Post-Construction Window Cleaning - The Phoenix Collegiate, West Bromwich (B71 2BX)

Water-fed pole brush working the glass door at The Phoenix Collegiate, West Bromwich

A two-man team cleaned the exterior glazing on a newly built annexe at The Phoenix Collegiate, a foundation school on Clarkes Lane, West Bromwich B71 2BX, on 12 May 2026. The building had just been built, and the glass had visible signs of it: cement and lime residue, builders’ dust, and bird marks across the panes and the anthracite aluminium frames. This was no routine brush, but a post-build clean - both the residue and the job were different.

Project Overview

Client: The Phoenix Collegiate (foundation school) - the site’s facilities-management contractor hired us for the jobs
Where: Clarkes Lane, West Bromwich, B71 2BX
Date: 12 May 2026
Scope: Exterior window cleaning on the new annexe - glazing, aluminium frames, entrance doors, plus the dark soffit and fascia panels above the entrance
Team: 2 operatives, one day on site
Method: Using a water-fed pole, we did a detergent pre-wash, then a pressure-washer rinse; for the soffit line, we reached with an extended pole.

What post-construction residue actually looks like

Anyone who has ever cleaned up after a builder knows what this type of cleaning actually means. It’s not atmospheric grime to remove. An even layer of grey-red construction dust covered the entrance doors - on the double entrance doors, seeing through the glass was tricky, to say the least. Cement dust, as well as bird marks on top, was on window sills and lower frame sections. Because cement and lime residue is alkaline and abrasive, wiping it dry would have scratched the glass. Leaving it wasn’t an option, as it would only etch. Not only does it need wet removal, but it has to be done quickly after the construction work is completed.

Construction work was still ongoing on the site. Along the side corridor, there was rubble and debris, and protective film covered some parts of the new tarmac. We didn’t work as if they weren’t there but worked our way around them.

The building’s finishes made the job more challenging than expected: anthracite aluminium frames, decorative red panels, and natural timber cladding on a brick plinth. Using the wrong tool to remove cement residue from powder-coated frames leaves visible marks.

How we worked

After we connected to the site’s water supply, we began cleaning the most affected surfaces, the entrance doors. Using the water-fed pole brush, we applied the detergent. Rather than grinding the cement dust, we worked it loose. In the photos, you can see how the foam pattern does its job.

Once the residue had been agitated, we rinsed with the pressure washer - a wide fan, kept moving, never a tight jet held on the glass or the powder coating. The same sequence ran along each elevation: brush and detergent, then rinse, frame by frame.

We cleaned the black soffit and fascia panels above the entrance from ground level, after extending the water-fed pole to full reach. For a building this height, we didn’t need to lean ladders against the new cladding or scaffold.

Results

Across the annexe, we removed all construction dust, cement residue and bird marks from the glazing and frames.
Along the windows, we washed down the soffit and fascia line above the entrance.
By the end of the day, across the full elevation, the glass reflected the sky clearly - the red panels and timber cladding appeared as the architect intended.
One honest note: we didn’t take an “after” shot of the double entrance doors themselves - we captured the final elevation photos further along the facade. However, the before-and-during sequence on those doors speaks volumes.

Project photos

Click any image to open the full frame.

commercial school buff brick facade window cleaning operative — Cladding clean - West-Bromwich (B71), May 2026. Commercial building facade and tarmac forecourt inspected; buff brick and cladding assessed prior to cleaning.

Before - commercial school glass door panel red algae heavy soiling, West-Bromwich. — Cladding clean - West-Bromwich (B71), May 2026. Commercial glazed entrance door assessed; heavy limescale streaking and mineral deposits across lower glass panel.

Before - commercial school entrance double doors heavy soiling smearing, West-Bromwich. — Cladding clean - West-Bromwich (B71), May 2026. Commercial glass doors assessed; heavy soiling, smears, and paint marks visible across panels.

During - commercial school buff brick facade window frames dirty sills, West-Bromwich. — Cladding clean - West-Bromwich (B71), May 2026. Buff brick facade and window frames assessed; dark staining and dirt deposits noted throughout.

During - commercial school window water fed pole brush cleaning, West-Bromwich. — Cladding clean - West-Bromwich (B71), May 2026. Glass door scrubbed with water-fed pole brush; water running freely across the surface.

During - commercial school building glazed doors timber cladding water fed pole rinse, West-Bromwich. — Cladding clean - West-Bromwich (B71), May 2026. Pressure-washed uPVC double doors and glazing on commercial building facade.

After - commercial school building timber cladding buff brick window clean, West-Bromwich. — Cladding clean - West-Bromwich (B71), May 2026. Timber cladding and buff brick facade assessed; weathering and algae growth noted across boarding.

commercial school building window frames water fed pole cleaning — Cladding clean - West-Bromwich (B71), May 2026. Commercial glazed door and windows scrubbed with cleaning solution; operators visible mid-process.

commercial school upvc door frame water fed pole rinse — Cladding clean - West-Bromwich (B71), May 2026. Pressure-washed commercial uPVC entrance door and glazing; dirt and grime flushed from frames and glass.

commercial school aluminium framed windows red brick facade water fed pole clean — Cladding clean - West-Bromwich (B71), May 2026. Commercial facade assessed; red brick and timber cladding panels inspected for soiling.

commercial school window water fed pole brush cleaning — Cladding clean - West-Bromwich (B71), May 2026. Large commercial glass panel scrubbed with squeegee; soapy water mid-clean across full pane.

commercial school grey cladding water fed pole window clean — Cladding clean - West-Bromwich (B71), May 2026. Metal cladding panels scrubbed with long-reach pole; dirt and algae being cleared from surface.

commercial school glazed facade water fed pole window cleaning — Cladding clean - West-Bromwich (B71), May 2026. Pressure-washed dark metal cladding canopy soffit; dirt and grime blasted clear.

commercial school window frames pressure washed grey aluminium glazing — Cladding clean - West-Bromwich (B71), May 2026. Pressure-washed uPVC window frames and glazing on a commercial buff brick building; dirt and grime being cleared.

Just finished a build?

Don’t postpone cleaning the glass after construction - the longer it sits, the more difficult the cement residue becomes to shift. Send us a few photos of the building and your postcode, and we’ll get back to you with a clear quote. For schools and larger commercial sites, we’ll start with scheduling a free visit. Call 07307 358765.

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