Commercial Pressure Washing in Portland, ME

Commercial pressure washing in Portland is mostly about the first thing customers see. In the Old Port, along Congress Street and in neighborhood business strips, people walk past storefronts, sidewalks and entryways all day, and gum, spills, salt residue and grime build up quickly. We clean storefronts, sidewalks, building exteriors, dumpster areas and parking lots for shops, restaurants, offices and multi-unit residential buildings.

Working around your hours

Washing a sidewalk while customers are walking on it does not work. Commercial jobs go on the calendar before opening, after closing or on days you are shut, and plan for foot traffic, outdoor seating and deliveries. On busy streets we keep work areas marked and spray contained so passersby and parked cars stay dry.

What different surfaces need

• Sidewalks and entry pads: heated water under a spinning cleaner for gum, grease and salt residue
• Storefront glass, frames and awning fronts: gentle washing that will not damage seals or fabric
• Brick and stone facades: low-pressure methods, tested first, on older masonry buildings
• Vinyl, metal and painted siding: soft washing to remove algae, dirt and oxidation
• Dumpster pads and service areas: degreasing and hot water to cut grease and odor
• Parking lots and garages: oil spots, tire scuffs and winter sand cleared from the pavement

Keeping greasy water out of the bay

Runoff from a business often holds grease, food waste, oil and detergent. Portland's non-stormwater discharge ordinance prohibits illicit discharges to the storm drain system, and some catch basins drain directly to Casco Bay. Restaurants and dumpster pads are the biggest concern. Depending on the site, we block catch basins, recover wash water with a vacuum system for proper disposal, or direct clean rinse water to landscaped areas. We discuss the plan for your property before the job and adjust it to what the site allows.

Older commercial buildings

Much of downtown Portland was rebuilt in brick and granite after the 1866 fire, and many of those buildings now house shops, offices and apartments. Their brick and lime mortar get the same gentle, tested treatment we use on historic homes. Painted trim on older buildings may contain lead, so we do not blast old paint.

Regular cleaning schedules

Many businesses want sidewalks and entries cleaned on a schedule: monthly in summer for busy restaurants, seasonally for offices, or a spring cleanup after the snow and road sand. Recurring visits are each priced in writing ahead of time.

Multi-unit and property management

For apartment buildings, condominiums and property managers, we can bundle building washes, walkways, decks and dumpster areas into one visit, give notice timing so residents can move cars and close windows, and provide a single itemized quote per property.