Bronzeville has some of the oldest and most beautiful greystone facades in Chicago. Those buildings are 100-plus years old, and the limestone is soft. That's the first thing we tell every homeowner here: we will not high-pressure wash your greystone. High pressure on soft limestone strips the surface, opens the pores, and accelerates the freeze-thaw cracking that's already a problem on these buildings. We use a soft wash, low pressure with a sodium hypochlorite solution, and let the chemistry do the work.
The black streaks you see on greystone are a combination of algae, soot, and environmental pollution that's been building for decades. The soft wash kills the algae at the root and lifts the soot. We let it dwell for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse at low pressure. The stone comes back to its natural color without any etching. This is the same method used on historic restoration projects across the neighborhood.
Brick facades in Bronzeville are a different surface but the same principle. The mortar between old Chicago brick is often softer than the brick itself. High pressure blows out the mortar joints. We soft wash brick at 500 to 800 PSI max, and we test a small area first. If the mortar is already deteriorating, we flag it before we wash. We won't pressure wash a wall that needs repointing first. That's a waste of your money.
The concrete walkways and front steps are where we can use higher pressure. Bronzeville sidewalks get heavy foot traffic and collect gum, grease, and grime. We use 3,000 PSI with a rotary surface cleaner on flat concrete. That's safe for horizontal surfaces. It's the vertical masonry that needs the soft touch.
Many Bronzeville properties also have wrought iron fences and railings. We wash those at low pressure with a rust-inhibiting detergent. High pressure on old wrought iron can chip loose paint and expose bare metal to rust. We clean it gently and flag any spots that need repainting.
A typical Bronzeville job is a greystone facade soft wash plus front walk pressure washing. That runs $400 to $700 depending on the size of the facade and how many stories. We'll give you an exact number before we start. No surprise add-ons.
If you're renovating a Bronzeville greystone, call us before you paint or seal. The surface needs to be clean and dry before any coating goes on. We work with contractors and homeowners doing restoration all the time.
Bronzeville is about 9 minutes from our shop in Bridgeport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to pressure wash a Bronzeville greystone?
Only with a soft wash. We never use high pressure on limestone. High pressure etches the surface and makes freeze-thaw cracking worse. We use a low-pressure chemical application that kills algae and lifts soot without damaging the stone.
Can you wash the old brick mortar without damaging it?
Yes, but we test first. Old Chicago brick mortar is often soft. We use 500 to 800 PSI max and flag any mortar that's already deteriorating. If it needs repointing, we tell you before we wash.
Do you also clean the front sidewalk and steps?
Yes. Concrete walkways and steps get 3,000 PSI with a rotary surface cleaner. That's safe for horizontal concrete. The vertical masonry gets the soft wash treatment.