Maintenance and Cleaning of Metal Wall Cladding- Explained
While a structure is being constructed, long term cleaning and maintenance requirements are taken into consideration before finalizing the materials to be used. The major of the increasing popularity of Metal wall cladding for both commercial and building developments is that they are easy to maintain. Although they too need to be taken care of. Here are a few things you must know about metal wall cladding and its maintenance:
Why is Maintenance of Your Metal Wall Cladding Important?
Even though metal cladding materials are long lasting and need low maintenance, they are not resilient to dirt. If surface dirt is left to accumulate for a long time on metal cladding, then it can impact the integrity of the material and even reduce the visual appeal of the whole structure. Along with harsh atmospheric conditions, dirt, spiderwebs and other bug debris that gets collected in the express joints and seams of a system can harm the cladding too. Regular maintenance of not only makes the structure look visually pleasing but it also avoids potential risks of leaking, denting, corrosion and degradation.
How to Clean Metal Cladding Panels?
You can easily clean the metal wall cladding if you keep a few things in mind:
1. The first thing you need to do is identify the type of dirt you’re trying to remove, industrial air chemicals, cobwebs, dirt from the air, general dust, rain spots, bird droppings, dirt from the air, salt spray, etc.
2. Now that you’ve recognized the type of dirt, nominate your cleaning method. There are two main ways through which you can clean a cladding system:
● You can use a soft bristle brush or broom and wipe the facade if there is dry dirt such as dust from the air, cobwebs, etc. This will remove the dirt that is most visible.
● If you want to remove salt spray or bird droppings, it will be best if you start with a dry wash. You can use a broom or a brush first to remove the visible dirt, and then use water to clean the rest.
3. Never use harsh chemicals to clean metal, because they could react with natural alloys such as zinc and copper and alter the appearance. In some cases, such as pre-finished aluminium and steel wall cladding, you can use chemical cleaners to remove coated layers. But water is the safest option.
4. If your cladding is not exposed to regular rainfall (under a covered deck or pergola) and is located in a harsh atmospheric environment, you need to pay extra attention to it. Harmful dirt which is capable of eroding the base metal could accumulate without regular rain cleaning.
5. If there are any branches which keep coming in contact with the cladding, it is better to trim them or cut them off, as they can also cause damage to the surface.
Many manufacturers and wall cladding suppliers issue maintenance documents which contain cleaning recommendations such as suggested methods and cleaning intervals. All of these suggestions are dependent on factors such as the type of metal wall cladding, project location and exposure to climate. It is suggested to go through these guidelines and follow them to make your structure last long.
