Alpena & Northern Michigan’s Oxidation Removal Specialists

Your home’s siding, gutters, window frames, etc… are prone to oxidation and fading. It happens on all surfaces, some surfaces degrade more rapidly than others.

With time, the paint/finish on your home’s surfaces will get old, fade, and become less shiny because of the oxidation. Oxidation occurs most often on vinyl and painted metal surfaces.

Damage from UV radiation is one of the most common problems homeowners face when it comes to cleaning your siding. The Sun’s rays cause discoloration of finishes, fabric, paint, wood, etc… UV rays can also cause problems with metal surfaces, causing them to corrode and/or discolor. Dirt, debris, and organic buildups that sit on a painted/finished surface for too long can slowly eat away at the paint/finish rapidly speeding up the oxidation process. Vinyl siding is commonly known to fade over time when exposed to sunlight.

We have the solution to your faded exterior!

If you want to keep your property in pristine condition and save thousands of dollars on painting services, contact Great Lakes Exterior Clean today at 989-916-4993 to learn more about our oxidation removal process.

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How How To Tell If Your Siding is Oxidized

Do you have a chalky substance on your siding?

There are a few ways to tell if your home’s siding is faded or oxidized. One way to spot oxidation is a visual inspection. The surfaces will look dull and have an uneven or chalky appearance compared to the shadier sides of your home.

Another way to tell if your siding is oxidized, is through physical inspection; gently take a damp rag or hand and rub a piece of siding in question. It will be easy to spot the chalky substance that comes off of the siding. Make sure to do the test spot in an inconspicuous area as you will be able to tell the difference between the test piece of siding.

Can Oxidation Be Cleaned With A Pressure Washer?

Oxidation technically cannot be cleaned. You would not expect a car wash to restore the shine to your dull/faded paint. Oxidation cannot be cleaned, but instead can be removed using specialty cleaners that break the bond between the dead finish and the good finish. If oxidation is present in your home, AVOID using a pressure washer or hiring someone with a pressure washer! Using high pressure will leave your home’s surfaces looking striped. High pressure will not remove all oxidation, causing an uneven effect that looks worse than it did before being washed. Instead of high pressure, we use specialty cleaners that break the electromagnetic bond. Contact the professionals at Great Lakes Exterior Clean for best in class oxidation removal services.

Northern Michigan’s #1 Rated Oxidation Removal Service

At Great Lakes Exterior Clean, we offer specialty oxidation removal services, similar to car paint restoration. We have the ability to easily remove oxidation from your gutters , vinyl siding, and many other surfaces/materials! Oxidation removal is a cheaper alternative to repainting or replacing your siding.

Vinyl siding is the most popular exterior siding installed on homes in the United States. Homeowners love it for its durability, versatility, and affordability. Vinyl siding is also easy to install and maintain. Over time, though, you will notice the siding begin to fade and become chalky.

Oxidation occurs when PVC (polyvinyl chloride) material is exposed to sunlight, elements, grime, etc… The process naturally occurs overtime, and can only be slowed with preventative maintenance.

It is of utmost importance to remove oxidation from your home’s surfaces. Aside from fading, oxidation can lead to degradation of your home's curb appeal and value. Removal of oxidation will help your home's surfaces not only look good, but last for years to come.

Our Expert Oxidation Removal Process

We use professional, industrial grade solutions specifically designed for oxidation removal. These specialty chemicals help to break the static bond between the oxidation and the good finish. After some brushing, we gently rinse the surface to reveal a nice shiny exterior. Under no circumstance should you use high pressure on oxidized surfaces. Irreversible damages will happen! In case it does happen, contact us today, we may be able to help!

Our process for removing oxidation from your home’s surfaces is similar to soft washing. Soft washing uses a low pressure, high volume stream of water to remove organic buildups, without the risk of damage. We use the same specialty equipment to assist the specialty solution for removing oxidation.

1. Cleaning Stage

Before removing the oxidation, it is important to prep the area before the oxidation removal process. We start with soft-washing the surface to remove all dirt, debris, and organic growths. This is an important step that should be skipped over! Skipping this prep stage can lead to an uneven finish.

2. Apply Oxidation Removal Solution

After removing all of the organics, we will apply our oxidation removal solution to break the bond between the dead finish and the good finish.

3. Scrub

After allowing the chemical to dwell, we will scrub the siding to remove the more stubborn oxidation. Brushing also ensures an even finish.

4. Rinse

Finally, we will do a thorough rinse down to reveal a pristine lustrous finish!

5. Repeat If Needed

We will repeat steps 2-4 if necessary to remove heavier buildups.

Our Cleaning Solutions Do the Work

A common misconception among our leads and clients is that they assume that the surface is cleaned with high pressure. That is just not true! Soft wash is a gentle, low pressure cleaning alternative that uses specialty cleaners in place of high pressure to remove stains, debris and organic buildups. Soft washing does not damage surfaces, but only cleans them.

Although we provide pressure washing services, we do not recommend pressure washing for most surfaces. Pressure washing is a cleaning method that should only be used to clean brick, concrete, pavers, stone and other hard surfaces. Pressure washing only removes the problem at the surface level, it does not take care of the problem at the root cause. It’s only a matter of time before mold, mildew, and oxidation make their way back. Contact us today with any questions you may have.

Prevent Oxidation In The Future

Taking preventative measures to prevent oxidation in the future is a must. Cleaning the exterior of your home yearly or bi-yearly is a must to prevent nasty stains, organic buildups, and oxidation. Contact your exterior cleaning professionals today at 989-916-4993 to get on our routine maintenance wash plan!

Services We Offer Aside From Oxidation Removal

• Building Washing
• Commercial Pressure Washing
• Commercial Soft Washing
• Deck Cleaning
• Driveway Cleaning
• Dumpster Pad Cleaning
• Efflorescence Removal
• Exterior Window Cleaning
• Fence Washing
• Fleet Washing
• Gas Station Cleaning
• Graffiti Removal
• Gutter Brightening
• Gutter Cleaning
• House Washing
• Interior Window Cleaning
• Oxidation Removal
• Residential Pressure Washing
• Roof Cleaning
• Rust Stain Removal
• Screen Cleaning
• Wood Cleaning

Oxidation Removal Gallery