The Challenge

The Coeur d’Alene North Condominiums, located on the shores of beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho, was retrofitted in 1986 using Dryvit, an Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS). Eleven years later, the exterior of the nine floor multi level building was badly weathered and stained from dirt and mildew. An attempt was made to clean the north side of the building in 1997 using traditional high-pressure washing by a man in a basket hoisted up the side of the building by a crane. Unfortunately, this method took three weeks, caused $8,000 in damage to the waterproof, Dryvit finish from the basket hitting the building, and did not remove the black residue on the building. In 2000, the Home Owners Association considered a proposed budget of $223,000 to repaint the buildings exterior. However, further research into options for cleaning instead of repainting lead them to Metro Clean Systems.

The Metro Clean Solution

In a meeting with board members of the Homeowners Association at the site, Metro Clean Systems representatives did a test cleaning on a small area of the building that successfully removed the black stain of dirt and mildew. Metro Clean Systems then submitted a proposal to clean the condominium building that was a fraction of the cost the Homeowners’ Association had considered to spend repainting. The entire building was gently cleaned of stains and mildew in four days using a high-volume, low-pressure cleaning technology.

The Results

The Homeowners’ Association was extremely pleased with the cleaning of their condominium building, and with the money they saved because the need to repaint was eliminated. Their budget will include routine cleanings by Metro Clean Systems to maintain the exterior appearance of the Coeur d’Alene North Condominiums.