How to Choose the Right Exterior Cleaning Company for Your Commercial Building

17 Jul

Looking to keep your commercial building looking professional and well-maintained? Choosing the right exterior cleaning company is key to protecting your property, upholding safety standards, and ensuring a long-lasting clean. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what to look for when hiring a commercial exterior cleaning team in New Zealand—from SiteWise accreditation and health & safety to experience and insurance.

Why Exterior Cleaning for Commercial Buildings Matters

First impressions count. A clean, well-kept building shows professionalism, increases property value, and prevents long-term damage from moss, mould, dirt, and pollutants. But achieving a high-standard clean safely—especially on large-scale or multi-level buildings—requires a skilled and trusted contractor.

Prioritise Health & Safety Compliance

Commercial cleaning often involves working at height, near foot traffic, or around sensitive areas like entrances and car parks. Make sure your cleaning company:

Follows WorkSafe NZ guidelines
Provides a Site-Specific Safety Plan (SSSP) or Job Safety Analysis (JSA)
Has trained staff in working at heights and chemical handling
Supplies appropriate PPE and hazard controls

Hiring a company that leads with safety helps protect your staff, tenants, and the public. You should never have to chase a contractor to be compliant—they should lead with it.

Look for SiteWise Green or Gold Accreditation

If you’re managing commercial property or working with councils, schools, or government facilities, engaging a SiteWise accredited contractor is essential. SiteWise is a prequalification system that grades a company’s health and safety capabilities. A Green or Gold rating demonstrates that the business has been independently assessed and meets high standards of safety management. This accreditation gives peace of mind that the cleaning contractor is not only safe—but also reliable and professional enough to work on complex or sensitive sites.

Ask About Experience with Commercial Properties

Residential house washing is one thing—commercial exterior cleaning is another. From shopping centres to warehouses, apartment blocks to office towers, the scale, access, materials, and risks involved require a higher level of skill.

Make sure the company you engage has:

Specific experience cleaning commercial buildings
Access to professional-grade equipment
Knowledge of how to treat different exterior surfaces (e.g. concrete, Colorsteel, glass, aluminium cladding)
Case studies or references from previous commercial clients

A good commercial cleaner will also work around your schedule to minimise disruption to staff or tenants.

Confirm They’re Fully Insured

Professional exterior cleaning often involves height work, pressurised equipment, and water around electrical systems. If something goes wrong, you need to know the contractor is adequately covered.

Always confirm that they have:

Public liability insurance
Site-specific risk assessments
An incident reporting process in place

Don’t be afraid to ask for a certificate of currency. A reputable company will be happy to provide it.

Check Their Range of Services

Different commercial properties require different cleaning services depending on location, building materials, and environmental exposure. The best cleaning companies offer a complete range of exterior services, including:

Building and cladding washing
Roof treatments (for moss, mould, lichen)
Gutter cleaning and flushing
Window cleaning (up to multiple stories)
Pathway and concrete pressure washing

Engaging a company that can handle it all ensures a streamlined process and consistent quality across the entire building exterior.

Choose a Team That Values Communication and Professionalism

Finally, how a business communicates can tell you a lot about how they’ll treat your commercial property.

Look for a company that:

Responds quickly to enquiries
Provides detailed written quotes or proposals
Turns up on time and completes the job as scheduled
Keeps you informed before, during, and after the work
Offers photos or reports of the completed work

Reliable communication is essential—especially when you're responsible for tenant relations or corporate standards.

Final Thoughts

Hiring the right exterior cleaning company for your commercial property isn’t just about price—it’s about trust, safety, experience, and results.

At TLC Softwash, we’re proud to meet the highest standards in the industry. With full SiteWise Gold accreditation, a safety-first culture, and signifant exterior commercial cleaning experience across Hawke’s Bay, Christchurch, and Auckland. We’re here to help you keep your building look its best—without the risk.

Need a quote or want to know more about how we can help?

👉 Contact us today and let’s talk about your property’s exterior cleaning needs.