Cleaning Your Building Exterior: Why Regular Exterior Cleaning Matters
The exterior of your building is constantly exposed to the elements. Rain, dirt, pollen, dust, algae, mildew, bird droppings, and other buildup can accumulate over time, leaving even a well-maintained property looking dirty and neglected.
Regular building exterior cleaning can help maintain your property’s appearance, protect exterior surfaces, and create a better first impression for customers, tenants, employees, and visitors.
Whether you manage an office building, apartment community, retail center, restaurant, warehouse, or other commercial property, professional exterior cleaning can be an important part of your property’s maintenance plan.
Why Does Building Exterior Cleaning Matter?
A clean building does more than look better.
The condition of your property’s exterior can influence how people perceive the business or organization inside. Stained concrete, dirty siding, algae growth, and grime-covered entrances can make a property appear older and less maintained than it actually is.
Regular cleaning helps keep your property looking professional and cared for.
It can also help identify areas that may need additional maintenance. Once dirt and organic growth are removed, problems such as damaged surfaces, cracks, deteriorating materials, or drainage issues can be easier to spot.
What Can Build Up on a Building Exterior?
Commercial buildings are exposed to a wide range of environmental contaminants.
Common buildup includes dirt and dust, pollen, algae, mold and mildew, bird droppings, cobwebs, leaves and organic debris, water stains, and general grime.
The type and amount of buildup can depend on the building’s location, surrounding landscaping, amount of shade, weather exposure, and exterior materials.
Buildings surrounded by mature trees or located in shaded, damp areas may be particularly susceptible to algae and organic growth.
What Areas of a Building Should Be Cleaned?
Building exterior cleaning isn’t limited to the walls.
A comprehensive exterior cleaning plan may include building siding, brick and other exterior surfaces, sidewalks and walkways, entrances and entryways, concrete areas, patios and common areas, dumpster pads, breezeways, loading areas, parking areas, and other high-traffic exterior spaces.
Different surfaces require different cleaning methods, so professional cleaning should take the material and condition of each surface into consideration.
Pressure Washing vs. Soft Washing
Not every building exterior should be cleaned using high pressure.
Pressure washing is effective for durable surfaces such as concrete and certain hardscapes where higher-pressure water can safely remove dirt and stains.
Soft washing uses lower-pressure water combined with appropriate cleaning solutions. This method can be a better choice for surfaces that could be damaged by high pressure, such as certain types of siding and other delicate exterior materials.
The goal isn’t simply to use the most pressure possible. The goal is to use the right cleaning method for the surface.
How Often Should a Building Exterior Be Cleaned?
There isn’t a universal schedule for every commercial property.
Cleaning frequency can depend on the type and size of the building, exterior materials, surrounding trees and landscaping, weather exposure, foot traffic, and how quickly dirt and organic growth accumulate.
Many commercial properties benefit from seasonal or annual exterior cleaning.
For properties with heavy tree coverage, high foot traffic, or significant exposure to dirt and moisture, more frequent cleaning may be appropriate.
A regular maintenance schedule can also help prevent the property from reaching the point where heavy buildup requires a much more intensive cleaning.
Signs Your Building May Need Exterior Cleaning
Not sure if it’s time? Take a look at the outside of your property.
- Dark streaks or discoloration on siding
- Green algae or organic growth
- Dirty or stained sidewalks
- Grimy entrances and high-traffic areas
- Cobwebs around doors and exterior fixtures
- Accumulated dirt around the building
- Stained concrete
- Dirty dumpster or service areas
- A noticeable difference between your building and neighboring properties
If you’re starting to notice these signs, it’s probably time to consider an exterior cleaning.
Exterior Cleaning for Commercial Properties
Commercial property maintenance involves a lot of moving pieces, and exterior cleaning is easy to overlook until the building becomes noticeably dirty.
Scheduling regular cleaning instead of waiting for a problem can make exterior maintenance more manageable and help keep the property looking its best throughout the year.
Professional cleaning can also be especially valuable for larger or multi-story buildings where exterior surfaces may be difficult or unsafe for property staff to access.
Choose PowerWash Pros STL for Building Exterior Cleaning
At PowerWash Pros STL, we provide professional exterior cleaning services for commercial properties throughout the St. Louis area.
We understand that commercial properties aren’t one-size-fits-all. Different buildings and surfaces require different approaches, which is why we evaluate the property and determine the appropriate cleaning method for the job.
From building exteriors and sidewalks to entryways, concrete, breezeways, and other common areas, we can help keep your property looking clean, professional, and well-maintained.
A clean building makes a better first impression.
Don’t wait until dirt and grime become impossible to ignore.
Contact PowerWash Pros STL to schedule professional building exterior cleaning in the St. Louis area.