Facade Maintenance – Viva Knowledge Center (VKC)

Simple cleaning tips for effortless maintenance of Aluminum Composite Sheets

Facades made of ACP sheets are a feast to the eyes only as long as they are maintained appropriately since they’re constantly exposed to dust, rainwater, and pollution in the atmosphere. Nonetheless, proper care can restore ACP panels to their former glory.

So, follow these steps to ensure that the lustrous look of your building’s exterior remains intact for an extended period. 

• Conduct cleaning on the shaded side of the building under moderate temperature. The freezing weather will cause the water or the diluted solution to freeze on the ACP cladding. In contrast, scorching temperatures may initiate chemical reactions and cause the water to evaporate, leaving behind soap scum or dirt marks.

• Start by rinsing the surface with water from top to bottom and then use a soft sponge to wipe away the dirt. If this doesn’t help, then put a water spray and a sponge to test. Make sure to wipe off in a horizontal motion first, followed by a vertical movement.

• If the dirt persists, use a diluted solution of mild soap and clean water and a non-abrasive cotton cloth like linen to wipe off the grime. To finish off, rinse with clean water to remove all remnants of the cleansing agent. Follow it up by wiping it dry with a chamois, squeegee, or lint-free cloth to avoid water stains. In light of this tip, you need to bear a few points in mind. They are –

• Mix the mild cleaner in the 1-5% ratio with clean water to form an alkaline solution. For example, you may use 50-250ml of detergent for every 5 liters of water.

• Conduct a patch test in a small area before applying it to the whole area. Leave it on for a minute to be convinced about the safety of the detergent.

• Do not go overboard with cleaning or rubbing; otherwise, the surface gloss of the aluminum composite panel will be compromised.

• Ensure that the cleaning rags or sponges are free of grit and dirt; else, the coated surface will incur scratches.

• Use any detergent that helps you maintain a pH level of 8 in the water.

• Avoid acid-based or bleach-based detergents to clean the ACP sheets. Never use strong organic solvents, such as MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone), MIBK (Methyl Isobutyl Ketone), Trilene as they are paint-thinners. Please stay away from harsh cleaning agents such as potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, caustic soda vim, ajax, lime, or other paint dissolving cleaning agents. They can cause the paint of the ACP panels to come off.

• Avoid dripping and splashing as much as possible during cleaning.

• Remember to rinse from the top down but clean from the bottom up in case of low elevation buildings

• If the dirt is so stubborn that even the mild soap and clear water solution fails to clean the surface, then the last resort is to use 5-10% IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) solution to clean the ACP board.

What is the ideal cleaning frequency of ACP panels to help them retain their original luster?

The frequency of cleaning depends on the atmospheric conditions and the rate at which the contamination occurs. A foggy and coastal region, for instance, has repeated cycles of condensation and dryness that favor salts and dirt to deposit quickly. Moreover, due to the lack of washing caused by rain, sheltered areas like overhangs are more likely to become soiled. Below is a table for your reference to help you decide the frequency of cleaning your ACP façade.

Building Location	Frequency of Cleaning
Rural area	1 times/ Year
Urban area	1 times / Year
Low rainfall and/or coastal area	2 times / Year
Heavily industrialised area	3 times / Year

The above tips will help you take care of your aluminium panel sheet or ACP panel in the best way possible and make sure that your facade will radiate a gleaming new look, years after year.

Caution

Improper cleaning resulting in coating damage shall not be covered by the terms and conditions of the product warranty.