RETAIL & DAYTIME CLEANING Marks & Sparkling
Using their specialist ‘Façade Gommage’ technique, Thomann-Hanry has managed to restore the exterior of one of the UK’s most iconic stores. Here, they tell us a bit more about their ultra-fast, cost effective methods.
Thomann-Hanry specialise in façade cleaning and maintenance. Established in 1946 as a stone restoration company, Thomann-Hanry has spent many years refining and perfecting their ‘Façade Gommage’ masonry cleaning system – a highly effective, ultra-fast, eco-friendly and cost effective cleaning process that does not require the use of scaffold. Originating in France, where it has impressively cleaned the entire Le Louvre, it has operated in the UK since 2006.
Commonly used by retailers across the UK and in particular London, the ‘Façade Gommage’ technique allows retail brands in high footfall locations to undergo works, whether it’s cleaning or restoration, without affecting trade or footfall, a usual victim if choosing traditional techniques.
Cleaning and restoration is undertaken from a cabin fixed to a hydraulic boom, which methodically travels up and down the building. The ‘Façade Gommage’ patented formula uses an ultra-fine, nonabrasive cleaning powder, softer than the masonry surfaces being cleaned but strong enough to weaken dirt without causing damage. Once removed, the dirt is collected and recycled on completion.
Mark Styles, Managing Director of Thomann-Hanry, explained: “When considering an exterior clean, using a unique system that does not require the use of scaffold, such as the non-abrasive ‘facade gommage’ by Thomann-Hanry, is a huge benefit not only to the safety of workers but to the functioning business as works take place. Not only do we have a number of high profile banks and hotels as clients but interestingly many leading property companies –
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Land Securities, Grosvenor Estates to name a couple – have chosen the scaffold-free technique when cleaning their own buildings, which has to be simply the best endorsement ‘going scaffold-free’ can get.”
One sector that benefits greatly from the unique scaffold-free approach is retail. When undertaking exterior works, retailers can often be plagued with problems when using traditional methods, including health and safety, amongst many other issues. The approach offered by Thomann-Hanry has given some of London and the UK’s top retailers peace-of-mind through a method that is fast and non-intrusive, and allows businesses to function as usual, meaning no loss of revenue and minimal disruption to staff and shoppers. One of their biggest projects-to-date was at Marks & Spencer’s shop on Oxford Street. The flagship store boasts 170,000 square feet of
prime West End retail space. It was opened in 1930 and remains the Company’s largest and most profitable store. Although cleaning the Portland stone façade had been considered on several occasions, the timing never seemed right for Marks & Spencer to have their most valuable retail premises covered in scaffold for three to four months. This is understandable when you consider the store’s revenue can reach £1million in one day. With such
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