Ceiling Cleaning and Repair
Ceiling Cleaning and Resurfacing
Virtually any type of ceiling can be cleaned or resurfaced at a fraction
of the cost of replacement - including 2x4, 2x2, 1x1, fissured, vinyl,
fabric faced and glacier. Cleaning can be scheduled anytime including
after business hours to be completely hassle-free.
A typical ceiling tile cleaning will restore the ceiling to anywhere from 75% to 90% of its original color. Like carpeting, ceilings have ³heavy traffic² areas around vents. Air and soil are constantly blown over the surface near ventilation, causing those areas to need special attention.
Do I need to clean the whole
ceiling?
Not always. Thanks to stricter smoking laws, there are less pollutants
in the air to soil the ceiling. However, expectations of a cleaner facility
are also higher, making a complete cleaning a good idea, and a wise investment.
Regularly-cleaned ceiling tiles will look newer longer, and save you the
cost of replacing tiles in the long run.
How does it work?
Tiles are either absorbent (mineral fiber construction) or non-absorbent
(vinyl or flat painted). Absorbent tiles actually ³soak up² the cleaning
solution. A chemical reaction takes place between the dirt and the detergent,
bonding the two together and pulling them to the surface. Next, an oxidizing
agent acts as a catalyst that pushes the dirt off the tile, and onto the
ground. All work surfaces are protected by visquene or drop cloths. The
falling dirt/detergent mix will not harm carpet.
Vinyl tiles are non-absorbant, and are sprayed and wiped with a chemical solution. In general, vinyl tiles clean better than non-vinyl. All ceiling cleaning includes gridwork or t-bars, vents, speaker covers, sprinkler heads, pin lights and ceiling fans. Light lenses and fixtures are separate items.
How often should I clean?
Depending on your environment, it is a good idea to clean your ceiling
anywhere from every 6 to 24 months. A sample maintenance program would
start with a complete cleaning of the whole ceiling, followed by vent
area maintenance within the next 1 to 3 years, and then another complete
cleaning 6 to 24 months later.
What is ceiling resurfacing?
Sometimes a ceiling
is too dirty to be cleaned properly, or a client would like to change
the color. Resurfacing is a less-expensive option than replacement. Resurfacing
involves the spray application of an acoustical coating to the ceiling
tile, gridwork and vents making them all one uniform color. This procedure
can be done after normal business hours, and without clearing all the
furnishings out of the room. All walls, flooring and furnishings are protected
with visquene during the process. A room is literally made within a room.
Afterward, the entire mess is removed, leaving you with a new ceiling,
without disruption to the furnishings. You can get a new-looking ceiling
overnight, with absolutely no disruption, and at a fraction of the cost
of replacement.
When should I resurface?
Now is a prime time for resurfacing tile. When cleaning gives less-than-desired
results, you have to replace tile, or when a color change is wanted, resurfacing
tile is a great idea. Resufacing your ceiling can illuminate an area and
even heighten productivity, as well as save you money on ceiling replacement.
©2001 A&J Specialty Services, Inc.
