Best Render Cleaner to Maintain a Healthy House

In the quest to maintain a well-presented home, knowing how to clean your render effectively is essential. This insight explores the best render cleaners, their applications, and the detailed methods to clean various types of render.

Understanding Render and its Care

Render, an exterior finish applied to buildings, can lose its charm due to exposure to weather conditions, leading to the growth of algae, mould, and fungi. This necessitates the use of the best render cleaner to maintain the aesthetic appeal of the property.

Using the right cleaning methods and chemicals, you can prevent damage to the render, avoid unnecessary re-rendering, and prolong the lifespan of your rendered surfaces.

The Importance of Cleaning Render

Preventive maintenance and regular cleaning of render can save you money in the long-term, reducing the risk of costly repairs or replacements. Over time, render can become discoloured due to dirt, algae, mould, and other environmental factors. Regular cleaning helps to maintain the original colour and prevent damage to the render.

For the longevity of your rendered area, regular maintenance is crucial. This involves periodic cleaning every 6-12 months. Regular upkeep can prevent the need for harsh and dangerous solvents or acid-based cleaners on the surface of the render.

Choosing the Best Render Cleaner

When selecting the best render cleaner, it's crucial to consider the type of render you have and the level of staining or algae growth. Detergents, biocides, and fungicides are commonly used to clean render and remove algae growth.

For minor algae growth, a detergent with a light brush can suffice. However, for more severe cases, it's advisable to employ professional render cleaning services. 

The Best Render Cleaner: Softwash Treatment

Render Cleaner Softwash Solution

Floorseal's Professional Quality Render Cleaner is a powerful and effective cleaning agent designed to remove green algae, red algae, and black lichens from any type of render or masonry. It can be diluted or used neat, making it suitable for both professionals and DIYers. Apply it with a pump-up sprayer or brush, keep it wet for 15 minutes or more, and see rapid results! This versatile cleaner works on various surfaces like render, stone, brick, tiles, and concrete. 

How to Apply Floorseal

Floorseal should be applied to a dry surface whenever possible. On a very hot day, especially on an elevation facing the sun, it can be beneficial to hose down the surface to cool it. This minimises the possibility of the biocide "boiling-off" before it can work.

Using the best render cleaner and the right techniques, you can maintain the look of your property and prolong the life of your render. Regular maintenance and professional cleaning services can ensure your render stays in top condition for years to come.

To apply the render cleaner correctly, use a pump up spray such as the spear & jackson sprayer below.

Spear & Jackson Sprayer

The Process of Professional Render Cleaning

Professional render cleaning services, begin with an evaluation of the render and the staining found on it. They then choose the correct methods and cleaning solutions for your building. If the algae growth is low, a simple biocide application may be enough. For black mould stains, they would softwash the render using detergent, followed by a steam clean at low pressure.

Sometimes, re-rendering becomes necessary, especially when the render damage has been extensive. Patch repairs can look out of place and are generally not recommended unless absolutely necessary.

Hand Cleaning and Pressure Cleaning

Hand cleaning is a simple yet effective method for cleaning render. Scrubbing the surface with a stiff broom and hosing it down can prevent the formation of dry grime and residue.

If you prefer to use a pressure cleaner, it's important to use a fan tip and maintain a spray pressure of 80-120Psi to avoid damaging the rendered finish.

Using Cleaning Fluids and Handling Mould

Most generic household cleaners are safe for general cleaning of render. Products like CCS Citric Cleaner are effective in removing grease, oil, and efflorescence. For rust stains, CLR Cleaner is recommended.

Mould and mildew often grow in areas with high levels of humidity or where water leaks occur. To handle this, apply a residual fungicidal wash like Acryloc Mould Rid, which remains on the surface and kills mould as it hatches from the spores.

Soft Washing Techniques for Different Types of Render

Understanding the type of render to be cleaned is essential for choosing the most effective treatment system. Different techniques are used to soft wash various types of render.

The Importance of Rinsing

Rinsing is an essential part of the render cleaning process. It ensures the salts left behind by the breakdown of chlorine, which could leave stains if not rinsed properly, are removed.

Should You Pressure Wash Render?

Pressure washing render can be a controversial topic, and the decision to do so depends on the condition of the render and proper precautions taken. Pressure washing can effectively remove dirt, algae, and grime from the surface, restoring the render's appearance. However, there are potential risks associated with pressure washing:

• Damage to Render: Excessive pressure or improper technique can cause damage to the render's surface, leading to cracks or erosion. Soft or old render is particularly vulnerable to damage from high-pressure water.
• Water Penetration: High-pressure water can force water into small cracks and gaps in the render, potentially causing moisture issues inside the walls.
• Staining: If the pressure washer is not used carefully, it can leave streaks or watermarks on the render, making it look worse than before.

If you choose to pressure wash render, consider the following precautions:

• Use Low Pressure: Use a low-pressure setting or start with a test area to gauge the impact on the render before cleaning the entire surface.
• Maintain Distance: Keep a safe distance from the render while pressure washing to minimize the risk of damage.
• Angle of Spray: Direct the spray at a downward angle to prevent water from getting behind the render.
• Consider Alternatives: If the render is fragile or in poor condition, consider alternative cleaning methods such as soft washing or chemical cleaning.
• Professional Help: If you are unsure or have concerns about pressure washing, it's best to seek the advice of a professional cleaning service with experience in handling render.

Ultimately, pressure washing render can be effective if done carefully and with the proper precautions. However, if you are uncertain or worried about potential risks, it's safer to opt for alternative cleaning methods or seek professional assistance.

Read More:

• Does Home Insurance Cover Cracked Render?
• Best Masonry (Render) Paint

Helpful Sources:

• Leeksons
• Floorseal