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How To Clean Silicone Render

30 June 2024

Silicone render is a wonderful addition to any home, especially when installed by experts like WeDoRender. It can change the exterior walls completely, recolouring them and making your home look much more modern. However, to maintain the beauty and ensure the longevity of silicone render, it must be cleaned regularly.

Homeowners should be sure that they are removing dirt buildup on a regular basis. Regular cleaning will help to prevent organic growth, which can lead to health hazards and heavy staining, ultimately saving time and money.

Here are a few different techniques that you can use to clean your render, all of which should allow you to achieve optimal results with just warm water and a handful of cleaning products!

Clean Silicone Render

Cleaning Silicone Render Using A Pressure Washer

One of the most popular methods of cleaning silicone render is by using a pressure washer. This is especially common when cleaning larger areas or especially heavily stained areas. It is a good way to effectively clean silicone render, with most pressure washers pumping out a high-pressure water stream at around 1000 to 3000 psi.

Pressure washing as a cleaning solution is likely to remove tough stains and debris at higher speeds than other cleaning techniques, and it does not require any chemical cleaning products, which is why it is so popular.

However, despite its popularity, there are some risks to pressure washing silicone render. If done incorrectly, it can damage the render surface. This can then lead to water filtration. It also requires professional equipment that not every household will own, and experience and knowledge that is not all that common.

Check out: Can You Silicone Render Over Concrete

Cleaning Silicone Render Using A Pressure Washer

A Step-By-Step Guide:

Prepare The Area

Cover nearby plants, windows, and doors with a plastic sheet to protect surrounding areas from the high-pressure stream of water that will be used in the cleaning process.

Remove Loose Debris

Remove loose debris or dirt buildup using a soft brush: this prevents the debris from being blasted around by the high-pressure water, which can be a safety risk and cause damage to property.

Pressure Wash

Pressure wash the surface of the render from the top down: making sure you start at the top of the wall ensures you do not wash dirty water down over areas you have just cleaned.

Spot Clean Any Stains

Spot clean any stains or mould growth left behind using an appropriate product or water, vinegar and baking soda. You should apply these to the silicone render and leave the cleaning solution to sit on the wall for a moment to allow it time to break down the dirt and stains.

Soft Washing Silicone Render

If you do not want to risk using a pressure washer on your render, you may choose to use a low pressure sprayer or a hose on the render. The use of lots of low pressure water and cleaning solution is often referred to as soft washing and is a great way to clean render.

Without the risk of damaging the render, you can use soft washing to remove marks and stains and choose which cleaning solution to use. You can also opt to use products like a fungicidal wash if you feel it will help to reduce the risk of further damage or staining to your render.

Soft washing is particularly helpful when there is a growth of mould or algae. It is commonly used to clean acrylic render, as that type of render suffers from mould and organic buildup more than other materials.

Soft Washing Silicone Render 1

Cleaning Silicone Render Using A Soft Brush

If you do not have a pressure washer or do not wish to risk your silicone render, you can use a soft brush to clean the silicone render instead. This will gently remove dirt buildup and effectively clean silicone render. All you need is a soft brush, water, and some kind of cleaning solution.

This cleaning process is safer for the render surface and allows you to properly clean tight spots and corners, as it is easier to reach those hard-to-reach areas. It allows targeted cleaning, which is ideal for heavily stained silicone.

It does, however, require manual labour and time. It also may not remove dirt buildup from deep within the modern render and will likely require some kind of cleaning solution or mild detergent which may contain harsh chemicals. You should make sure you use a soft-bristled brush as abrasive materials will damage the render.

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A Step-By-Step Guide:

Prepare The Area

Cover nearby plants, windows, and doors with a plastic sheet to protect surrounding areas from any harsh chemicals used during the cleaning process.

Remove Loose Debris

Remove loose debris or dirt buildup using a soft brush. Surface-level dirt can often be removed without needing to use mild detergent or harsh chemicals and should be swept off the surface before you start cleaning properly.

Cleaning Solutions

Spray a cleaning solution onto the surface, being sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. If you are using dish soap or soapy water to clean silicone render then you should follow basic cleaning methods of applying it all over the wall to ensure that the silicone render is covered.

Leave To Soak

Leave the solution to soak into the wall, this allows it a chance to break down particles of dirt and organic growth.

Scrub The Render Surface

Using a soft brush to gently scrub the silicone render, paying special attention to areas with algae growth or stubborn marks.

Rinse The Surface

Rinse the surface from the top down using a hose. Working from the top down allows you to ensure you don't ruin any of your freshly clean silicone renders.

Spot Treat

Spot treat stubborn stains or organic growth if needed. You may wish to purchase a commercial product designed for cleaning render for this step, especially if your silicone render has a lot of organic growth on it.

Removing Stains From Silicone Render

Knowing how to clean silicone render should always include knowing how to remove pesky stains from the material, too. This is a key part of render maintenance, as stains can be formed on silicone render by algae, mould, and even rust and adverse weather conditions.

Removing Stains From Silicone Render

Cleaning Mould From Silicone Render

You can remove mould and other organic growth from damp or shaded areas of your silicone render using a mixture of bleach and water. You should always be careful when using bleach, though, and should test the cleaning solution on a small inconspicuous area of your home before you use it in large areas.

Alternatively, you may opt for a commercial mould remover. These are specifically designed to work as efficient cleaning methods for silicone render and should work well to target organic growth and the stains left behind.

Cleaning Mould From Silicone Render

Cleaning Rust From Silicone Render

Rust from things like hanging baskets can often stain silicone render and can be unsightly. It is best dealt with using a specific cleaning solution that is targeted towards rust. You can purchase these in hardware stores and should follow the manufacturer's instructions for the cleaning process.

You might find that mild dish soap and water may help to ease or remove the rust from your render, too.

Cleaning Rust From Silicone Render

Polishing Silicone Render

In addition to giving your silicone render a wash to improve its appearance, you can polish the material. This will help to restore some of the colour and boost its overall appearance. If you do it soon after cleaning your silicone render you may find that frequent cleaning isn't required as often.

To polish the silicone render, you should use a wax-based sealer or a silicone render polish to create a protective layer over the silicone render. These products should be easy to apply, but be aware they may change the texture of the finish of your silicone render. Always use a new product on a small area of your render prior to using it across the wall.

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Polishing Silicone Render

Keeping Silicone Render Clean

There are a few simple things that you can do to help maintain your render. These will help your silicone render to last longer and keep it looking stunning.

First of all, you should be sure to trim nearby vegetation, keeping it away from the silicone. These can cause organic growth and other dirt to appear on your silicone render.

You should also be sure to hose down your render regularly. Regular cleaning will help to prevent stains and dirt build-up. Render cleaning will also allow you to check your silicone render for any damage. This is crucial in maintaining your render for as long as possible! If you do spot damage in your render, contact WeDoRender to discuss patching up and fixing your silicone render as soon as possible.

You can use water-repellent paint on the surface of your silicone render if you are suffering from a lot of organic growth on your silicone render. This will provide a further barrier against airborne contaminants and moisture. That way, your silicone render should last longer.

Finally, where possible, keep your render as dry and well-ventilated as possible. This will help to reduce organic growth - however, it is easier said than done! 

Keeping Silicone Render Clean

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