K Rend and Algae Cleaning Tips and Advice from APT-ICC

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1 K Rend and Algae Cleaning Tips and Advice from APT-ICC Before After

2 2 1. Introduction The external walls of commercial and industrial properties can take a battering from the wet and windy British weather. The result is often discolouration and corrosion caused by moisture, which remains on the surface render, which attracts organic matter such as algae and moss. Your building will then end up covered with ugly green patches which, if remain untreated, can be hard to remove. Many owners of commercial buildings and property management companies overlook the marks and stains caused by the build up of moss and algae on their premises. Depending on how big the building is and how long the organic matter has been allowed to build up will impact hugely on how long it will take to clean the facade and what equipment will be required. Choosing the wrong equipment or cleaning methods can lead to discoloration or even damage to the surface of the building render, leaving more of an eyesore than the actual growth which was being removed. This is why it is well advised to employ the services of a specialist render cleaning company in order to ensure that damage and further staining is not incurred. At APT-ICC we have invested considerable time and money in investigating the most efficient and effective way to remove algae and moss from a building facade without causing damage to the render. The company has recently launched the new hot box cleaning system which is idealy suited for cleaning this type of finish. If the building has been completed using a K-Render systems product finish then the amount of algae is likely to be far less as the silicone technology used in K-Rend has a high degree of water repellence, resulting in a drier finish which is more resistant to algae growth. However, a K-rend rendered surface will require more careful cleaning and we recommend using a suitable detergent and algaecide and the new, low-pressure high steam washing technique like the new hot box system rather than a high power washer. This will not only clean down the surface but won t result in anyfurther damage to the appearance of your commercial or industrial property.

3 3 1. K Rend & Algae K Rend is a range of low maintenance textured silicone renders and finishes that offer a good range of colours for the exteriors of buildings. A newly rendered building looks great, especially when it is a coloured render. This type of coloured render, or K render is often sold as maintenance free. However the reality is within a few years algae often appears on the surface of the render making the new render look old and dirty. Algae is probably the most common problem when it comes to render cleaning. As well as ruining the building s appearance, algae tends to grow within the pores of brickwork, leading to structural weaknesses which can become dangerous if left untreated. Our research shows that using specialist cleaning products, such as our specially developed Algae Free product will help to kill of biological organisms such as algae and moss, ensuring that the underlying render is ready to be washed down. However, at APT-ICC we are experienced in dealing with algae growth issues on K Rend whether the growth is green, red and black algae. Due to the way in which algae spreads and then sustains itself, not many surfaces can actually repel algal growths and poor property maintenance/building and render defects can help sustain quick algae growth. If you carry out algae treatments and you have not solved any regular wetting of the algae issues then it will return quite quickly. 2.1 Green Algae on K Rend Green algae is probably the easier of three main algae to remove from K Rend. Green algae on K Rend When working on buildings with green algae, once we have established what is sustaining the algae, we then lightly spray on our specially formulated, environmentally friendly product and the algae is normally completely gone in three days although much of it wil disappear within 24 hours.

4 4 This process helps to prevent costly redecoration and you do have to be very careful if you are thinking of painting over K Rend and you should always take technical advice from the manufacturers before doing so. 2.2 Red Algae on K Rend Removal of red algae on K Rend can take longer than green but we highly recommend the same process as for green algae. The process for red algae, using our Algae Free product with a good environmental foot print, takes between one to three weeks to remove, depending on the environmental conditions. Red algae on K Rend 2.3 Black Algae on K Rend Black algae is the hardest to remove and it may take two treatments to either remove it or at least to improve the aspect of the walls in question. We recommend soft washing our product into the black algae and rinse it off within 48 hours and then schedule in a follow up visit a few weeks later if necessary. Black algae on K Rend We have enjoyed considerable success with black algae removal. However we cannot stress the importance of understanding if something is sustaining the algae then you will need to get specialists to carry out remedial works to the building immediately to help the treatment be more effective and longer lasting.

5 5 Low Pressure Render Cleaning Some companies will suggest repainting a K-render surface once it shows algae growth but this can be costly and 99% of the time unnecessary. At APT-ICC we have a track record in removing the algae from the K Rendered surface in nearly all instances. If a K Render is cleaned using high pressurized water damage to the surface is likely to occur. In some cases high pressure cleaning can ruin the surface and may then need to be replaced. That is why we only clean render using low pressure cleaning techniques, but using high flow rates on our machines, meaning a low pressure, thorough clean. High pressure jetting will not clean render to the same level we achieve by using our specially developed chemical, APT Algae Free. APT-ICC is a specialist company that offers a range of high level cleaning solutions to commercial property owners as well as a range of specially developed industrial cleaning products. To find out more about our services, just call us on: Or visit our website at: