Building and facade cleaning across Oxford
Commercial buildings in Oxford tend to fall into two very different groups. In and around the city centre, many are older stone or brick, including buildings built from local limestones such as Headington and Taynton. Further out, at places such as ARC Oxford (formerly Oxford Business Park) in Cowley and along the A34 towards Abingdon and Didcot, you’ll find modern offices and industrial units with cladding, glass and render.
A method that suits one can damage or streak the other, so we don’t start with a pressure washer and hope for the best. Locus Services looks at the building fabric first, then chooses the method, and we carry out test pieces so you can see the standard of clean before the main job starts.
Facade cleaning: before and after
Choosing the right method for the surface
| Surface | How we usually clean it | Find out more |
|---|---|---|
| Older stone and brick | Low-pressure DOFF steam, which needs little water and no added chemicals | DOFF cleaning |
| Concrete, modern brick and paving | Commercial pressure washing, with chemicals chosen for the building fabric | Pressure washing |
| Cladding and glazed facades | Cleaned from MEWPs, cradles or scaffolding, using a method chosen for the material | Facade cleaning |
| Aluminium window frames | Dull, chalky or faded powder-coated frames restored | Window frame restoration |
| Tags and paint | Removed using a method matched to the surface | Graffiti removal |
Locus is a Stonehealth Rosette approved contractor for DOFF cleaning, and we photograph this work before and after.
Cleaning listed and historic buildings in Oxford
Many of Oxford’s central streets are full of listed buildings, so check the building’s status before you book. As the Building Conservation Directory explains, cleaning a listed building may count as an alteration, which would need listed building consent. It also says test panels are a normal part of that process.
Oxford’s own Town Hall shows how carefully this work is planned. The city council’s restoration project started with cleaning the stonework, guided by heritage specialists, so that repairs could then be assessed.
If your building is listed or in a conservation area, speak to Oxford City Council’s planning team before cleaning starts. We can carry out test pieces to support the conversation.
Working on Oxford’s streets and business parks
City-centre jobs often mean working in narrow streets with plenty of pedestrians and cyclists. You may need a permit or a pavement licence for a MEWP, and we organise this with the council for you. We operate 24/7, so we can work early in the morning or at night, when streets and buildings are quieter.
On business parks, the priority is usually keeping the site looking good and the walkways safe. Algae and moss can make paving slippery, so regular cleaning helps with both. We can carry out a one-off clean or set up regular visits.
How a building clean works
- Free site survey: we check the building fabric, the access and any permits needed.
- Test piece: we clean a small area so you can see what’s achievable.
- Planning: you get risk assessments and method statements, and we agree timings around your business.
- The clean: carried out from MEWPs, cradles or scaffolding, as the building requires.
- Sign-off: we walk the site with you and hand over any records.
Accredited, insured and documented
Locus is SafeContractor-accredited, Constructionline Silver and a BICSc corporate member, and our operatives hold IPAF and CSCS cards. We’re registered with the Environment Agency as a waste carrier (CBDU320327).