Cleaning the facade is an indispensable job for the maintenance and external beauty of buildings. But how should this cleaning be carried out?
There are many important details that must be evaluated to ensure the quality and safety of the service.
Keep following the post to learn more.
What is the importance of cleaning the facade?
Property valuation
One of the main reasons for cleaning the façade is to increase the value of the property. Cleaning highlights and enhances the elements used in the architecture, in addition to repairing damage that visually impairs the facade’s aesthetic potential.
And of course a beautiful and well-kept façade impacts the property’s market value.
Avoid structural damage
Frequent cleaning of the facade is also important to prevent and prevent structural damage to the building.
Cracks, cracks, leaks and broken parts are repaired during the cleaning process.
This procedure is essential to ensure the health of the building and prevent further damage to the property in the future.
Conservation and ease of maintenance
In addition to reducing costs in the future, as prevention prevents further damage, cleaning also facilitates the next maintenance, making it easier and simpler, as the accumulation of dirt and debris is less.
Accidents prevention
Loose parts in glass and ceramic facades are a huge risk to the lives of pedestrians who circulate under the building’s facade.
Cleaning and maintaining the façade prevents this type of accident and, indirectly, demonstrates to residents and passersby that the building’s administration takes care of and takes care of everyone’s well-being.
In the case of a commercial building, this concern still adds positive value to the brands that are associated with it.
Care in cleaning the facade
Planning and organization
The first step in cleaning a building’s facade is planning and organization.
According to the Brazilian Civil Code in article 1348, this responsibility belongs to the building manager. Therefore, it is up to him to plan the entire cleaning.
It is also the responsibility of the syndicate to define whether an outsourced company will be hired to perform the service or if the cleaning will be carried out directly, with professionals hired by the condominium.
Another important point in the facade cleaning planning stage is to determine the best time of year to carry out the procedure.
The most suitable are the autumn and spring months, when temperatures are milder and rainfall is infrequent.
It is also essential to isolate the area around the building to prevent accidents, such as falling tools or cleaning products on those who pass through the area.
Type and degree of dirt
Before starting the façade cleaning process, it is very important to know in advance the type and degree of dirt.
In places with a lot of pollution, such as large urban centers, this dirt tends to be larger and more difficult to remove.
The time between cleaning and cleaning will also impact the degree of dirt on the façade. In general, the longer without cleaning, the dirtier the façade tends to be.
Cleaning products
Determining the type of dirt is also important to know which cleaning products to use.
Facades with dirt more difficult to be removed need products considered non-alkaline, that is, more abrasive and with greater cleaning power.
On the other hand, for facades where cleaning is carried out regularly and the dirt is less impregnated, the option should be for alkaline products, such as neutral detergents.
Remembering that the choice of product must also take into account the type of material used in the facade, as some products can corrode and damage the material. Check out the most common materials used in facades and the cleaning recommendation for each of them below:
Concrete or masonry
Facades with a simple masonry finish, that is, those finished only with painting, must be cleaned by brushing or washing. The most suitable products for this type of facade are non-alkaline, since the dirt is usually more impregnated in this type of material.
Glass
Glass is a noble material that adds a lot of value to building facades. However, the material requires more frequent cleaning, as dirt is more easily perceived.
In this case, detergents are the most suitable cleaning products, as they do not cause stains on the material’s surface.
Steel
Steel sheets are modern and are increasingly being used in commercial and residential building facades. Cleaning this type of material is very specific and requires prior knowledge. The use of alkaline cleaning products is the most recommended for this type of façade.
Ceramics
Ceramic is one of the most popular materials for finishing facades. The most suitable cleaning method in this case is brushing or washing, usually done with alkaline products such as detergents.
Service execution
After planning, it’s time to start cleaning the façade. Here, the syndic has two options: hiring professionals directly or closing the service with an outsourced company.
Nowadays there are several companies that perform facade cleaning. The advantage of this outsourcing is that the contracted company is responsible for everything: for professionals, cleaning products and security. The condominium only needs to pay for the service.
But if the intention is for direct hiring, then it is the condominium that needs to be responsible for the safety of the professionals and for all the materials needed to carry out the service.
Facade cleaning techniques
There are several different techniques used for cleaning facades. The choice between one and the other depends, above all, on the height of the building. Here are the safest and most used options:
scaffolding
Scaffolds are metallic structures assembled so that the cleaning professional can have access to all points of the façade. This is a safe option, however it is not recommended for buildings over 40 meters tall.
Scaffolding also requires space for installation, that is, a minimum measure of sidewalk is required for its assembly.
Hand tools
Cleaning with hand tools is only recommended for low-rise buildings and still with caveats as it exposes the worker to imminent risks. This is because the professional uses the windows as a support point for cleaning, which is usually carried out only with a squeegee and hand brush.
Another problem is the effectiveness of this type of cleaning, as it is not always possible to have access to all parts of the building.
Platform
The platform lift is the safest and most efficient cleaning method that currently exists when it comes to façade maintenance.
In this type of cleaning, the professional is taken to the cleaning point by means of a platform fixed to a truck.
Climber
Almost an adventure sport, cleaning the façade with a climber, also known as rappelling, is carried out using steel cables where the professional is suspended in the air.
This cleaning method is suitable for very tall buildings, where the lifting platform, for example, would not be sufficient.
For this type of cleaning, it is essential to have highly trained professionals.
Cleaning frequency
After cleaning is complete, it is important to set the date for the next maintenance.
Each municipality has a specific rule to determine how often building facades need to be cleaned. Generally speaking, this period varies between 3 to 5 years.
Safety standards for cleaning the facade
Safety standards are important to prevent accidents involving both workers and people who move in the vicinity of the building.
These standards may vary from municipality to municipality, but there are some that are valid throughout the country, such as the NR35 standard issued by the Ministry of Labor.
This standard concerns the care to be taken in services performed at great heights and must be respected by both employees and companies.
The standard requires the use of individual and collective protection equipment, such as ropes, helmets, vests and safety nets.
Before cleaning the façade, it is important to pay attention to all the rules and check with the city hall if there are other rules, rules or laws to be respected at the municipal level.
Facade cleaning prices
Prices for cleaning the facade vary widely and depend on several factors, such as the height of the building, the type of material used in the facade, the degree of difficulty in carrying out cleaning and the method that will be used.
The total cost is calculated per square meter. Just to give you an idea, the cleaning method with the lowest value on the market is manual cleaning, with values from R$ 22 per meter, while cleaning with a lift platform is the most expensive, with values from BRL 35.
The material with the highest cleaning cost is glass, which can cost BRL 37 per meter, followed by concrete (BRL 36), ceramics (BRL 33) and, finally, steel with an average cleaning cost a from R$31.
Remembering that it is still necessary to add to these costs the value of cleaning products and the rental of equipment, such as scaffolding and platforms.
