RESTORING A POLLUTED FACADE – CLEANING THE FACADE WITH YOUR OWN HANDS
The facade completes the overall character of our home and is also the owner’s calling card. It forms the essential foundation of the house and, in order to be useful, must meet certain requirements. Facade care is therefore very important. After all, we all want to live in a house that we enjoy and creates a place where we want to spend time. The facade, like everything around us, gets dirty over time. Then it is necessary to clean the facade yourself or with the help of a professional. This cleaning of the facade yourself or with a company must be timely, correctly implemented and, last but not least, honestly completed with high-quality impregnation, which will ensure that the facade does not start to get dirty again and thus postpone further cleaning of the facade for several years. The vast majority of dirt on the facade is biological in nature. It can be attacked by mold, fungi, algae, or moss. The rest of the dirt is mostly dust and sand, which is easier to remove. What causes facade pollution? There are several scientifically proven factors that directly affect the pollution of facades. What are they? Let’s take a look at them together.
1. Construction errors
Incorrect connections or faulty rainwater drainage cause damp spots on the wall and the formation of mould.
2. Greenery and shade
If the facade is covered by large vegetation or another building, the resulting wet areas require more time to dry. This moisture supports the formation of algae, fungi and bacteria.
3. Short roof overhang
The roof is supposed to protect the house from rain and subsequent pollution of the facade. If the roof is long enough, it will prevent dampness and fungal infestation.
4. Improper ventilation
Mold forms just above the windows due to improper ventilation. The reason is that the window fan vent leaves warm air outside, where it condenses and creates a perfect environment for fungal growth.
5. Low building base
For buildings with facade plaster, it is necessary to ensure that the building base is high enough. It prevents soil moisture from reaching the facade plaster.
6. Weather
We are in a climate that has all seasons. We experience heavy rains and moderate temperatures. They create ideal conditions for the formation of algae, fungi and bacteria.
7. Air pollution
Increased pollution in rural areas and poorer air quality in cities promote the growth of microorganisms.
8. Common pollution
In cities, it is caused by exhaust fumes and road dirt. In rural areas, it is agriculture and forestry that are the sources of pollution of all types of facades.
9. Thermal insulation
We insulate to keep the heat in the house and to save on heating costs. However, if the insulation is too high, the temperature difference between the inner and outer walls is large. Condensation occurs on the surface.
How to clean a facade yourself?
A skilled home craftsman can perform routine facade cleaning on his own. However, those who do not feel like cleaning can find many companies on the Internet that are professionally engaged in facade cleaning. Dust, algae and mold deposits can be effectively removed with the right water pressure, together with suitable facade cleaning products. However, to avoid any undesirable or insufficient results when cleaning a facade withIf you need help, you can leave the facade in the hands of professionals. They know which cleaner to use for which dirt so as not to damage the facade. They usually also provide a guarantee for the work and it is worth taking advantage of this. A professional will also confirm to you that cleaning without impregnation of the facade has only a very limited meaning and often such cleaning without impregnation is counterproductive. Cleaning creates microcracks, which if not impregnated in time, create a suitable environment for mold growth and so a facade cleaned by yourself can look worse in a short time than before cleaning.
What are the best do-it-yourself facade cleaning products?
On the market today, you can find various do-it-yourself facade cleaning products. Some are based on acidic or alkaline chemistry, others are natural, more friendly to the environment and human health. It is important to consider the source of the facade pollution when choosing. If dust has settled on the surface, it is necessary to focus on products that eliminate or decompose grease. Dust usually remains settled on a greasy film, which gradually covers the facade. The source of grease is most often traffic, factory emissions, or smog caused by solid fuel heating. In our offer you will find, for example, Isokor Facade, which is made only from natural substances and is therefore harmless to health and environmentally friendly. At the same time, it is gentle on the color of the facade. If there are isolated black or green stains on the facade, it is necessary to use more intensive preparations that work on the basis of alkaline active substances such as hydroxides or various salts. From our offer, we recommend using Isokor Facade Professional for green and black stains. Cleaning the facade yourself must be carried out consistently and thoroughly. Before starting cleaning, it is very important to think about how you will proceed, prepare all the materials and cleaning tools, and study the instructions for use of the products you are going to use in detail. If you decide to use ISOKOR products for cleaning the facade, do not hesitate to contact us by phone before cleaning. We will be happy to advise you and help you achieve the maximum possible effect and the best possible result of cleaning the facade yourself. In the second phase, it is necessary to impregnate the facade. When impregnating, whether through a professional company or by yourself, it is very good to pay attention to the quality of the product used, as well as its correct application. The price difference between a quality impregnation and a cheap product with a short lifespan is usually negligible compared to the cost of labor and scaffolding rental. If a quality impregnation with a guarantee of 8-10 years costs 2-3 euros per square meter and a short-term impregnation costs around one euro, it is a good idea to consider when we next want to repeat the entire process, i.e. cleaning the facade and impregnation, and how much we will save by using a quality product. It is therefore a good idea to consult an expert who has experience in this field. In the long term, one short consultation with an expert can save you hundreds to thousands of euros. At Isokor, we focus on top-quality facade protection. The Isokor SW EKO product, which has an impregnation and protective effect while not changing the appearance of the substrate, can last on a healthy facade for more than 10 years. After cleaning the facade and applying the impregnation, an invisible layer is formed on the surface that repels water and dirt, but does not prevent the passage of vapor. If you would like to enhance the color of the facade at the same time as protecting it from dirt, Isokor Facade Colour Revital is the perfect solution for you. The product enhances and revives the original color of the facade, thus largely replacing the need to repaint the facade. With a very strong athe surface continues to breathe freely.
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