Building Exterior Cleaner

As a Building Exterior Cleaner you maintain and restore the external surfaces of buildings, using methods such as pressure washing, abrasive blasting, and chemical treatments to remove dirt, grime, graffiti, and biological growth from facades, walls, and floors. You assess the condition of a building's exterior before selecting the most appropriate and safe cleaning technique, ensuring surfaces are not damaged in the process. You work in compliance with health and safety regulations, using personal protective equipment and securing the working area to protect members of the public and fellow workers. Your clients may include property management companies, local authorities, commercial landlords, and private homeowners across Ireland. You often collaborate with building surveyors, maintenance teams, and restoration specialists when tackling more complex or heritage cleaning projects.

There are no specific Leaving Certificate subject requirements for this role, though subjects such as Construction Studies, Physics, and Chemistry can be helpful in understanding materials and cleaning agents. Most people enter this occupation through on-the-job training with a specialist cleaning or property maintenance company, often achieving a QQI Level 5 award in Cleaning and Support Services through a PLC course at a College of Further Education or ETB training centre. SOLAS-supported safe pass and manual handling certificates are typically required before starting site-based work. Relevant short courses in working at height, abrasive blasting, and chemical handling are commonly completed once in employment. No statutory professional registration is required, but employers increasingly expect operatives to hold up-to-date health and safety certifications.