The Soft Touch: Restoring a Delicate Shop Front in Tiptree

As we get closer to Christmas, it’s not just homeowners looking to spruce up their properties. Local businesses are getting ready for the festive rush, and first impressions count.

I recently finished a week of work in Tiptree and Kelvedon with a job that required a bit more of a technical, delicate touch than usual. I wanted to share a bit about the process, because not every pressure washing job is about "power." Sometimes, it’s about precision.

The Challenge: Older Paintwork

I was tasked with cleaning a shop front and signage that had accumulated a fair bit of grime. However, upon inspection, I noticed the woodwork was older and the white paint wasn't in the best shape. It was slightly flaking in areas.

If an inexperienced cleaner had gone in there with a high-pressure lance, they would have stripped the paint right off along with the dirt, leaving the customer with a headache and a repainting bill.

The Solution: Soft Brush & Agitation

To get the best result without damaging the property, I swapped the heavy equipment for a specialized ultra-soft brush.

I applied a mixture of water and a gentle degreasing agent (sometimes a little washing-up liquid is the secret weapon for lifting greasy road film!) to the woodwork and signage. The key here was the agitation. I had to scrub just enough to lift the dirt from the surface, but gently enough that I didn't pull away those small, delicate flakes of white paint.

It’s a balancing act that comes with experience. You need to know exactly how much pressure the surface can take.

The Rinse and Finish

Once I was happy that the dirt was lifted, I switched to a fan jet rinse. Unlike a pencil jet which cuts deep, a fan jet spreads the water pressure over a wider area. This allowed me to rinse away the suds and grime cleanly, leaving the paintwork intact and looking significantly brighter.

To finish the job, I performed a full commercial window clean on the shop front glass. After all, there is no point in having clean signage if the customers can’t see through the windows!

The Result

The outcome was a shop front that looked fresh, cared for, and ready for customers, with zero damage to the existing paintwork.

Whether you have a modern office with aluminium cladding or a heritage shop front with delicate woodwork, we have the techniques to clean it safely.

Need your business looking its best for December? Contact Sorrell Pressure Wash and Windows today.

📞 07880 349521 📧 Dan@sorrellpww.co.uk 🌐 www.sorrellpww.co.uk