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Are algae problems making your property look like it belongs at the bottom of an old fish tank next to the dilapidated castle and a fake plant? Is your render so badly covered in greens, reds, and blacks that you can't even remember what colour it was initially?
OK. So maybe things aren't that bad yet, but they could certainly get there if you don't remove algae from your rendered walls as soon as possible.
But how do you do it?
Well, there are different methods for the different algae growth out there, so you'll need a little background on each type, the most effective method, and who to turn to in a pinch.
(Helpful hint: We're talking to you).
If you've got algae problems, we've got solutions - so let's dive into it!
Your wall render is susceptible to all manner of algae growth because it's an external surface. And any external surface is at risk of other types of biological growth besides algae like moss, mould, lichen, and fungi.
These surfaces will, due to moisture, pollution, and your environment, get covered over time. If left untreated, your walls will look unsightly, remain damp, and may cause further problems down the road.
If you just have a surface coating of algae right now, then it's best to get the cleaning process started to prevent problems and stop other homeowners from eyeing your wall render suspiciously every time they pass by.
But before we talk about treatment options and removal, you have to understand more about your specific type of organic growth.
If the algae problem you're facing is green, that's quite common. In fact, green algae is the most commonly reported algae type on render and property because it can survive in a range of environments and can multiply pretty quickly.
But don't worry.
If it's green, it's not so mean.
(Corny? Yes. True? Also yes.).
Green won't stain as easily as other algae types, and can often be cleaned with just a gentle wash.
A low pressure washer setting will help here to gently remove algae that's green. Simply spray it with the lowest setting on a pressure washer (usually fan) and it ought to come right off.
Rain sometimes helps with washing away algae too, especially green, because it doesn't get as deeply rooted as the other types.
A gentle cleaning process is always best, though, because it will ensure the safety of the render.
You should never try pressure washing render yourself. This can cause severe damage to your render and building if done wrong.
Red algae stains much more readily than green. It's tougher to remove than green, too, and red algae staining can take a while to fix.
Pressure washing alone is unlikely to help, but there are still methods of removing it from your render surfaces.
Remember: act quickly with red algae, to be safe and to prevent red algae stains from discolouring your whole wall render. You can check out our post on how do you remove stains from rendering.
Steam cleaning is the best method available here.
A quick spray application of hot steam and a little water is not only a brilliant method for cleaning render surfaces, but it also is completely natural and doesn't risk the environment in any way.
Specialist cleaners like us here at Wash Your Walls will need to carry out the steam cleaning, though, because it will need to be done carefully to protect your building, and it may not be suitable for certain types of render like k rend (but we can decide the best method for you on site, thanks to our years of experience).
Black algae is more severe than both red algae and green.
This algae will get everywhere on a property, from the render wall to the roof tiles, and it will just keep moving on to the next stage if left untreated.
This type of algae growth needs to be dealt with quickly, but it's also the most difficult to remove from render surfaces.
The only answer here is soft wash.
Soft wash will surface clean all rendered walls using a unique treatment of chemicals, including:
Which are all designed to kill algae, AND prevent regrowth.
Soft wash might not be a natural treatment but it is one of the most effective, so it will drastically improve the appearance of your wall.
One coat of soft wash is all you'll need to potentially prevent further growth for up to four years.
Yep. It's that good.
Truly, it depends on your render type and condition. In order for us to tell you if a particular treatment is right for your render surface, we'd have to look or get more information over the phone.
One thing's for certain, though, there will be a method that's perfect for cleaning your algae growth from your render surface.
If you have more than one type of algae growth, then washing it alone with just water won't be enough.
Soft wash will tackle ALL growth - red, green, or black - from every surface. Roof to concrete, render to paint. Check out our article on what causes render to go green.
You could try to handle cleaning your render surface yourself. Brush off the worst of it and wash down the rest.
But it will go wrong.
Or at least, it's very likely to.
Here at Wash Your Walls, we're professionals with experience cleaning all types of algae from all types of surfaces, so contact us today and we'll provide the best cleaning service for the job, and ensure all render, paint, or other coating is protected whilst we do it.
Cleaning your render can come with a lot of pressure. But trusting it to the pros is always best, especially when dealing with organic growth like algae!
So call us today, and it might wind up being one of the best decisions you've made for your home!
We look forward to hearing from you.
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