Windows on the outside of a multi-story building in Aktau should be washed at least twice a year, in spring and fall. Glass curtain walls, storefront windows and glass roofs are washed once a season, a composite facade by the sea every 3–6 months, and other facades about once a year. Aktau gets about 140 mm of rain a year, which does not wash dust off, and the wind brings new dust. Rope access window washing costs from 600 ₸/m², facades from 700 ₸/m², and the minimum order is 15,000 ₸ per visit
- Aktau gets about 140 mm of rain a year: it does not wash dust off the glass, and the occasional drops leave streaks
- Windows are washed on the outside at least twice a year, in spring and fall, and on the windy side, by the sea and on lower floors, midsummer is added
- For composite facades by the sea, manufacturers advise washing every 3–6 months, otherwise about once a year
- Glass curtain walls, storefront windows, signs and glass roofs are convenient to wash once a season, while plaster, brick and stone facades should be inspected once a year
- A wash outside the schedule is needed after facade repairs and construction nearby, when there is cement, paint, foam and film on the glass: windows after renovation from 1,000 ₸/m²
Why glass and facades get dirty fast in Aktau
The climate here is dry: about 140 mm of rain a year, and it does not wash the glass. The wind carries dust and sand, and humid air from the Caspian and the occasional drops turn them into a cloudy film and streaks. There are also dust storms with gusts of 15–20 m/s: after them, freshly washed glass is covered with a film again
We wrote about how wind, sand and water affect cleaning in the article about Aktau's climate
Windows and balconies: twice a year, more often on the windy side
Apartment windows and balcony glazing are washed on the outside at least twice a year: in spring and fall, before the cold. On the windy side, by the sea and on lower floors, midsummer is added, because dust settles faster there
In an apartment building it pays to order together with neighbors: if neighbors in the same vertical line of apartments, that is, living one above another, order together, the 15,000 ₸ minimum order is paid once per visit. Rope access window washing costs from 600 ₸/m², and the windows of one apartment together with the balcony glazing from 15,000 ₸. From the inside, windows are washed by regular window washing from 1,500 ₸
Glass curtain walls, storefront windows, signs and glass roofs: once a season
Glass curtain walls, storefront windows, glass facades and signs are best washed once a season, that is, four times a year: this is what we also advise for cafes and restaurants. Glass roofs and skylights are also worth washing once a season: on slanted glass, dust and sand stay longer than on vertical glass, and rain barely washes them off
Glass curtain wall washing on the outside costs from 600 ₸/m², glass roof washing and slanted glazing from 800 ₸/m², and sign washing and lightboxes from 15,000 ₸ per visit
Facades by material
For composite facades by the sea, manufacturers advise washing every 3–6 months, and away from the sea about once a year. For composite and porcelain stoneware, pH-neutral products and soft brushes are suitable. On stone and on painted or anodized metal, acid and alkali are not used
Porous facades made of plaster, brick and natural stone hold dirt deeper, so we price them higher: from 900 ₸/m² versus 700 ₸/m² for smooth ones. Such a facade is worth inspecting once a year and washing as needed. Heavy dirt, efflorescence and construction residue are quoted after inspection. Facade washing starts from 700 ₸/m²
Seasons: when to schedule a wash
- Spring: one of the two main times for windows
- Summer: add a wash of the windy side
- Fall: windows are washed before the cold
- Winter: windows are usually not washed on the outside; glass curtain walls, signs and glass roofs are washed weather permitting
Choose a windless and, if possible, overcast day: in the sun, water dries before it is squeegeed off and leaves streaks. Weather decides when work is possible. Under Order No. 109, work at height is not carried out in wind of 15 m/s or more, in heavy rain, during a thunderstorm or in poor visibility, so a spare day is planned for the wash. A wash outside the schedule is needed after facade repairs and nearby construction: cement, paint, foam and film are harder to remove from windows than dust. Windows after renovation and construction cost from 1,000 ₸/m²
How to tell it is time to wash early
Do not wait for a date on the calendar if streaks remain on the glass after rain and it has become cloudy, if sand lies on the windowsills and in the frame grooves, or if streaks and dark spots have appeared on the facade. If you are unsure, send a photo on WhatsApp: we will quote a price and tell you whether a wash is needed now
Table: intervals by type of site
These are guidelines, not a standard. The composite intervals come from manufacturers, and the rest are based on Aktau's climate and a seasonal plan for windows. The exact schedule depends on the side of the building, the material and how dirty it is
| Site | How often | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment windows, outside | 2 times a year: spring and fall | On the windy side, by the sea and on lower floors, add midsummer |
| Glazing of balconies and loggias | 2 times a year | Washed together with the windows, one apartment from 15,000 ₸ |
| Glass curtain walls, storefront windows, glass facades | Once a season | Outside from 600 ₸/m² |
| Glass roofs, skylights | Once a season | Dust stays longer on slanted glass, from 800 ₸/m² |
| Signs and lightboxes | Once a season | From 15,000 ₸ per visit |
| Composite facade by the sea | Every 3–6 months | Manufacturers' advice, pH-neutral products, soft brushes |
| Composite away from the sea, porcelain stoneware, corrugated metal sheeting | About once a year | Smooth surface, from 700 ₸/m² |
| Plaster, brick, natural stone | Inspection once a year, washing as needed | Porous surface, from 900 ₸/m², no acid or alkali on stone |
| After renovation or nearby construction | Right away, outside the schedule | Cement, paint, foam, film, windows from 1,000 ₸/m² |
How to plan a schedule and not overpay
Combine the work: if you wash windows and the facade in one visit, the 15,000 ₸ minimum order is counted once per visit. In an apartment building the facade and roof are common property, and roof access is agreed with the OSI (homeowners' association), KSK (housing cooperative) or the management company, so it is easier to arrange it in advance and order the work for the whole building or a whole vertical line of apartments
To get a price, send a photo of the building and the side that needs washing on WhatsApp. All work at height is collected on the industrial rope access page, and for choosing between ropes and a lift, see the article rope access workers vs aerial lift