How Drones Can Help Facility Managers Maintain Buildings

For innovative facility managers, drones are a smart way to keep building exteriors clean, and just might save your workers from dangerous work conditions.

Another advantage: because a Lucid C1 drone does not require additional equipment and has a 5-10 minute setup time, the risk of damage to landscaping or the property decreases dramatically. Soft washing jobs with a drone are also completed up to five times faster than traditional methods.

Drones Facility ManagersShould You Soft Wash Or Pressure Wash Your Facility?

Quickly, the difference should be explained. Many people group pressure washing as soft washing, but there are significant differences that are essential for facility managers to understand.

Pressure washing and soft washing are two methods used to clean the exterior of buildings and other structures. Both methods involve using water and detergent to remove dirt, grime, and other contaminants from the surface.

However, there are some key differences between the two methods:

drones facility management

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  1. Pressure washing involves using high-pressure water jets to forcefully remove dirt and grime from the surface. This method is effective at removing tough stains and contaminants. However, it can also be damaging to some surfaces, such as wood or paint, if not used properly.
  2. Soft washing, on the other hand, involves using a low-pressure water spray combined with a selected cleaning solution. This method is more gentle on surfaces, and is often used to clean delicate materials such as stucco or vinyl siding, along with many other substrates. Soft washing is also effective at removing algae, mold, and other organic growth, which can be difficult to remove with pressure washing alone.

Generally, soft washing is a better option for facility maintenance for a few reasons. It’s:

  • Gentle. There is minimal risk for building or landscaping damage, which can affect insurance and lead to building repairs.
  • Effective. Removes organic stains such as mold and algae with long-lasting results.

One big difference is pressure washing does not get to the roots of the organic stain. It only takes off the top layer. Meaning you have to do it again sooner with a pressure washer.

Cajundome
In Layfayette, LA, the Cajundome sports arena and convention center was cleaned with two drones and an environmentally safe cleaner.

Soft washing with a drone is the safer, faster, smarter solution. Here’s why:

In addition to being gentle and effective, soft washing with a drone also comes with safety and cost advantages. On average, the Lucid C1 drone has been able to

  • Increase efficiency by 80%,
  • Lower overall costs by 77%, and
  • Reduce job site injuries by 95%.

Drone soft washing can be an effective and efficient way to wash a variety of surfaces, including roofs, buildings, and large outdoor areas. It is a convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional cleaning methods, as it allows for cleaning to be done remotely and with minimal disruption to the surrounding area.

Drones Facility ManagersTaylor Gantt is a Marketing & PR Coordinator for Lucid Drone Technologies, North America’s leader in purpose built industrial drones. She has been with the company since May of 2021. Lucid Drone Technologies is a Charlotte, NC-based robotics company and North America’s leader in industrial spray drones for labor-intensive jobs. Founded in 2018, Lucid has set out to provide a Safer, Faster, and Smarter alternative to traditional dull, dirty, and dangerous jobs for residential, commercial and facility properties nationally. 

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