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What's a six tonne spider got to do with jet washing?

We have acquired a reputation for problem solving, especially when it comes to cleaning buildings with tricky access. In truth, we rather relish a challenge – maybe that’s why we get called in.  One Glass Wharf is a good example as it required various specialist access equipment including a six tonne spider!

One Glass Wharf is an award-winning office building located in Bristol's business quarter. The building forms the centrepiece of a major urban regeneration scheme near Temple Meads Station. It has a prominent waterfront location and features a striking undulating terracotta, zinc and glass façade as well as two wall ‘slices’ made of white composite stone. Over time the white stone was becoming increasingly blackened by algae and, since it was critical that this iconic building be kept looking immaculate at all times, the property managers responsible for maintaining the building called us in to clean the stone.

ACCESS REQUIRES HEIGHT AND REACH

There were a number of unusual challenges associated with cleaning One Glass Wharf. Firstly, a section of the roof is recessed and required specialist access equipment to allow us to reach up to a height of 30 metres and outwards over the roof area, something that is quite tricky to achieve. In addition to this we needed to set up access equipment in an extremely restricted space - a narrow alley that runs between the two stone walls – in order to reach certain sections of the walls.

PROBLEM SOLVING IS WHAT WE ARE GOOD AT

We use a lot of different types of access equipment to reach the places other jet washing companies can’t (or don’t want to!). This includes various mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs); scissor lifts, cherry pickers, spider lifts and boom lifts including articulated knuckle booms and telescopic (straight) booms. We have both the knowledge and the experience to assess a project and select the most appropriate access equipment to allow us to get the job done efficiently and safely. Plus we are accredited IPAF operators and our team is fully trained in the safe use of mobile access towers (PASMA).

ONE GLASS WHARF

For One Glass Wharf we used a truck mounted platform with an articulated boom to access the front of the building, while a compact six tonne spider crane was neatly located in a narrow alley way to allow us to reach the required height on the side of the wall ‘slices’. Our steam cleaning system is ideal in these circumstances; it does not lose power, even at 32 metres, whereas most other cold water jet washing systems certainly would. It also allows us the power and control required to achieve the highest standards of cleaning.  

Even though we knew that steam cleaning would be perfect for this type of substrate, we still carried out a test clean on a small area of the white stone slice to demonstrate what we could achieve prior to undertaking the job. After cleaning we applied an approved biocide prohibitor to the surfaces to protect the stone and help slow down algae regrowth.

One Glass Wharf looked brilliant once we had completed the clean. Will Mellor of Capital Properties was delighted with the outcome. He said, “ I was amazed by the brilliant work that Max and his team did on One Glass Wharf. They overcame some tricky access challenges to complete the task and the building now looks as good as new. We will certainly be using OneFifty again.”

For more information about our jetwashing services contact Max or Andy Morris on 0333 234 1445 or email info@onefifty.co.uk

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Some of our clients

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Client Testimonials

“The offending Graffiti was removed without trace using pressurised steam.”

Lucy - Jones Lang LaSalle

“OneFifty are always reliable, quick to respond and produce high-quality results.”

Lorna Barnet - Director of Barnet Development

“Please pass on my sincere thanks to guys for the demo and for getting Neptune cleaned.”

Wendy Tomlinson - Senior Conservation Officer, Cheltenham Borough Council

“They were able to remove the remnants of graffiti that had not been removed previously using chemicals.”

Joe - Hillcrest Estate Management

“The works surpassed my expectations! I will have no problem referring you to my friends and business associates.”

Andy Lane - Lane Pearson Automotive Group Ltd

“Please pass on my sincere thanks to guys for the demo and for getting Neptune cleaned.”

Wendy Tomlinson, Senior Conservation Officer for Cheltenham Borough Council

Our Accreditations

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