Although most types of render offer a clean, modern, and attractive finish for your home that will last for more than 20 years, due to its porous nature, it will require regular cleaning. This guide reveals how to carry out house render cleaning and ensure that you thoroughly clean and maintain your coloured render without damaging it.
This guide also teaches you how to remove green algae, which is a common issue for those with rendered walls.
Hand Cleaning Render
During the house render cleaning process, there are a variety of methods that you can use, however, one of the simplest and most effective is to use a stiff broom and hose. By working this way, you may avoid a dry film that can be difficult to remove.
The first step is to clean off any loose dirt. You can do this by using a brush, or even just your hand if you have enough patience. Next, wipe off the render with a stiff broom. If you don’t have one of those handy, try using a hose instead! Rinse it all down with clean water, and then use a brush or sponge to wipe off any remaining grime and dirt.
Pressure Cleaning Render
Pressure cleaning is a powerful method of removing dirt and grime from your house. It uses high-pressure water jets to dislodge stuck-on dirt, which can then be rinsed away using a strong hose.
There are two types of pressure cleaners: upright and mobile. Upright cleaners tend to be heavier and more powerful than their portable cousins, but they’re less convenient for use on the move around your home as they don’t have wheels. An electric or petrol-powered pressure washer is best if you want a model that’s easier to manoeuvre around your property without taking up too much space in your garage or shed.
Whether you’re using an electric or petrol model, make sure that it has a fan tip rather than needlepoint – this will enable you to clean surfaces more gently without damaging them with excessive heat and force. Ensure that any accessories fitted onto the machine (such as nozzles) are designed specifically for use with domestic appliances before connecting it up.
When using any machine with high levels of pressure such as these, you will also need to ensure that children stay well away from its operation area while also wearing protective clothing (including waterproof gloves) when operating the machine.
Avoid contact between skin/clothing/eyes with chemical substances used during the cleaning process because they might cause irritation upon contact.
Safe Cleaning Products
The first step to cleaning your home’s exterior is to determine what surface you’re working with.
Usually, generic household cleaners are safe for all of these surfaces—provided that they’re not exposed to rain or snow during the cleaning process.
You’ll want to use different chemicals on each surface because they react differently under different conditions and require different degrees of scrubbing power depending on how much efflorescence has accumulated over time.
A mixture of biodegradable detergents and citrus oils is often recommended as an effective combination for removing grease and oil stains from stone patios; however this might be too harsh if left outside overnight during bad weather conditions. This could result in water damage in certain freezing temperatures before drying out completely again afterwards.
To avoid this, try using a mixture instead which uses less harsh chemicals such as baking soda instead (but still contains ingredients like baking soda) since these will help neutralise any acidic residue left behind after scrubbing off existing stains first before adding anything else onto top later down road after doing so already successfully removes most traces.
Mould & Mildew
Mould and mildew are fungi that can be harmful to both your health and your property. They thrive in humid environments, so if you live in a region with high levels of humidity, it’s important to keep an eye out for mould growth.
Mould spores are everywhere, so it might take some time before you notice any signs of fungal growth on your walls. However, if you see black or white spots appearing on the surface of your renderings, then this could be a sign of mould or mildew growing underneath the surface.
You can use a residual fungicidal wash such as Everbuild or Ronseal, to prevent further growth as well as treat existing infestations safely without having to remove all existing renderings
Steps to Complete After A House Render Cleaning
Keep an eye out for vegetation
Make sure you remove any ivy, moss or other greenery using a brush. This is an important step to keep your home looking at its best and avoid making it look grubby. Organic growth on the surface of rendered walls can cause discolouration and may affect the longevity of the wall.
Wash it down
One of the easiest ways to keep your house looking good is to get a hose and wash it down. We recommend using a high-pressure hose, because this will help you get into all the corners and crevices. Don’t forget to use a brush!
Be sure to try washing your house at least once a year, preferably in spring or summer when mould tends to be more prevalent due to warmer temperatures. However, pressure washing is unsuitable for dry dash finishes since it can damage them over time; if you do decide to pressure wash your home yourself, be sure not only that there’s no mould on it but also that there isn’t any tree sap or other sticky substances on any surfaces
Protect Your Render
Once the render is cleaned and polished, protect it to keep it looking its best. There are a variety of products on the market that can help you achieve this goal.
Some of these include:
- A sealant – this will prevent water damage by creating a barrier between your home and external elements like rain, wind and sun. It also prevents mould growth by preventing moisture from entering the surface of your wall (which is where most mould spores thrive). However, some sealants contain harmful chemicals or may not be suitable for use. Do contact a professional renderer to check the suitability.
- A hydrophobic coating – these coatings repel water from reaching surfaces such as glass or plastic so dirt does not stick to them as easily during rainy weather conditions when there’s increased risk for water damage occurring inside your home due to condensation forming on windows due being exposed too long periods without being wiped clean (this happens often during winter months).
Conclusion
House render cleaning is an important part of maintaining your home but is also one that many people do not enjoy doing. However, it can be made easier by following the steps outlined above.
If you still feel that all of this is overwhelming and would like some help, then you can always get in touch with professional rendering contractors like those here at Ralph Plastering.
