Drone building washing utilizes the Lucid Bots Sherpa cleaning drone to clean exterior surfaces of commercial and industrial buildings, including facades, glass, cladding, and signage, without the need for scaffolding, rope access, or aerial lifts. A licensed operator supervises the drone from ground level as it applies water, soft-wash solution, or controlled pressure. This approach delivers a safer, faster, and frequently more cost-effective cleaning solution than traditional methods, eliminating the need for workers to operate at height. This service is offered throughout all six New England states.

We provide service for office towers, retail centers, warehouses, hotels, parking structures, hospitals, and multi-family residential buildings. The Lucid Bots Sherpa is capable of handling both low-rise and mid-rise applications and can accommodate flat, sloped, and curved facades. Throughout New England, we frequently service older brick, stone, and granite-clad buildings typical of Boston, Providence, Hartford, Burlington, and Portland, where our soft-wash method is particularly suited to these historic materials. Buildings located near major airports such as Logan, TF Green, Bradley, Manchester-Boston, Burlington, and Portland Jetport require FAA airspace authorization before we conduct operations, which we manage as part of our pre-job planning process.

Traditional cleaning methods depend on suspended access equipment such as scaffolding, rope descent systems, or boom lifts, which are slower, more costly, and expose workers to significant height risk. Drone washing removes worker exposure to elevation entirely, substantially reduces setup and teardown time, and can reach areas that are difficult or impossible for conventional equipment to access. Throughout New England, where narrow streets, dense urban environments, and historic district regulations often make scaffolding impractical, drones provide a particularly efficient solution.

Yes. All operators possess FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificates, the federal commercial drone credential required for business operations in any U.S. state. This is the governing standard throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. None of these six states have implemented additional commercial drone licensing requirements beyond the federal Part 107. We maintain commercial drone liability insurance, general liability coverage, and workers' compensation. All documentation can be provided upon request prior to any job.

It depends on the location, and New England contains some of the most complex controlled airspace in the country. Here is how it applies in the states we serve: In Massachusetts, Greater Boston is located within the Class B airspace of Logan International (BOS), one of the largest Class B zones in the Northeast. Buildings in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and many surrounding communities require FAA airspace authorization before we conduct operations, obtained through the FAA's LAANC system (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability), which typically approves requests in near real-time. We also note that Massachusetts state law prohibits drone takeoff and landing on any Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) property, so we verify that staging areas do not fall on DCR land before every job. In Connecticut, buildings near Bradley International (BDL) in Windsor Locks are located within Class C controlled airspace and require LAANC authorization. The remainder of the state is largely Class G (uncontrolled) airspace where no FAA authorization is needed below 400 feet. Connecticut has no additional state-level commercial drone permit requirements. In Rhode Island, TF Green Airport (PVD) in Warwick creates Class C airspace over much of Providence County and surrounding areas. LAANC authorization is required for those zones. Rhode Island law grants exclusive drone regulatory authority to the state and the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, preempting local municipalities from establishing their own drone regulations, which simplifies compliance across the state. In New Hampshire, Manchester-Boston Regional (MHT) creates Class C airspace in the Manchester area. Beyond that, most of the state is uncontrolled Class G airspace. New Hampshire has no additional commercial drone licensing requirements, though state law prohibits drones from interfering with hunting, fishing, or trapping activities, which is not relevant to building washing. In Vermont, Burlington International (BTV) creates Class C airspace in the Burlington metro area requiring LAANC authorization. The rest of Vermont is predominantly rural Class G airspace. Vermont prohibits weaponized drones and requires warrants for drone surveillance, neither of which applies to our cleaning operations. In Maine, Portland International Jetport (PWM) creates Class D controlled airspace in Portland. Bangor International (BGR) creates Class C airspace in the Bangor area. Both require LAANC authorization for nearby buildings. Maine law requires warrants for law enforcement drone surveillance but has no restrictions on commercial cleaning operations. We handle all airspace coordination as part of our pre-job planning process at no additional charge to you.

Yes. We establish a safety perimeter prior to each job to keep pedestrians, vehicles, and bystanders clear of the work zone. Overspray is minimized through precise nozzle control, and we coordinate with building management on scheduling to avoid peak occupancy periods when feasible. Our team evaluates site-specific risks, including street-level pedestrian traffic, adjacent property owners, and any local right-of-way requirements, prior to every job. In dense urban areas such as downtown Boston, Providence, or Hartford, we work closely with property management teams on access logistics and any required notifications to neighboring tenants.

Pricing is calculated based on total cleanable surface area (square footage), building height, facade material, level of soiling, and site complexity. We provide flat-rate quotes following an initial site assessment, with no surprise charges for mobilization or standard setup. Jobs in dense urban areas such as downtown Boston, Providence waterfront, Hartford, or Portland Old Port may include a modest complexity adjustment to account for tighter safety perimeters, parking logistics, or extended LAANC coordination requirements. Contact us for a free estimate.

We recommend scheduling at least 2–3 weeks in advance for standard jobs. Projects near major airports, particularly Logan (BOS), TF Green (PVD), or Bradley (BDL), may require LAANC "further coordination" requests for altitudes above pre-approved ceilings, which can require additional processing time. For those jobs, 4–6 weeks of lead time is recommended. Multi-day or complex projects with specific airspace or site access requirements may also need the longer lead time. We make every effort to accommodate urgent requests when our schedule permits.

Yes. We provide quarterly, semi-annual, and annual maintenance programs at discounted rates compared to one-time service pricing. Recurring contracts include priority scheduling and a dedicated account contact. These programs are particularly popular with property management companies and building owners managing multiple assets across the region. For clients with properties in multiple New England states, we can coordinate a single contract that covers all locations and manages any varying airspace authorization requirements across states.