Hard Surfaces

HOW TO CLEAN HARD SURFACES ON YOUR PROPERTY 

This time of year, it’s even more important to keep the hard surfaces on your property clean. What’s included when we say ‘hard surfaces’? That’s things like your driveway, render, patio, walkway, driveway and outside steps, the list goes on and on. So, in this blog, we’re going to answer why keeping these things clean this time of year is important and we’ll be arming you with the knowledge of how to do so.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO CLEAN THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME?

Nowadays, there is a lot of talk both online and in the real world about how and why you should keep the inside of your home clean, but what about the outside? The exterior of your home is just as, if not, more important than the interior. You may have noticed that this time of year, when it’s cold, windy and rainy, the hard surfaces on the exterior of your property take a real battering from mother nature. What we mean by this is that surfaces begin to discolour and turn an unattractive dark green, things like patios and drives become slippery and overall, the exterior of your home appears dirty, unkept and unmaintained. 

With rain and lack of sunlight, the perfect environment has been created for green algae to discolour your hard surfaces and cause them to become slippery, which could lead to injuries and accidents. With the right approach, you can fight back against the elements and keep your home’s exterior looking great and functioning at its best.

RENDER PROPERTY CLEANING

Rendered properties are often victims of the above. If you’ve noticed your rendered property begin to stain or spot several splotches of algae, there are a few steps to take to fix this. Firstly, It’s important to know what type of render you have. Different varieties will require a different cleaning approach. If you don’t know, ask the manufacturer or a cleaning team like ours who could help you out. Next up, you want to assess your outside walls and figure out what you’re up against – dirt, algae or something else? As long as the stains on your property aren’t too badly ingrained then a power wash with a pressure washer is your best approach; these can work wonders at lifting the dirt and grime and restoring your render’s natural colour. Be warned that not all renders are suitable for a power wash and some stains may be too deep for the pressure washer.

When dealing with render, biocide is also a must-have. Algae growth is a serious issue with some rendered properties and biocide is the best way to remove algae and, at the same time, reduce the risk of regrowth. To best prevent algae growth, biocide should be applied to the render at least once a year.

PATIOS, DRIVEWAYS AND PATHS

We spoke before about hard surfaces not only turning green and dirty but also becoming slippery. When it comes to your patios, driveways and paths or anywhere someone has to walk on to either enter or exit your property, the last thing you want them to be is slippery. As with some rendered properties, pressure washing is a great tool to turn to. But also like rendered properties, sometimes a quick power wash isn’t enough. Sometimes, powerful chemicals and specialist equipment are what’s needed to return your surfaces to their original state, if at all possible!

IN CONCLUSION 

It’s so important to keep those hard surfaces clean for both the condition and look of your property. The absolute best course of action you can take is to consult with a specialist cleaning company, like T.N Exterior Property Cleaning. We have the knowledge and equipment to cure any individual’s hard surface cleaning issues – we find the right approach, pick the right equipment and provide the best results.