The appearance of your commercial property can have an impact on how customers and clients view your business. Also, keeping your commercial property clean through regular power washing shows employees that you have pride in the company. This pride can also carry over to employees.
While many business owners understand the importance of keeping their property clean and attractive, many are still not sure how often they should get their building power washed. While there is not always a clear-cut answer and sometimes unpredictable concerns develop that may lead to the need for an additional powerwash, there are ways to determine in general how often power washing is recommended for your commercial property.
How Buildings Gather Grime and Dirt
Commercial properties are vulnerable to a collection of grime, dirt and other aesthetic concerns on walls and roofs. In addition to the natural way of collecting dirt through dirt and grime that gets caught up in the wind, buildings may require power washing for the following reasons:
- Pollution
- Mildew
- Birds
- Grease
- Graffiti
Over time, a collection of all or most of the above can occur, leading to more severe concerns that require extensive cleaning. Through regular power washing, commercial properties can keep their pristine appearance. In many instances, the regularly scheduled power wash may serve as more of a preventive approach than it does as a treatment for a build-up of grime, dirt and other debris.
Best Time for Power Washing
The best time for power washing is not the same for every business. There are certain factors that may cause a building to need more frequent power washes, whereas others may not need one nearly as often.
Perhaps the most notable factor is location. Commercial properties that are located in colder climates often require more regular power washing. This is because snow, ice and other effects of cold weather can damage and stain the exterior fairly quickly.
With that said, buildings in warmer areas are vulnerable as well, but the vulnerabilities are different. Most notably, warm climates increase the chance of mildew.
In general, the best time for power washing if you live in a cold area such as West Chester, PA is before and after the wintertime. During the winter might be acceptable as well, but the property may just get dirty again. Instead, a fall and spring powerwash is recommended. For warmer locations, a powerwash right before the warmer time of the year might be all that is needed.
Benefits of Annual Power Washes
There are many benefits to washing a commercial property once a year, and the benefits are even more substantial for bi-annual power washing. Understanding the benefits of an annual power wash helps business owners decide for themselves whether or not they should order a powerwash annually, bi-annually or not at all. The more notable benefits include:
- Improved curb appeal
- Thorough cleaning
- Better air quality
- Preventive maintenance
Perhaps the main reason business owners decide to have their building power washed is to improve the attractiveness of the exterior. The fact is a dirty building is not that appealing, and it may turn away prospective customers or clients. Additionally, the air quality can be improved by removing built-up dirt and grime through a deep powerwash of the walls, roof and more. Even if there is not a noticeable buildup of pollutants, a powerwash annually can serve a preventive purpose.
Biannual Power Washes: Spring and Autumn
The best way to ensure your commercial property remains in good condition all year long is through biannual power washing. Regardless of whether you live in a warm or cold climate, the two best seasons for power washing are spring and autumn.
For cold climates, this washes away grime and dirt before and after cold weather. For warmer climates, spring and autumn power washes prevent and quickly eliminate any early signs of mildew. Of course, there might be unexpected times that occur that call for the need for an unexpected power wash, such as graffiti on the side of your building.
Also, keep in mind that no two buildings are the same. One might be more vulnerable due to the age of the exterior, the water draining system (or lack thereof) and other factors that affect how quickly commercial properties buildup grime and dirt.
Schedule Your Next Power Wash
If your building has a buildup of dirt, grime or other concerns that affect the appearance of the exterior of your property, call our team here at Waterproof Caulking and Restoration to schedule your next power wash. We have seen first hand the benefits regular power washing can have on a company.
Our friendly team is more than happy to answer your questions related to how often you should get your building power washed, along with other ways to keep your commercial property in great shape.