A Chicagoland Hotel Exterior Maintenance Project
This Chicagoland hotel project was planned from the beginning as a multi-service exterior maintenance project. The scope included drone cleaning, mildew removal and treatment, landscaping, surface preparation, and commercial painting, all of which needed to be completed in the proper sequence.
Spotless used commercial drone cleaning to help clean elevated and difficult-to-access areas of the building while reducing the need for some traditional access methods. After cleaning, the exterior was treated to address mildew before moving on to surface preparation and painting.
Since several services were involved, coordination was an important part of the project. We managed the different stages of work as part of one larger exterior maintenance scope, helping simplify scheduling, and communication for the property team instead of requiring them to coordinate multiple contractors independently.
Project Snapshot
A multi-service exterior maintenance project coordinated by Spotless, from elevated cleaning and mildew treatment through surface preparation and painting.
Commercial hotel property in the Chicagoland area.
Elevated exterior surfaces, mildew, and coatings that required additional attention before repainting.
Drone cleaning, mildew treatment, landscaping, surface preparation, and commercial painting.
Multiple exterior services coordinated through one Spotless project team.
Exterior surfaces were cleaned, treated, and prepared so the next stages of the project could move forward.
View Transcript
For this facility here. This wasn’t just a window cleaning project or a drone cleaning project.
After we cleaned it, we then had to make sure that there was no mildew left over. We had to clean it, remove it, disinfect it so that mildew wouldn’t come back. After we did that, we then prepped it for paint and our crews took care of the painting. So there was multiple trays that had to be coordinated for this facility and so this project was not just a matter of coming out here with a window squeegee.
This is some of the work that our technicians are trained to do. We can tackle some of the hardest jobs that might otherwise require you to coordinate two or three different trades, so just give us a call and we can take care of the whole project for you and make your life that much easier. To learn more or see if this is right for your property, give us a call at (312) 488-1113
Key Takeaway:
This hotel project required more than exterior cleaning. Drone cleaning, mildew treatment, landscaping, surface preparation, and painting were coordinated as parts of the larger exterior project.
Why This Exterior Maintenance Project Required Multiple Services
Exterior cleaning was only one part of the overall scope. Before the building could be prepared for painting, the exterior surfaces needed to be cleaned and the existing mildew needed to be removed and treated.
This sequence matters. Painting over biological growth or improperly prepared surfaces can interfere with the condition of the finished surface and may leave the underlying issue unaddressed. EPA guidance for mold-affected surfaces recommends cleaning and drying the surface before paint is applied. Once the cleaning and mildew treatment were completed, our team could move into surface preparation and painting. Landscaping was also coordinated as part of the overall project so the different trades could be scheduled around one another instead of being managed as separate, disconnected jobs.
For the property team, the advantage was having one company coordinate the different stages of the exterior maintenance scope rather than managing several contractors independently.
How Drone Cleaning Fits into Commercial Exterior Maintenance
Drone cleaning can be a useful tool within a larger commercial exterior maintenance project, especially when a building has elevated or difficult-to-access surfaces. Depending on the property, it can help crews reach exterior areas that may otherwise require lifts, scaffolding, or other traditional access methods.
For this hotel project, Spotless used drone cleaning as one part of the overall exterior maintenance scope. The drone helped clean elevated areas of the building before the project moved into mildew treatment, surface preparation, and painting. The value of drone cleaning is not simply the technology itself. It is knowing when it makes sense for the property, how it fits into the sequence of work, and what needs to happen before and after the cleaning is complete.
For hotels, office buildings, commercial facilities, and other large properties, drone cleaning can be incorporated into a broader exterior maintenance plan when the project also requires additional treatment, preparation, or painting. This allows the cleaning process to support the next stage of the work rather than functioning as a standalone service.
What Builds Up on Commercial Exteriors Over Time
Commercial buildings are constantly exposed to weather, moisture, pollution, pollen, and other environmental conditions. Over time, exterior surfaces can collect dirt, mildew, algae, staining, and other residue that can affect both the appearance of the property and the visibility of the surface underneath.
For hotels and other high-traffic commercial properties, buildup can be especially noticeable around entrances, exterior walls, canopies, windows, and other highly visible areas. Elevated portions of the building can also be more difficult to access during routine maintenance, allowing buildup to remain in place longer.
Exterior cleaning helps remove those layers of residue and gives property and facility managers a clearer view of the condition of the surfaces underneath. In some cases, cleaning may be all the property needs. In others, it can be an important step before additional treatment, surface preparation, coating, or painting work begins.
For masonry surfaces specifically, the National Park Service notes that exterior masonry can accumulate different types of soiling and biological growth, including mold and mildew, and that cleaning can help with evaluating the condition of the surface underneath.
Coordinating Multiple Exterior Services Through One Provider
Exterior maintenance projects can become more complicated when several services have to be scheduled in the right order. Cleaning, mildew treatment, landscaping, surface preparation, and painting may each require different crews, equipment, and timing.
For this hotel project, Spotless coordinated the different stages as part of one overall scope of work. That gave the property team one point of contact for the project instead of requiring them to manage several separate vendors. For facility and property managers, this can help simplify communication, scheduling, and project oversight. It also makes it easier to keep each stage of the work aligned with what needs to happen next.
Our goal is to make the process easier on the client. When a property needs more than one exterior service, Spotless can help coordinate the work so the facility team can stay focused on the building and its day-to-day operations.
Our Process: From Walkthrough to Completed Project
Every commercial property has different exterior maintenance needs. Our process starts with understanding the facility, the condition of the exterior, and the scope of work the property team is looking to complete.
From there, we schedule a walkthrough to evaluate the building, access requirements, surface conditions, and the services involved. If the project includes multiple stages, we build the scope around the proper sequence of work and coordinate the crews, equipment, and scheduling needed to complete it.
For this Chicagoland hotel, that meant coordinating drone cleaning, mildew treatment, landscaping, surface preparation, and commercial painting as parts of one larger exterior maintenance project.
The project is a good example of why exterior maintenance is not always about a single service. Sometimes the real value comes from having a team that can look at the entire scope, coordinate the moving pieces, and help carry the project from the initial walkthrough through completion.
Planning an Exterior Maintenance Project?
Whether your property needs exterior cleaning, drone cleaning, surface preparation, commercial painting, or a combination of services, the first step is understanding what the project requires.
Contact Spotless to schedule a walkthrough and discuss your next commercial exterior maintenance project.
FAQ
Yes. Depending on the scope of the property, these services can be coordinated as part of one larger exterior maintenance project. Planning the work in the proper sequence can help simplify scheduling, communication, and project oversight for the facility or property team.
Drone cleaning can be used to reach elevated and difficult-to-access exterior surfaces as part of a larger maintenance project. Depending on the building and site conditions, it may reduce the need for some traditional access methods such as lifts or scaffolding.
For this hotel project, drone cleaning was one part of a broader scope that also included mildew treatment, surface preparation, landscaping, and commercial painting.
Drone cleaning can be used on many commercial exterior surfaces, including glass, brick and masonry, concrete, stone, metal, and certain synthetic exterior materials. It can also be used for building facades, exterior windows, signage, and other difficult to access surfaces. The appropriate cleaning method will depend on the material, its condition, and the type of buildup being removed.
In many cases, yes. Drone cleaning can be planned around an occupied commercial property without requiring the entire facility to close. However, every site is different. The work area, pedestrian and vehicle traffic, weather conditions, airspace, and the location of the surfaces being cleaned all need to be considered before the work begins.
Commercial drone operations must also follow FAA requirements related to airspace, people, operating conditions, and pilot requirements. Depending on the project, certain areas around the work zone may need to be temporarily restricted while the drone is operating.
The best starting point is a facility walkthrough. During the walkthrough, the building, surface conditions, access requirements, and project goals can be evaluated so the appropriate cleaning and maintenance services can be scoped.
Contact Spotless to schedule a walkthrough and discuss your commercial exterior maintenance project.
For properties throughout Chicagoland, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, the cost of commercial exterior cleaning can vary depending on the size and height of the building, the condition of the exterior, the type of buildup being removed, access to the property, and the cleaning method required. Projects that include additional services such as mildew treatment, surface preparation, landscaping, or painting may also affect the overall scope and cost.
Every property is different, the best way to get an accurate estimate is to have the building evaluated. Contact Spotless Facility Group to schedule a walkthrough and discuss the needs of your property.