Is the black streaking on my brick chimney a problem?

Black streaking is typically fungal growth rather than damage to the brick itself, though it can look worse the longer it's left. Soft washing and steam lift it without harming the brick or mortar underneath.

Will the biocide harm my plants or pets?

We cover or move planting before we start and are spill management trained to handle and dispose of chemicals properly, minimising any risk to plants, pets or the surrounding area.

Can render cleaning be done in winter?

Yes, as long as it's above freezing and dry enough on the day — biocide needs to dwell on the surface rather than be washed off by rain straight after application.

Do you clean commercial and industrial premises?

Yes, we clean render, brick and block on shops, offices and industrial units, usually scheduling around opening hours so it doesn't disrupt business.

Render & Brick Cleaning (Soft Wash) in Billingham — algae staining lifted off the wall, on a TS22 property

Render & Brick Cleaning in Billingham

Render and brickwork cleaning in Billingham — soft wash and steam for algae, lichen and black streaking. Free quotes, fully insured, owner-run by Trevor.

07501060609 Get a free quote

If render or brickwork in Billingham has gone green, black-streaked or lichen-covered, we'll soft wash it back to a clean, even finish — no pressure washer near the render coat, ever.

Green algae streaking down a render elevation, black fungal spotting creeping across pebbledash, lichen crusting onto exposed brick — render and brickwork in Billingham take a battering from damp, shade and salt-laden air, and pressure washing, the instinct of most contractors, cracks and blows render coats that were never built to take it.

Render & Brick Cleaning (Soft Wash) near Billingham

Homes & businesses

Industrial and warehouse unit cleaning

Units around Billingham Manufacturing Plant often have large expanses of render or block that pick up algae staining fast, especially on shaded or north-facing walls. We soft wash at scale, with spill management training covering biocide use around industrial sites and shared yards.

Render and brick on mixed commercial premises

Shopfronts and commercial units around Billingham Manufacturing Plant often combine rendered upper floors with brick or block at street level, and years of traffic grime plus the usual algae staining can make a building look tired even when it's structurally fine.

We soft wash render sections and use steam or low pressure on brick and block, timing the work outside opening hours where needed so the clean doesn't disrupt business.

Safety on older properties

Biocide trained (2024)
Correct application rates and dwell times, not guesswork.
Asbestos awareness trained
Know what to look for and how to handle it on older properties.
Spill management trained
Chemicals handled and disposed of properly, not left to run off.
Biocide trained (2024) and fully insured
Properly qualified to do the job, not just equipped for it.

What we do — and never do — on render

We do: soft wash with biocide, use steam or low pressure on brickwork, protect windows, doors and planting before we start, and match dwell time to how established the growth is.

We don't: use a pressure washer directly on render, rush the biocide dwell time, or treat old lime-pointed brick the same way as modern cement pointing — the mortar itself needs a gentler approach. That distinction is what keeps render cleaning from turning into a render repair job.

Steam cleaning for brick and stubborn staining

Steam is used where black streaking or ingrained staining on brick needs extra lift beyond what biocide alone will shift. It works at high temperature rather than high pressure, which suits older brick and mortar that wouldn't take forceful water well.

Access for commercial and multi-site jobs

For larger or commercial properties near A19, we plan access and parking in advance so equipment can be set up without disrupting deliveries, customers or shared yards.

Render & Brick Cleaning (Soft Wash) in Billingham — common questions

We soft wash render and clean brick across Billingham, using biocide treatment and low pressure to lift algae, lichen and black streaking without risking the render coat or old mortar. Fully insured and biocide trained (2024) — get in touch for a quote.

Not sure if your render needs cleaning?

Call 07501 060609 and we'll usually be able to give you a rough price over the phone, based on property type and size.

Render & Brick Cleaning (Soft Wash) in Billingham — the elevation part-way through treatment, just off the A19

Render & Brick Cleaning (Soft Wash) in Billingham — the finished render drying in the sun, a few minutes from Norton