Specialist access equipment, careful planning and innovative cleaning methods helped NEREC restore the exterior of Pittodrie Stadium while protecting the pitch and minimising disruption.
For thousands of supporters, the Richard Donald Stand is one of the most recognisable features of Pittodrie Stadium.
Standing prominently above Merkland Road, the stand has welcomed football fans for more than two decades and forms an iconic part of Aberdeen's skyline.
When Aberdeen Football Club wanted to explore whether years of accumulated dirt and organic growth could be safely removed from the exterior cladding, it appointed Aberdeen-based specialist cleaning company NEREC to investigate.
Rather than simply providing a quotation, NEREC visited the stadium to assess the structure, identify the challenges involved and discuss potential access methods with the club's facilities team.
Following the initial meeting, the company returned to carry out a complimentary test clean on a section of the cladding, allowing the club to see the proposed cleaning method and the results before committing to the wider project.
Once approved, NEREC developed a detailed cleaning programme that balanced safety, access and operational requirements while working around activity at the stadium.
Although the project appeared straightforward from ground level, cleaning the stand presented several technical challenges.
The height of the structure required the use of a 51-metre mobile boom, while restricted access around offices, the club shop and surrounding infrastructure made positioning the machine particularly challenging.
Transporting the pressure washing equipment to working height also required careful planning.
NEREC utilised its bespoke trailer-mounted pressure washing system, allowing the equipment to be positioned close to the stand while extra-long hose lengths were safely routed to operators working at height.
The project also required an alternative cleaning approach after the club requested that no chemicals were used because of the potential risk of overspray affecting the playing surface.
Instead, the team relied on hot water generated by the pressure washing system's integrated boiler, allowing stubborn contamination to be removed while protecting both the cladding and the pitch below.
Working adjacent to public roads and pedestrian routes also required close attention to public safety, with exclusion zones carefully managed throughout the project.
The result was a noticeable transformation across the stand, restoring the appearance of the cladding while helping preserve the exterior for years to come.
Throughout the works, members of the public regularly stopped to watch the project, with many commenting positively on the improvement as the cleaning progressed.
The successful outcome has also demonstrated that specialist exterior cleaning can form part of the stadium's ongoing maintenance programme, helping preserve its appearance before permanent staining develops.
Andrew Bruce, managing director of NEREC, said: "As an Aberdeen business, this was a particularly rewarding project for our team. Pittodrie is one of the city's best-known landmarks and somewhere many of us have visited over the years.
"Projects like this demonstrate the importance of planning and using the right equipment. Access, safety and protecting the stadium were just as important as achieving a good cleaning result.
"We're proud the club trusted us to deliver the work and pleased to have shown what can be achieved through specialist exterior cleaning."
The project reflects NEREC's continued growth in delivering specialist exterior cleaning for commercial properties, public buildings and large-scale facilities throughout Scotland and beyond.
From high-level cladding cleaning and roof cleaning to pressure washing, gutter maintenance and planned maintenance programmes, the company continues to invest in equipment and expertise that enables it to tackle increasingly complex projects while minimising disruption for clients.
To find out more about NEREC's specialist exterior cleaning, pressure washing and high-access maintenance services, visit www.nerec.co.uk or contact the team to discuss an upcoming project. Whether it's a landmark building, commercial property or industrial site, NEREC can provide a tailored solution to suit the requirements of each client.