To wash or not to wash - 5 considerations about building washing in NZ
To Wash or Not to Wash your Building – 5 Considerations about
Building Washing in New Zealand
Knowing whether to invest in basic services like building washing is tough. On the one hand it’s hard to see where your money is going. On the other, it’s obvious and costly when it isn’t done. In this article we will discuss some considerations when looking at building washing.
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Corrosion Zones
New Zealand is a marine environment. Our coastline runs for 15000km making it the 9th longest in the world. At the country’s widest part, it is only 225km from the sea. 80% of our population is within 20km of the coast. This environment puts unique pressure on any cladding and coating systems. The constant build-up of salts, combined with prevailing winds, ensures no areas are spared. Regular washing will prevent this from getting a foothold, and corrosion developing past the point of no return.
Product Warranties
Have you ever read the warranty document for your roof or exterior cladding? Most steel cladding suppliers offer 20-30yr warranties on their product, and then make regular washing a condition of the warranty. Typically, in the event of a claim, they will want to see receipts as proof that washing has been carried out on a regular basis. Decorative products like ALUCOBOND recommend that it gets washed as regularly as you wash windows!
Competitive benefits
In challenging economic times, companies must do everything they can to stand out from their competitors. Customers become more critical of their surroundings and smart companies know they must invest in keeping their brand to the highest level. Building washing is a low-cost way of showing customers you still care about them.
Paint Protection
Regular washing of painted surfaces is also key to increasing the lifespan and appearance of the coating. Most paint manufacturers such as Wattyl, Resene and Dulux recommend their products are washed to prevent damage from airborne contaminants and salts. While they all have their own recommended proprietary products for cleaning, most conventional products will work fine.
Bonus benefits of Inspection and Reporting
An often-overlooked bonus of regular washing is you can easily incorporate an inspection into the process. A well-trained team can provide you with a report highlighting any issues you need to attend to before they become significant.
Often this can also be used to capture any custom data you require at the same time. For example, a national petrol station could use this process to collect photos and the serial numbers of their pumps.
Summary
Building washing is an investment which saves money on remedial work while making your asset look great. If you are serious about protecting your asset and brand, we suggest you develop a simple plan to keep up with the washing.
