Dirt: it's an annoying fact of life. At some stage, the outside of all buildings will become grubby, coated in grime, pollution and organic matter.
When a wall needs cleaning, most people grab a bucket and a brush and get scrubbing, or blast the surface with a pressure washer. However, this could spell disaster for your walls! Using the wrong method could cause long-term damage that will cost a lot of money to put right.
In most cases, hiring a professional masonry and brick-cleaning company like RenWash is the best solution, as we have the skills, tools and methods to get the job done efficiently with perfect results. And one of the best methods available is the DOFF cleaning system.
The DOFF steam cleaning system was developed by a professional conservation and restoration company called Stonehealth Limited. They recognised the need for cleaning methods that were gentle enough for use on historical buildings that would remove grime effectively from stone surfaces without causing damage to the delicate surfaces beneath.
Stonehealth specially designed the DOFF system to use less water than other steam cleaning methods. Superheated water is sprayed through the nozzle end at low pressure, where it hits the surface at a temperature of 150º c.
No harmful residue is left on the surface, which is clean and dry within minutes.
DOFF steam cleaning was essentially designed to clean stone. However, it is highly effective and gentle enough for use on a variety of different surfaces, including:
This covers most materials that you'd find on the exterior of most buildings, and in our experience, this cleaning system is suitable for other surfaces not mentioned here.
For example, although public opinion is split on the subject of concrete architecture (particularly from the 1960s and 1970s), some are now classed as listed buildings and require extra attention and maintenance to preserve them. DOFF cleaning has played a significant role in concrete renovations, preserving these unique sites for the future.
The DOFF steam cleaning process is highly effective in removing all manner of dirt, grime and foreign substances.
Here are a few examples of what the DOFF system can tackle:
Algae, moss, lichen, mould and fungi can all be eliminated from external surfaces along with the stains they leave. The super-heated water also kills spores and bacteria, ruling out the need for potentially harmful chemicals and ensuring that the organic growth doesn't return for a good while.
Airborne pollution can be a real pain. Exhaust fumes (and, in the past, chimney smoke) leave black sooty stains on external surfaces, hiding the original stone or brick colour. This is more of a problem in built-up areas although nowhere is completely immune.
DOFF cleaning cuts through this muck, revealing the beauty of the original building material.
Painting the outside of a brick house is fine if the right paint is used on the correct type of brick and the wall is maintained properly. However, flaking paint can be a problem, allowing moisture to sit between the paint and the wall surface which encourages dampness and can lead to spalling and crumbling bricks.
There are many reasons why it's best to leave bricks unpainted, and RenWash can restore your walls, stripping off the old paint easily and effectively with the DOFF steam cleaning process.
This also works on many kinds of wax coatings, as well as oil, tar and bitumen.
Bird fouling/vermin fouling is unpleasant and carries a health risk. It can also stain bricks and stone, so it needs special attention. Thankfully, the DOFF cleaning process can remove this and sterilise the surface, making it a perfect solution.
Unfortunately, nobody is immune to the scourge of this form of mindless vandalism. The good news is the DOFF cleaning system is brilliant at cleaning graffiti damage. In our experience, once the RenWash team have worked their magic, you can't even tell that the graffiti had ever been there.
An unusual one, but this is much more of a problem than you might guess! Councils across the UK spend a total of at least £60 million per year on the removal of chewing gum from our footpaths. Chewing gum not only presents a risk to wildlife, but it also stains stone and brick surfaces.
The super-efficient DOFF steam cleaning process removes staining and makes the surface bacteria-free.
If you like the sound of this machine and want to hire a DOFF steam cleaner for your own stone cleaning, concrete cleaning or brick cleaning project, our best advice to you is DON'T DO IT.
In all probability, you won't find anyone willing to hire out the equipment. Even so, if you do find a tool-hire centre that does hire our DOFF steam cleaning machine, it's not a good idea to do so.
These are highly complex machines that require a lot of training to use competently, safely and effectively. Fortunately, RenWash cleaning specialists have extensive experience in all types of cleaning equipment and have been fully trained in the use of DOFF machines.
Of all the cleaning techniques we use, DOFF cleaning has grown in popularity due to its many advantages over other cleaning methods, particularly when dealing with heritage sites.
Here are a few of the benefits for you to consider:
*Thermal shock occurs when certain materials (like stone, concrete and brick) experience rapid temperature changes and react violently, often resulting in severe cracking.
You could wash your own walls, but unless you have the right equipment and a bit of knowledge about the materials involved, you could be wasting your time (and money). Elbow grease is fine, but it won't achieve the same results as a professional cleaning session.
And if you use the wrong method, for example, a power washer on a high-pressure setting, you could end up damaging the wall or the mortar pointing in between.
But your walls do need cleaning, or they will suffer in the end.
Eventually, they will become damaged as lichen, moss and algae take hold. Atmospheric pollution and bird droppings are acidic and corrosive, breaking down the outer layer of the brick and stone. A coating of grime stops porous surfaces from working properly. They are unable to breathe, expelling any excess moisture, resulting in mould growth and rising/penetrating damp within the building.
RenWash will resolve this problem by making your walls spotless and increasing their lifespan.
It's impossible to give accurate pricing details without knowing the specifics of the project. We need to know the full details, such as:
Once we have a better idea of the work involved, we can provide a properly repaired quote that's tailored to your unique circumstances.
Although the RenWash team is trained in other cleaning methods, the DOFF system is a definite favourite, basically because it produces such spectacular results!
We've seen the many benefits it offers, and that it is suitable for all types of buildings and building materials. We've also examined the many different substances that it can effectively remove.
So, why wait to book your DOFF cleaning session with RenWash? Those walls won't get any cleaner if you leave them! Let RenWash restore your walls to their former glory with the DOFF steam cleaning system.
Call us today for a free quote and to discover our full range of exceptional property cleaning services.
DOFF cleaning uses high-temperature steam to clean surfaces. It works by using a machine to generate high-pressure steam, which is then directed at the surface to be cleaned. This steam is capable of washing away dirt, grime, and other surface buildup.
DOFF cleaning is more powerful and effective than traditional methods such as pressure washing because it can remove dirt and grime at quite a high temperature while being less abrasive on the surface being cleaned.
The DOFF system is capable of cleaning a variety of surfaces, including stone, brick, concrete, and other building materials. It is frequently used to clean historic structures, monuments, and sculptures.
The frequency of DOFF cleaning will be determined by the state of the building or structure as well as the amount of dirt and grime present. A professional evaluation of the building is generally recommended to determine the frequency of cleaning.
