When is the best time of year to clean your gutters?

When is the best time of year to clean your gutters?

It all depends… Most people believe that gutters should only be cleaned in Autumn after the leaves have fallen. In some cases this is true. If you live close to trees or have neighbouring woods then yes, after the leaves have fallen it would be an excellent time to clean out the gutters.

In most cases, it is not leaves that block our gutters! One example is when gutters fill up with fine grained debris such as roof tile silt. This provides a perfect foundation for grass and plant seedlings to grow, and with a continuous supply of water running into the gutters, this gutter blocking foliage seems to flourish better than it would in our gardens!

With new plantlife growing and becoming more dense it compacts to the shape of our gutters, which blocks the flow of water, causing havock! With the natural force of gravity, water will find the lowest point and start to pour over the gutters.

It is usually Spring and Summer when you notice growth emerge from your gutters, this should encourage you to clean the gutters out quickly before the problems begin.

If your gutters are overflowing, you know you have left the gutter cleaning too long.

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Patio and driveway cleaning service in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Cirencester and Stroud

Diamond Shine provide an expert patio cleaning service to homeowners throughout Gloucester, Cheltenham, Cirencester and Stroud and everywhere in between. Our affordable prices and quality service make Diamond Shine the only people to call when your patio needs cleaning.

Patio slabs invariably get grimy and dirty over the course of the seasons. Diamond Shine's patio cleaning service can revive tired and dirty looking patio slabs and restore them to the decorative feature they once were, our experienced technicians will blast away dirt, algae and mosses to leave your patio in pristine condition.

Our industrial powered cleaning equipment and specialist cleaning methods have helped establish Diamond Shine as one of the top patio cleaners in Gloucestershire and surrounding areas.

We use a 21 inch Mosmatic rotary machine to clean patios, this large disc shaped machine ensures patios and pathways receive the most thorough clean possible but at the same time preventing any spray back and avoiding all the messy problems that come with it. The Mosmatic rotary machine is powered by an awesome 14 horse power, 4000psi pressure washer, this commercial grade machine has the power to deal with any pressure washing situation.

We also provide a professional sealing service for patios. Sealing a patio will keep it looking cleaner for far longer and also prolong its service life. 

Before any of our services take place, a fixed price will be agreed. Diamond Shine do not ask for any payment until all work has been completed to your satisfaction.

As with all of our services, Diamond Shine’s patio cleaning service is fully insured.

If you require more information or would like to arrange for a free quotation please call us or use the contact form provided.

Window cleaning at Millbrook academy, Brockworth, Gloucester

Millbrook academy contacted us to clean their windows which have not been cleaned in over 3 years!! We provided them with efficient and thorough clean in the easter holidays ready for the new term. We also saved them ££££ compared to there last window cleaner, as school budgets are extremely low they were over the moon with the price and quality of our work.

We not only recognise the importance of a clean environment for both pupils and staff to excel, but reductions in school budgets and a greater emphasis on health and safety compliance means that finding the right service provider is more important than ever.

Contact us today for a free site survey and quotation

Gutter cleaning at former Gloucester prison

Maintenance of gutters, roof valleys and rainwater systems is essential to the integrity of any building – but on large commercial properties where huge roof areas can collect large quantities of rain, it is something that should never be ignored.

Blocked gutters and down-pipes can have catastrophic results. During a heavy downpour, it could take just minutes before overflowing water finds it’s way inside your building, damaging both the building and also the stock and equipment inside.

At Diamond Shine, we offer a full gutter unblocking service, and are happy to schedule regular checks to ensure future issues are caught before damage is caused.

Our gutter-vac system allows us to remove debris from high gutters without mess, and often without access equipment or ladders.This ladder-less approach ensures we comply fully with health and safety legislation and also allows us to reach areas where access equipment cannot drive.

The camera system feeds a live view of the gutter to the ground based operator so we can be sure that nothing gets missed. We can also supply video recordings of gutter inspections that may be required by your building insurance providers.

We were asked to clear the gutters at former HMP Gloucester, they had not been cleared in years and were in a desperate state. Damp was visible in parts of the prison from the overflowing gutters. Some buildings in prison are listed buildings so need to up kept to prevent irreversible damage. 

We cleared the gutters without expensive access equipment saving the customer £££££

Contact Us today for a free, no-obligation site survey and quotation where we can discuss your specific needs and show you why Diamond Shine are the right company for the job.

Render cleaning service available in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud

Render is used on properties in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester and across the UK and if not cleaned regularly the colour of render will appear to fade. This is because render is likely to become infected with algae, mosses, and lichens that stain and ruin the appearance of a home or commercial building. Softwashing is a safe way of removing organic matter from exterior render. Finished coloured renders like K-Rend and Moncouche suffer with algae, bacteria and mildew staining. Weather and pollution can also lead to staining and discolouration. Diamond Shine use a low pressure unit to gently clean render surfaces. If render is subjected to a high pressure wash it can cause long term damage, while softwashing will not harm the buildings substrate. A Softwash will will return any render surface cleaned to its natural state, looking freshly painted, thus increasing the buildings kerb appeal and value. We restore these surfaces to as new condition safely from the ground in most cases. We can restore any rendered surface including painted render and all pebble dashed finishes.

The warmer, more humid weather in the UK means that atmospheric growths are thriving, and are growing on render finished facades harder and faster than ever. Trying to remove these organic growths can prove problematic. High pressure washing can cause real damage, and if incorrectly removed the infection will return too soon. With our softwash treatments we apply softwash detergent blends, to both clean the building and eliminate the infection. This ensures the building looks great after cleaning, and keeps its brilliance.

The staining and discolouration of render leads many to think that full re-painting is the solution. This is expensive and completely unnecessary. When it is clean, render keeps its colour! 

We have recently completed render cleaning on this property in Gloucester, Gloucestershire. The customer is over the moon with the results and our reasonable price.

If your render is looking unsightly give us a call today or fill out our contact form for a free quotation. 

5 Reasons Why Window Cleaning Is More Important Than It Seems

No one objects the importance of cleaning your teeth every morning (excluding little kids, of course) as we all understand this is a very important part of everyone’s daily routine that saves us from cavity and keeps teeth healthy.

This concept, however, is not applied to other situations for some reason. From time to time we all clean windows in our homes but it is probably not on the priority list for many. A sticky floor is an issue, but dirty windows are usually tolerated for much longer.

Today we would like to shake up your perception about window cleaning and take a fresh new look at it as a service.

So here are the 5 reasons why window cleaning is more important than it seems:

1. 1. The Structure of Glass

Glass is porous and collects dirt that over time make it fragile or causes loss of transparency, pigmented spots, which accommodate microorganisms’ growth. In the end, that might ruin the glass completely.Common enemies of your windows and the main reason for the cleaning are:

1. 1. • hard minerals – from sprinkler systems and building run-off;
      • oxidization – from windows encased in metal frames and screens;
      • acid rain – they are more common than you think;
      • sea spray – salt slowly builds up on the surface of your glass;
      • overspray – accidental paint, chalk, mortar particles, etc.

1. 1. Subconscious Effect

Did you know windows significantly affect the way visitors perceive the credibility of a business? Subliminally or completely consciously, the majority of people will pay attention the cleanness of your glass front when visiting a store. Dirty windows will testify careless attitude and represent a business as less trustworthy and attractive overall. Clean windows, on the other hand, attract more visitors to the stores. Furthermore, experienced property agents testify increased interest towards the properties with clean windows among potential property buyers. Moreover, clean properties were sold at higher prices than those with the same features but dirty windows. It’s easy as a piece of pie – clean windows make everything look tidy, fresh and simply pleasant.

1. 1. House Heat Efficiency

This might be a big surprise for some of us, but it turns out dirty windows affect overall heat efficiency of your house. Dirt particles on the surface and in the pores of the glass simply reflect more UV light, preventing the sun from warming up your apartment during the cold seasons.The things get even worse when a filthy glass is combined with low-efficiency windows. Such a bundle might cause a gradual increase in heating expenses and even issues with mould in the long run.

1. 1. Maintenance in the Long Run

Just like with our teeth, it is tens times less expensive to care for them in the short run than to accept the long run restoration expenses. Once your windows start bearing the marks of time, it might be hard to reverse the process if possible at all. Micro-cracks and scratches, glass mould and spots will gradually destroy the glass and force you replacing the whole window pane at some point. Not talking about all the potential damage to the surfaces surrounding the window.

1. 1. It Just Works – Clean Windows Look Nice

In the end, you probably felt it for yourself – clean windows make you feel better, they offer a better view. The world in full colour is simply more satisfying. If you don’t understand what we mean, just ask your friend with glasses about their perception of the world before and after cleaning the spectacles. Some might even mention an increase in self-esteem and boost in positive thinking. Don’t let yourself down with smears and smudges 

Okay, now when we are clear with the reasons and have our conclusions, the next question is:

How Often Should I Clean My Windows?

It’s a great question. However, to give an objective answer to this question, one has to analyse their specific conditions and the environment they live in. If you live close to a busy road, the gasses and heavy elements will build up much faster than on the windows of a person living close to a park.

First of all, think about a frequency of rain in your area, all sources of pollution (both natural and human-caused).

Secondly, just observe how fast your windows attract dirt. You might take a notice on how often people on your street wash their windows.

For highly polluted areas, it might be once or even twice per week. For windows in the most households, the golden ratio might be once or twice a month, depending on how close is the sea, forest, sources of sand, industrial dust and other dirt factors. If you live in a perfectly balanced environment, you windows might enjoy bi-monthly cleaning. The point here is not to leave them on their own for more than 3 months.

Why not take advantage of our 10% Gutter Cleaning Discount?

Why not take advantage of our 10% Gutter Cleaning Discount?

Its that time of year when Gutters all over the country start filling up with falling leaves and other materials, stopping them from working effectively. When the Spring thaw arrives, all of that organic matter stops your guttering from doing the job that its intended to do.

This is the right time of year to be booking in a Gutter Clean. And to help you along the way, we are offering a 10% discount on this service if you book with us to have the work done before the end of Feb 2016.

Contact us today and place your booking nice and early!

www.windowcleaninggloucester.co.uk

You Shouldn’t Clean Windows In The Rain – Is That Really True?

It is a commonly held belief that windows should not be cleaned when it rains because the rain will just make them dirty again. Is this really a fact?

The simple answer is ‘no’. Although in some parts of Europe and the UK many people believe having their windows cleaned when it rains is a waste of time, in the USA, it is normal practice for window cleaners to carry on in all weather except storms and high winds.

Windows need cleaning because they get dirty not because they get wet. Back in the days when most houses had chimneys that were belching smoke, it probably would of been true that by the time the rain drops reached the ground they were full of dirt and smoke particles.

With the Clean Air Act, that situation has changed. Nowadays the three major causes of dirty windows are dust, pollen and droppings. If these are present on the window glass when it rains, the residue in the rain attaches itself to the dirt and can often make the windows look worse. When windows are clean the rain will simply run off and the glass continues to remain clean.

Do we Clean Windows In The Rain?

Yes we do clean windows in the rain. The next time you see us out in the rain, don’t think “he shouldn’t be cleaning windows in the rain”. Instead feel sorry for him, because frankly it’s miserable working outside in that weather. Cleaning windows in the rain is not a problem – rain water is normally clean – cleaner than tap water.

OK, there is one other thing that makes a difference when cleaning windows ‘in’ the rain. If you use the traditional style of window cleaning, it is more difficult to finish them when it is raining – not impossible, but it is more difficult. So, that is just a problem for the window cleaner, not the owner of the windows. Anyway, this doesn’t apply to us,  as we use the pure water cleaning technique. This technique is not affected by the rain, so anyone using this method can happily clean windows in the rain with no ill effects to the windows.

If you have any questions you can contact us on 01452 346124

How to Climb a Ladder Safely

With an estimated two million ladders in daily use across the UK, it is perhaps not surprising that ladders account for around 40% of falls from height accidents investigated by the Health & Safety Executive in workplaces in the UK each year.

The use of ladders is by far and away the largest single cause of such accidents both in the workplace and at home.

We decided to share the Do’s and Dont’s on the use of ladders. While its best not to use them sometimes they need to be used.

How to Put Up Ladders

Placing ladders in the wrong position is the most often made mistake that leads to injuries. Here is how to place the put up the ladder safely.

• Make sure you do not put the ladder on uneven ground.
• Place the ladder laying flat on the ground.
• Push one end of the ladder against a wall.
• Lift the other end of the ladder up and rest against the wall.
• Set the right angle, by using a 1:4 ratio. Divide the ladder by four. If the ladder i 4 meters long, the base should be 1 meter away from the wall.
• If the ladder is extra long, find a second person to help from the other end.

How to Climb a Ladder Safely

• Ensure that your ladder is fit and fully functional before using it. Check thoroughly for any loose steps or other defects.
• When you place the ladder, be sure it is on an even and not slippery surface. Remember that just one swing can be crucial. If the ground is uneven, do not put anything under the ladder, as it will only make it more unstable.
• Always climb with a two-hand grip, facing the ladder.
• Avoid holding a box of tools in one hand when climbing up.
• Take one step at a time and don’t rush it. If the angle is not right, you should be able to feel some shaking. Get back down to fix the angle in necessary.

How to Climb a Step Ladder Safely

• Ensure the ladder is fit and fully functional before using it.
• Never set up a stepladder on uneven, or slippery ground.
• Never sit or stand on the very top step of the step ladder.
• Only climb up the front of the ladder, never the back side.
• Do not allow a second person to climb from the other side. There are special two person ladders out there, but if this isn’t one, let the second person only hold the ladder in place if they want to help.
• Keep your hips within the two vertical rails.
• Remove all tools and materials from the ladder before moving it. You really want that hammer falling on your face?
• Never use a step ladder like an extension ladder by leaning it against a wall.

Never leave step ladders unattended, especially if there are children around. Remember your childhood and how fun it was to get on high places – the kids want to do it too. So, when you’re done working, put the ladder away, or at least lay it on the ground.

What Not to Do

The following basic precautions come in handy.

• Never use the top two steps of an extension ladder.
• Do not work near any electricity, especially if the ladder is made of metal.
• Do not lean a step ladder to a wall, the way you would do with an extension ladder. They don’t work the same way.
• Both step ladder feet should sit firmly on the ground. If the ground is uneven, dig some dirt out from beneath one foot.
• Never place an extension ladder on slippery surfaces.
• Always face the ladder when ascending and descending.
• Use both hands to grab the rungs, not the rails.
• Wear a tool belt or holster to carry tools and supplies in order to decrease your time going up and down.
• Keep your hips within the vertical side rails, otherwise the ladder will lose balance.

Top tips for cleaning the inside of your windows!

Invite the brightness back into your home with sparkling clean windows. From making your own cleaning solution to the trusted old newspaper trick, there are plenty of ways to bring the shine back to your window panes which will transform your rooms making them light, bright and good for the soul.

Your equipment checklist:

Here’s what you’ll need for cleaning windows in order to get a professional finish:

A Large dry brush or broom handle for removing cobwebs and dust

A bucket

A sponge

A squeegee

Purpose made window cleaning solutions or vinegar

Brown paper or newspaper

Chamois or microfibre cloth

Dry lint free cloth or drying pad

Cleaning windows tips:

1. Remove any built up dust

Start by tying back or removing any curtains or blinds and use a dust pan brush or broom handle to brush around the window corners and window sill to eliminate any laying dust.

2. Start by washing your window with a sponge

Washing up liquid in warm soapy water will work well but remember – the fewer suds the better. Be careful when using strong window cleaning solutions that they do not damage surrounding paintwork.

3. Wipe off the excess water

With a clean squeegee, starting at the top of the window and work your way down in a reverse-S pattern for maximum efficiency. Regularly wipe the squeegee blade clean with an old rag to avoid transferring the dirt around.

4. Remove any remaining water

Use damp, wrung-dry chamois or microfibre cloth to remove any remaining water from the glass. Finally dry the windowsill beneath where any water may have dripped down.

5. Wash windows on a cloudy day

Although direct sunlight makes it easier to see the dirt, it also dries the windows too quickly, leaving streaks on the glass. Make sure you pick a cloudy day for your cleaning session (but if you’re doing the outside, beware of rain!).

6. Clean your windows at least twice a year

This will make a truly surprising difference to your whole room by making it lighter and brighter. You’ll be surprised at how dirty your windows can get

7. Make your own cleaning solution

Add two tablespoons of vinegar to a small bucket of warm water.

8. Really dirty or greasy windows?

Use two tablespoons of household ammonia or domestic borax per gallon and rinse
with the vinegar solution above. Finish with a dry, lint-free cloth.

9. Buffing

Buff the clean, dry glass, with a pad of crumpled newspaper. The printers’ ink will give your windows an extra sparkle.

If you still do not want to have a go yourself, give us a call or visit www.windowcleaninggloucester.co.uk to recieve a free quoation