There are easy and simple ways to keep your steel building in its best shape. Upkeeping your metal building with preventive maintenance can decrease your chances of structural failure and save you money from costly damages.
Maintenance care should be scheduled bi-annually to maintain the metal building’s integrity and aesthetics. Basic upkeep is your first line of defense against corrosion and oxidation damage to your metal building. It’s time to clean before the summer season hits with hotter temperatures and humidity!
Cleaning dirt, grime, leaves, twigs, bird feces, and mineral deposits will prevent mildew growth and wipe off stains before causing permanent damage. Make your metal building last longer with just a few simple steps we provided and will talk about throughout this article.
Location Matters
Where you live and how often you clean your metal building go hand in hand. Heavily industrialized areas can bring air-borne pollutants that corrode metal. Coastal or humid regions can cause premature degrading of your building from salt-borne air and mildew buildup.
Industrial, coastal, and humid areas should consider washing metal buildings three times a year.
Common elements that could get stuck on the surface of a metal roof/building:
- Airborne dirt
- Leaves and small sticks
- Pollen
- Bird stains
- Pollution particles
- Acid rain
- Rust stains
- Mold and mildew
Maintenance
Most debris can be removed with water, but others need a more chemical approach. A pressure washer is the easiest tool to use when cleaning metal buildup. If you don’t already have one sitting in your garage, you can rent one from your local hardware store.
Power Washer
Using the lowest setting, rinse your building from top to bottom with hot water to ensure all grease, dirt, and debris are depleted. Applying a mild phosphate-free detergent to the power washer will help wash and clean heavily soiled areas.
Mildew, Algae, and Mold
As we said above, humid and coastal areas have a higher moisture climate, creating the perfect host setting for mildew, algae, and mold. This growth can grow rapidly and excessively if left unchecked. This can be easily fixed with a soft brush or rag applied to the affected areas with a mixture of:
- 1/3 cup of powdered laundry detergent
- 1 quart of bleach (5% solution)
- 3 quarts of water
Rust Stains
High pullulated areas bring small metal particles that create rust stains on the surface of metal buildings. Most assume the metal has begun to erode prematurely, but often it means the metal needs to be cleaned off. Mixing the solution below can help remove rust stains.
- 5 parts water
- 1 part diluted hydrochloric acid OR citric acid OR muriatic acid OR oxalic acid OR vinegar
It is important to upkeep your maintenance schedule to ensure your metal building will last long for years to come. At Ironsite Construction, we believe in the flexibility, longevity, and cost effectiveness of building with Steel, and we strive to be your trusted source for information about everything related to metal building construction.
