Inspection and Maintenance

Inspection and Maintenance

Annual Inspection
Washing
Removing Mould

The mixture
Touch up painting
Suppliers of complementary products

There are few exterior materials whose appearance and performance will not benefit from regular inspection, together with any maintenance that might be necessary at the time. Such activities will repay the careful building owner and the occupier by giving them the best possible performance from the product.

Annual inspection

Check for:	Action
Blocked gutters: They can cause overflow into the building.	Remove debris
Build-up of debris on sheets: Such debris retains water and pollutants, forming a 'poultice', which can cause corrosion.	Remove the debris and, if necessary, wash the area as described under Washing.
Retention of dirt in areas of cladding not washed naturally by rainwater, e.g. below overhangs: This detracts from the appearance of the building and, if ignored, can cause the coating to break down.	Wash the area as described under Washing.
Mould growth: This rarely occurs, but can arise in extreme conditions.	Wash the area and treat it for mould growth as described under Removing mould.
Local damage:* If the damage has broken through the paint coating, the steel substrate may be exposed to attack.	Assess the extent of the damage and either repair it with touch-up paint (see page three) or replace the sheets through the original cladding supplier.
Swarf (from drilling), rivet stems, and other fixing debris:* These items themselves can corrode and stain the sheet surface.	Remove the debris and, if necessary, wash the sheet surface as described under Washing.
Faulty or inappropriate fasteners:* Such fasteners can cause leaks or can corrode and stain the sheet surface, or both.	Replace the fasteners and any missing caps.
Areas at cut edges or surfaces that need over-painting	Use specialist contractors and approved maintenance paints from listed suppliers (see page three).

(*) These items should be checked as soon as possible after the building has been erected and as part of the annual inspection.

Washing
Regularly wash away dirt and debris that have not been removed by natural rainfall.

Areas of cladding that lie beneath overhanging building details, such as those beneath gutters, for example, are particularly susceptible to a build-up of dirt. Such accumulations may hold water and pollutants, which can lead to 'wet poultice' corrosion.

Wash cladding with fresh water, using a hose and a soft cloth.

In areas where heavy industrial deposits dull the surface, use a good quality household detergent (10% solution in water) or a proprietary cleaner (follow manufacturer's instructions). Always rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Guidelines:
1.	Do not use a concentration of detergent greater than the 10% solution mentioned above nor a concentration of a proprietary cleaner greater than that recommended by the manufacturer.
2.	Do not use organic solvents or abrasive cleaners.
3.	Mineral spirits may be used to remove caulking components, tar, and similar substances, but the surface must then be washed immediately and thoroughly in the manner described above.
4.	Always wash coated surfaces from top to bottom.
5.	After washing, always rinse the cladding immediately and thoroughly to remove all detergents and cleaners.
6.	Do not over-clean or scrub the surface since that can spoil the high-quality finish.

Removing mould
Colorcoat products have been specially formulated to resist fungal growth and therefore this should not be a problem in most geographical areas. However, some types of local environment are particularly conducive to mould growth, e.g. areas of wet, dark, or wooded surroundings or low-lying marshland. In these areas, mould will grow, even on inert materials such as glass.

Mould can be removed by treating the affected surface with a basic solution of the ingredients shown below (by weight), which should be available from local chemical suppliers. Before applying the mixture, wash the surface of the cladding first, as described under Washing above. Then apply the mixture to all surfaces by low-pressure spray or cloth. Rinse the cloth frequently and change it and the mixture as necessary to prevent any grit or abrasive particles scratching the building. All surfaces must be rinsed with cold water within 24 hours of applying the mixture.

Ingredient	By weight
Good quality household detergent or proprietary cleaner	0.5
Trisodium phosphate	3.0
5% sodium hypochlorite solution	25.0
Fresh water	71.5
Total	100.0