted to be invited to carry out the cleaning. We do a lot of high-level internal cleaning and each project has its own unique requirements. The first challenge at Moss House was getting the appropriate high-level access equipment into the building.

We used a spider elevated platform to gain safe access along with telescopic poles to reach and clean the highest panels.

EXPERienced IN INTERIOR CLEANING

Of course, interior cleaning requires a different approach to working on the exterior of a building; our team understands this and a great deal of care and attention was taken throughout.

The project was completed within the required time frame, and the glass panels surrounding the statement staircase at the centre of the atrium were left sparkling clean ready to welcome this year’s new cohort of students.

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

Cleaning the Bears High-Performance Training Centre

Bristol Bears have an amazing High-Performance Training Centre in Abbots Leigh. The site includes two full size pitches and a huge covered indoor training centre which contains an exact half sized Ashton Gate measured pitch.

It was this structure that we were asked to clean.

Size matters.

OneFifty often works with Bristol Sport (who manage the Ashton Gate stadium) and they contacted us to see whether we could help clean the covered pavilion.

The structure consists of a two-storey steel-framed Tensile Fabric structure. As well as the astroturf pitch it also houses a state-of-the-art gymnasium, medical facilities, hydrotherapy, nutrition, administration offices, a board room, team analysis room, a players’ lounge and a high quality kitchen and dining room (run by a full-time chef)!

The structure has been in situ for around 3 years and the white fabric had become stained with algae and dirt.

The challenges

There were a number of challenges associated with the cleaning.

Access and parking was extremely restricted
Great care needed to be taken to not damage the material
We could not use any product that might contaminate the surrounding area (grass/training pitch)

high performance cleaning

We managed to squeeze MEWP alongside the structure. It’s hydraulic boom allowed us to achieve really good outreach and carefully clean the fabric using soft brushes and pure water. We also used some gentle pressure washing where staining was hard to remove.

We are very proud of our team who worked hard to complete the cleaning and leave the pavillion looking sparkling clean. Our client was delighted with our performance – and the results we achieved.

To find out more about our exterior 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.

Cleaning Cardiff’s tallest building

Bridge Street Exchange is a 26 storey high-rise building with conjoining 11 and 5 storey blocks. It’s a mixed-use development providing high quality student accommodation as well as retail units on the ground floor.

At 85 metres Bridge Street Exchange is the tallest building in Cardiff and we were really excited to be asked to carry out the cleaning of such an impressive high-rise building.

Straightforward maintenance cleaning…

It was actually a pretty straightforward maintenance clean of the building’s aluminium-clad façade and windows, prompted in-part by increased quantities of dirt and dust being created by a nearby building site. We used a mix of hand cleaning and reach and wash, using pure water, to remove the dirt and leave both the cladding and the windows sparkling clean.

… extremely high-level access

Not surprisingly, given the height of the building, it was the complex high-level access that presented the challenge. Our expert team used a combination of rope access for the higher level cleaning and a cherry picker to reach and clean the lower level areas of the building.

Efficient, cost-effective and fully compliant

This combination proved both the most efficient and cost-effective way of tackling the Bridge Street Exchange cleaning project.

Our experienced IRATA and IPAF qualified operators carried out the high-level cleaning work safely and efficiently, delivering an excellent result. And of course, we have Health and Safety and insurance fully covered, providing peace of mind for our client.

To find out more about our high level exterior building 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.

High Level cleaning at Ashton Gate Stadium

We recently cleaned the steel structures on the roof of the new south and west stands at Ashton gate. The impressive white steel poles of the structure had become badly stained by algae which made them look dirty and gave a rather negative impression. OneFifty was asked to remove the algae and restore the poles to their original white colour.

Options for high-level access

At its highest point the structure extends 8.5 metres above the tallest section of the stadium, reaching a total height of 40 metres. As experts in high level access, with IPAF and IRATA trained operatives, we have a range of options available for us to clean areas that have challenging access issues.

Finding the best approach

We were able to access and clean the structure above the south stand by using a combination of our cherry picker and telescopic poles to achieve the required reach and give the white steel poles a thorough clean.

The challenge was the west stand. Given it’s height and the position of the steel structure there wasn’t sufficient room to position a MEWP – rope access was our best option. Working from ropes brings its own challenges as the operatives also needed to gain purchase in order to clean effectively with pressurised steam while suspended in their harnesses.

A combination of creativity and skill.

Our rope access team has years of experience and a very thorough understanding of using ropes to work at high level. This, combined with our expertise in different cleaning options, enabled us to crack this challenge.

It took a team of ten in total to complete the work, and a lot careful planning to find, test and agree the best approach, but we did it. We overcame all the challenges, got the job done and achieved a fantastic outcome. The aglae stained structure is now back to its original colour and free from algae. The stadium is once again looking its brilliant best – and we have yet another very pleased client.

800 windows, 7 storeys, one happy client!

One Fifty recently carried out a huge window cleaning project at Manor Close, a residential development in Birmingham. Manor Close is comprised of five blocks of apartments, each seven storeys high (that’s a whopping 22 metres).

The property management company wanted both the windows and window frames to be given a thorough clean. It had been a while since they had last been done as they’d been let down by their previous supplier and were struggling to find a replacement company able to deliver on their requirements.

Equipped for the task

We were delighted to win the contract and this was the perfect opportunity to put some of our new equipment to the test. The Reach and Wash system was perfect for tackling the windows of the lower floors while the cherry picker allowed us to access and clean ones at the higher levels using our pressure washing system. We use pure water and a gentle pressure to acheive a brilliant streak-free outcome.

This window cleaning project demonstrates some of the reasons our clients use us time and again:

Safe and sound

Our operators are experienced in high-access cleaning and are fully IPAF trained, plus we have all the necessary insurances in place providing complete peace of mind. Our tried and tested processes help ensure that everything runs smoothly. We turn up on time, complete the work within the agreed time frames and make sure that we clean up after ourselves.

Excellent standards throughout

Clients can expect the highest standards of cleaning. We also ensure that they are kept fully informed throughout the duration of the project. Once completed, we supply before and after images to show exactly what has been achieved.

We also take a considerate and flexible approach to accommodate our clients’ needs and, in this instance, avoid inconvenience to residents.

The client was delighted with the work and we hope to be doing more exterior surface cleaning for them in the near future.

Render cleaning: a cost-effective alternative to painting cycles

When one of our existing clients got in touch to ask our advice on an alternative to entirely repainting a residential development, we knew just what would save them time and money.

Breaking the continuous loop of painting cycles

Building managers are often stuck in a continuous loop of painting cycles, trying to maintain a clean and tidy building – but this really isn’t necessary. Many blocks of apartments are rendered with monocouche render that has colour in its pigment, meaning it doesn’t need to be painted. Instead, regular exterior cleaning can leave it looking as good as new and significantly extend the time between painting cycles.

Even if building managers do decide to paint render, it’s important to have the surfaces professionally cleaned first to ensure organic matters like moss and algae that can dislodge the paint are thoroughly removed. That’s where we come in. Exterior building cleaning is incredibly cost effective, at just one third of the cost of repainting. We can entirely clean the exterior of a building with our dedicated equipment to ensure it looks pristine. If that hasn’t quite done the trick, however, the building is then already in the perfect state to be painted.

From the windows to the walls

For Dial Stone Court in Weybridge, Surrey, we embarked on a full project, which included render and brickwork cleaning, window cleaning, gutter maintenance and small repairs. We used steam cleaning to remove dirt, which appeared in patches and streaks across the exterior walls. As part of our gutter maintenance service, we investigated downpipes with a camera on a rod, to check for blockages and potential leaks, then cleared and repaired them.

As the client was so pleased with the result, they asked us to take care of the roof, which had become overgrown with moss. The moss was being swept by wind and rain into the gutters, causing blockages and unsightly stains. We scraped the moss away and used a biocide to penetrate the roof substrate to eliminate the spores to prevent regrowth.

Thanks to our specialist access equipment, including spiders that require very little floor space to operate, we were able to save the client £20,000 on scaffolding costs and caused minimal disruption to residents.

Experts in render cleaning

If you manage a residential or commercial development and want to save money on painting cycles, call Max or Andy Morris on 0333 234 1445 or email your enquiry. We can provide a full exterior cleaning service or carry out isolated cleans on exposed parts of a building to upkeep its appearance and the structural integrity of the exterior surfaces annually or at regular periods, to reduce the need for repainting.

K-Rend render cleaning in Portishead

At OneFifty we’ve worked with Jones Building Group on a number of cleaning projects, building a strong working relationship with them over the years.

So, when Jones Building Group needed a reliable exterior building cleaning company to clean the building’s K-rend render, wooden cladding and glass before beginning planned maintenance work, they contacted us.

A streaky situation

The block of flats on Kittiwake Drive in Portishead had become badly marked by algae, moss, lichen and organic growth, causing unsightly streaks, especially on the walls under residents’ balconies.

Large areas of the building had become marked black with algae, making the building’s exterior look unsightly and uncared for. Residents’ balconies had also become affected by organic growth, making the surface slippery and unsafe.

Looking after the residents

Before we started work, the residents were contacted asking them to move any plants and furniture on their balconies out of the way, so nothing was damaged during cleaning. Once we’d safely cleared any remaining items to ensure nothing got broken or damaged the team got to work.

Exterior building cleaning

At the rear of the building we used an all-terrain tracked spider boom to reach the top of the block of flats from the lawned area behind the building, preventing damage to the turf while giving us safe access to clean the top of the building. At the front of the flats we used a boom lift to reach the 16-meter cleaning heights.

As part of our cleaning process we treated the exterior building surfaces with a biocide to make sure all organic growth was effectively removed. This also helps to protect the building’s surface by inhibiting regrowth, so the render stays cleaner for longer. In some areas the team applied several coatings of the biocide to make sure all of the algae was properly removed.

Once all the organic growth had been removed we gave the entire building a final steam clean to ensure a pristine finish.

A proper job

We completed our initial building clean in plenty of time, meaning Jones Building Group could start their maintenance works as planned and stay on schedule for the project.

Once Jones Building Group had finishing their work to the building’s cladding we came back to give the building a final clean, focusing on the glass balcony screens and windows, so the residents had a spotless view of their brilliantly cleaned and maintained building.

Mark Sheffield, Contracts Manager at Jones Building Group says of working with us at Kittiwake Drive:

“We’ve used OneFifty for several years, they’re our go-to supplier for exterior building cleaning. The project at Kittiwake Drive was fairly straightforward and as always OneFifty got the job done with no fuss. They’re very reliable and like Ronseal their exterior building cleaning service does what it says on the tin.”