WICONA

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓pH-neutral glass cleaner in warm water. Commercial-grade applicator and long-channel squeegee.
• ✓Work bay by bay from top to bottom. Complete each bay before moving to the next.
• ✓On solar control glass, check whether the glass coating is on the external surface before using any scraping tool.
• ✓Control solution run-off to lower bays. Solution dripping from an upper bay onto cleaned glass below is the primary source of rework.

Frames

• ✓Powder-coated aluminium: pH-neutral cleaner, soft cloth, immediate rinse, dry.
• ✓Anodised aluminium: pH-neutral cleaner with confirmed compatibility to Hydro Colour specification if applicable.
• ✓Clear weep holes in horizontal transom members at every clean. Use a soft tool. Never block weep holes.
• ✓Check pressure-equalised baffles and weatherstrip condition on accessible sections.

Hardware

• ✓Commercial windows in the facade: lubricate all accessible mechanism points annually.
• ✓WICSTYLE entrance doors: high-cycle hardware needs bi-annual lubrication.
• ✓Structural sealant condition check at every clean visit. Report any cracking or adhesion failure immediately - commercial facade sealant failure is a water penetration risk.

Step 2 of 2: The Orloffs Protocol

The Orloffs Protocol

Pro Tools

My daily tool list. This is what I carry to every job.

Follow these steps in order. Each one builds on the last. This is the same sequence I use on every WICONA installation.

1. 1

   Access and safety planning

   Confirm access method and safety plan before starting any high-rise WICONA facade work.

   BMU or rope access: confirm the building management has authorised access, equipment is inspected, and a second person is co-ordinating from the ground.

   Plan the cleaning sequence from the top of the building to the base - solution run-off runs downward.

2. 2

   Facade assessment from access equipment

   On first pass over the facade, assess the cleaning condition: solar control glass type, visible sealant condition, drainage channel blockage.

   Identify any areas requiring specialist attention: post-construction deposits, localised contamination, failed sealant sections.

   Report significant findings to the building manager before starting the main clean.

3. 3

   Glass cleaning from access equipment

   Apply solution bay by bay from the top. Large-channel squeegee working systematically across each bay.

   Wipe squeegee rubber after every pass. Residue on the rubber streaks glass below.

   Control solution run-off to lower bays - keep a consistent cleaning front working downward.

4. 4

   Frame and transom cleaning

   pH-neutral cleaner on soft cloth on all accessible frame sections.

   Clear weep holes in horizontal transoms with soft brush at every bay.

   Dry frame sections to prevent solution drying as mineral residue.

5. 5

   Sealant and drainage condition reporting

   Document any sealant cracking, adhesion loss, weep hole damage, or frame condition issues observed during the clean.

   Photograph evidence for the building manager report.

   Commercial facade maintenance contracts require a condition report at every clean.

6. 6

   Ground-level and entrance area cleaning

   Complete the high-rise facade first, then clean ground-level and entrance glazing.

   WICSTYLE entrance doors: clean glass, wipe frames, lubricate hardware.

   Check entrance area drainage and clear any debris from drainage channels.

Pro Tips

• ★ Commercial WICONA facade cleaning is a planned operation, not a reactive one. The building manager and the maintenance contractor should have a coordinated schedule with access equipment booking, weather windows, and building occupancy considerations planned in advance.
• ★ Weep hole clearing on WICONA curtain walling is the most important single maintenance action on a drained pressure-equalised system. Every blocked weep hole is a potential water penetration point. Build weep hole checking into every bay of the cleaning sequence.
• ★ Hydro Colour anodised finishes on WICONA products have specific cleaning product compatibility requirements. Verify the product you are using is on the approved list before applying it to anodised sections. The Hydro Building Systems technical department can confirm compatibility.
• ★ Solar control glass coatings on commercial facades are sometimes on the external surface rather than an internal surface - check the specification before using any abrasive tool or scraper on commercial glass.
• ★ BMU gondola cleaning technique is a learned skill. Working from a suspended gondola with a 90cm squeegee, managing the gondola position, and maintaining consistent coverage requires specific training. Do not attempt commercial high-rise WICONA cleaning without the appropriate access and cleaning training.
• ★ Post-construction cleaning of WICONA facades requires specialist products for cement and silicone contamination removal. Standard facade cleaning products do not address these deposits. Confirm the post-construction cleaning specification with the project team before starting.
• ★ Commercial WICONA maintenance contracts should include a structural sealant condition assessment at every clean. Sealant inspection on a curtain walling system is the difference between a preventive maintenance programme and a reactive water damage response.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass: 2 to 4x per year (Commercial building context and location determine frequency. Urban office buildings: quarterly. Prestige retail and hospitality: monthly.). Drainage channel and weep hole clearing: Twice per year minimum (Autumn leaf fall and spring pollen are peak blockage periods. More frequent in urban locations with heavy atmospheric deposits.). Structural sealant inspection: Once per year (Annual condition report required under most commercial maintenance contracts.). Window hardware lubrication: Annually (WICSTYLE entrance doors: bi-annually due to high-cycle use.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“WICONA is a commercial specification product. Cleaning contracts for WICONA facades require the capabilities of a commercial facade maintenance company, not a residential window cleaning operative. The Hydro parent company gives WICONA access to specific finishing technologies and material certifications. These certifications have cleaning product compatibility implications that are more prescriptive than for standard powder-coat aluminium. Weep hole blockage is the most common and most consequential maintenance failure on WICONA curtain walling. It is also entirely preventable with correct protocol. Building managers who understand this will value a maintenance contractor who treats weep hole clearing as a priority.”

Justin Orloff