Cleaning the exterior of a building in Chicago is not a job that everyone can do. Lakefront wind, winter grime, road salt, pollution, and congested streets complicate everyday maintenance. That is why Chicago drone cleaning services are a great option for property owners and managers needing access to high windows, walls, roofs, signs, and other high and remote areas.
Not every project is for drone cleaning, but they are a great way to fix many common problems. Proper use can lead to less disruption, improved safety, and the building being cleaner year-round.
Why Drone Cleaning Works for Chicago
Chicago buildings are constantly exposed to the elements. Dust, pollen, bird guano, soot, moisture, and road salt will often settle on windows, masonry, concrete, metal, and roof areas. Over time, that can make a building look unkempt and can result in staining or surface damage.
Common exterior cleaning methods can include scaffolding, lift trucks, extension ladders, and rope access techniques. While all these methods can be valuable, they often take a long time to set up, require sidewalk permits or barricades, and bring added safety concerns to the project. Drone cleaning is a great way to clean elevated, hard to reach spaces without having workers right on the building.
For some properties, the best part of cleaning by drone is efficiency. A drone cleaning company can access hard to reach heights and angles with a smaller footprint than other methods.
How Chicago Drone Cleaning Works
Drone cleaning uses an aircraft, fitted with a spray system. In most cases, a drone is connected via hose to a ground-based water or cleaning source to stay light and agile. The pilot controls the drone as cleaning is done to the selected part of the structure.
A site assessment will always be the first step with any drone cleaning project. This should involve assessing the building height, wind conditions – you can read more at https://noaa.gov/jetstream, street proximity, pedestrian areas, overhead obstacles, surface types, and water access. In a city with quick changing weather patterns like Chicago, the site assessment is extremely important for any drone cleaning company.
A typical drone cleaning project will involve:
- Determining exterior access points
- Selecting appropriate pressure and cleaning solution
- Establishing a safety zone and perimeter
- Watching wind and weather conditions
- Cleaning areas in sections
- Post-cleaning inspection of work
It is not just about cleaning it, it is about doing a good job safely.
Cleaning Drone Capabilities for Exterior Areas
Drone cleaning is most often used to clean exterior areas that are hard, dangerous, or expensive to access manually. Typical projects include cleaning upper story windows, glass curtain walls, metal panels, signage, solar panels, roof top mechanical areas, ledges, and some masonry surfaces.
Surface type should always be considered as each surface material requires a different cleaning approach. Glass should be treated differently than brick, stone, concrete, or coated metal. Too much pressure could cause damage, while too little may result in poor cleaning results. A good job is clean and controlled, not destructive.
Safety and Improved Access
A major reason why property owners and managers look to a Chicago drone cleaning company is safety. Working at heights will always carry risk (read more here), especially in a city where high winds and changing weather conditions can be dangerous. Drone cleaning can reduce the need for workers to climb, rappel, or work in lifts for certain projects.
Drone cleaning can also help with narrow alleys, sidewalks, landscaping, limited staging area, or vehicle access issues. Since cleaning drones usually have a smaller footprint, occupants and visitors may experience less interruption.
When Drone Cleaning Is not the Answer
Drone cleaning is great, but it does not replace every method of exterior cleaning. Heavy grime, restoration work, scraping, sealing, repairs, or detailed hand cleaning may still require a worker on the building.
In many cases, multiple techniques work best. Drones can handle high broad areas, while teams work at a lower level, detail areas, or clean surfaces requiring more hands-on attention.
Building Cleaning Done by Drone is a Good Option
Cleaning Chicago properties requires careful planning, proper equipment, and surface knowledge. Drone cleaning services give building owners another way to clean hard to reach exterior areas with less disruption and better safety. For some properties, it is a smart solution to make a building look cleaner and better maintained year-round.
Timing is also a factor that property managers have to consider, along with documentation of services. Most downtown buildings or lakefront buildings benefit from cleaning in the early morning before foot traffic or with minimal foot traffic. Depending on where they are and the season, this is also the best time for window cleaning when winds are lighter.
Photographs are also a great way for property managers to keep records of their building’s exterior maintenance for association and commercial properties that provide service to owners/tenants. Marking areas cleaned, noting which areas are in need of attention, taking before/after photos, etc. all make up great maintenance records to have for your commercial property.
