BEFORE
AFTER
Centro Social da Sagrada Família · SintraWash, treatment and full repaintFive-storey building
ROPE ACCESS · PORTUGAL
Your building maintained from the outside, without stopping the inside.
Painting, cleaning and waterproofing of facades, roofs and terraces by rope access. No scaffolding, no platforms and no disruption to the building, IRATA-certified technicians and public liability insurance.
Site visit and quote with no obligation. We reply within 24 working hours.
10+
years working at height
135+
buildings worked on
52,528+
m² of facade treated
0
recorded accidents
WHAT WE DO
From a routine wash to a full facade repaint.
Anything that would normally call for scaffolding, we carry out on rope — and we keep roofs and exteriors under maintenance, from the roof to the terrace, with no structure to erect.
COMPARISON
Why doing without scaffolding almost always pays.
Rope access is not a cheaper version of the same service. It is a different method, quicker to set up and less intrusive, used whenever the risk assessment confirms the work can be carried out safely.
| Rope access | Scaffolding | Powered access platform | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set-up | Hours | 3 to 10 days | Hours, subject to road access |
| Occupation of the public highway | Not needed in most cases | Required, with council licensing | Required |
| Impact on occupants | Minimal, no permanent structure | High, weeks of structure and noise | Moderate |
| One-off repairs | Ideal | Overkill | Limited by height |
| Complex geometry | Reaches setbacks, rooflights, courtyards and internal voids | Difficult | Difficult |
| Total cost | Lower on short, one-off works | Higher, the set-up costs more than the work | Variable, daily hire |
Set-up
- Rope access
- Hours
- Scaffolding
- 3 to 10 days
- Powered access platform
- Hours, subject to road access
Occupation of the public highway
- Rope access
- Not needed in most cases
- Scaffolding
- Required, with council licensing
- Powered access platform
- Required
Impact on occupants
- Rope access
- Minimal, no permanent structure
- Scaffolding
- High, weeks of structure and noise
- Powered access platform
- Moderate
One-off repairs
- Rope access
- Ideal
- Scaffolding
- Overkill
- Powered access platform
- Limited by height
Complex geometry
- Rope access
- Reaches setbacks, rooflights, courtyards and internal voids
- Scaffolding
- Difficult
- Powered access platform
- Difficult
Total cost
- Rope access
- Lower on short, one-off works
- Scaffolding
- Higher, the set-up costs more than the work
- Powered access platform
- Variable, daily hire
Where scaffolding is the safer option, we say so. The method always follows from the risk assessment for the site, never from our catalogue.
PROCESS
Four steps, with no surprises halfway through.
01
Site visit
We assess the facade on site, identify anchor points and defects, and photograph the starting condition.
02
Quote and method statement
You receive a fixed quote, with the programme, the team assigned, the method statement and the risk assessment. No open-ended figures.
03
On site
IRATA-certified team, with a Level 3 supervisor on site and a twin-rope system. We work outside normal hours whenever the running of the building calls for it.
04
Report and handover
We hand over a before-and-after photographic report and a record of the works carried out. On the services that carry a guarantee, the period is set out in the quote.
SAFETY
The part nobody sees is the part that sets us apart.
Work at height is a regulated activity. We document every stage of it, because the paperwork is what protects the building, its occupants and our team.
- Technicians certified by IRATA International, with a Level 3 supervisor present on site.
- Compliance with Portuguese Decree-Law 50/2005 — articles 36 to 39 cover temporary work at height and rope access and positioning techniques.
- Twin-rope system: a working line and a safety line on independent anchor points.
- Method statement, risk assessment and rescue plan written for each site.
- Public liability and employers' liability insurance, with the policy available on request.
- Scheduled inspection and individual records for every item of PPE.
- Coordination with the safety coordinator and with the site health and safety plan.
WHO WE WORK FOR
Every building asks for something different.
Offices, retail and hospitality
Out-of-hours works, safety documentation ready to file, and maintenance contracts on a fixed schedule.
Construction and contracting
We close out outstanding work at height without re-erecting scaffolding, with quick mobilisation and the full documentation pack for the safety coordinator.
PROJECTS
Before and after, unretouched.
Every project has a full photographic record. Drag to compare.
BEFORE
AFTER
Frequently asked questions
Is working on ropes safe compared with scaffolding?
In Portugal the method is regulated by Decree-Law 50/2005, the regulations on work at height, and it is standardised internationally by IRATA. Every technician works on a twin-rope system with independent anchor points, and each site has its own rescue plan. Statistically, rope access records very low accident rates when carried out by certified technicians.
How much does it cost to clean a building's facade?
It depends on the area, the height, the type of finish, how soiled it is and whether anchor points exist. We give a preliminary figure from photographs and a fixed quote after the site visit, always free of charge.
Do you need a licence or to occupy the public highway?
On most jobs there is no need to occupy the public highway, which avoids council licensing and the waiting time that comes with it. Where a safety exclusion zone at ground level is needed, we handle the process.
How long does it take?
Cleaning the facade of an 8 to 10 storey building typically takes 2 to 4 working days, against 3 to 6 weeks with scaffolding, including erection and dismantling. The exact programme is stated in the quote.
Can you work while the building is in use?
Yes. That is the main advantage of the method. Where necessary, we work outside office hours or at weekends, with no significant additional cost.
Are you insured?
Yes, public liability and employers' liability insurance. The policy is sent with the quote and can be reviewed before the works are awarded.
Do you work across the whole country?
We are based in Lisbon and carry out works across mainland Portugal. For projects outside Greater Lisbon, the quote itemises travel and accommodation separately.
How do I know whether my facade needs work?
Dark or greenish staining, perished joints, cracks, tiles that sound hollow when tapped, water ingress on the top floor and run-off marks under the parapets are the usual signs. An inspection with a photographic report identifies the problem before it turns into a larger job.
Tell us about the building. We will take it from there.
Send us a few photographs of the facade and we will give you a preliminary estimate before we even visit.