Commercial · Building Exteriors
Commercial Building Washing Lexington, KY | Brick, Stucco & Metal
Commercial building washing in Lexington cleans the exterior walls of stores, offices, and apartment buildings. We soft wash at low pressure and test the cleaner on a small spot first, so there aren’t any surprises on the full wall.
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Commercial Building Washing in Lexington, KY
Commercial building washing in Lexington means cleaning the outside walls of a store, office, apartment building, or church to remove algae, mildew, grime, and rust streaks. The price depends on the wall material, the building height, and how heavy the grime is. We use a soft wash that lets the cleaning solution do the work, so brick, stucco, and trim don’t take a beating. For parking lots, sidewalks, and dumpster pads, see our commercial pressure washing service. Here’s how building washing goes.
- Typical cost: $0.20 to $0.40 per square foot of wall for most buildings, with lift access for tall walls quoted separately
- Method: a soft wash with a cleaning solution and a low-pressure rinse on walls, tested on a small spot first
- How often: once a year for most buildings, and twice a year for shaded or road-facing walls
- Guarantee: 30 days, and we clean the wall again at no charge if growth returns
What Makes Lexington Commercial Buildings Dirty?
Lexington commercial buildings get dirty from algae and mildew on damp walls, a gray film from nearby traffic, and rust streaks from metal trim. Shade from tall trees keeps north and east walls damp, and damp walls grow algae fast. Read why the growth returns in our algae guide. Dirty walls also hold moisture against the finish, so cleaning them protects the surface as well as the look. Spray paint and tagging on brick or block walls are a separate job, covered by our graffiti removal service.
First impressions matter for stores and offices, because customers judge a business by its entrance. Lexington’s freeze and thaw winters also push water into small cracks in brick and mortar, and growth keeps those cracks wet. We cover both problems in our Lexington exterior problems guide, including how to tell which one a wall has.
What Do We Use on Each Wall Material?
We match the method to the wall material, because brick, stucco, EIFS, metal, and stone each react differently to pressure and cleaners.
Wall material | How we clean it |
Brick | A soft wash lifts algae and film, and a low-pressure rinse protects the mortar joints. We start at the lowest pressure and test a small spot first. |
Painted brick and block | Low pressure and a mild solution protect the paint, because strong pressure can lift a coating and leave bare patches. |
Stucco | A soft wash with a gentle rinse cleans the textured face without driving water into hairline cracks. |
Metal panels and trim | A mild detergent and a thorough rinse clean metal without harsh chemicals. Rust streaks that run onto brick or stucco have their own treatment. See our guide on rust stain removal. |
EIFS (synthetic stucco) | EIFS gets a low-pressure cleaning solution and a cold rinse. Dryvit, a major EIFS maker, says to keep the rinse under 600 psi and to avoid hot water, which can soften the finish. |
Natural stone and limestone | Stone gets the lowest pressure and a test spot first, because high pressure can etch soft stone and ruin the finish. |
How Tall a Building Can We Wash?
We wash walls up to three stories from the ground with an extension wand, and taller walls need a lift that’s quoted separately.
Height changes both the price and the method. A long wand keeps the crew on the ground for the first three stories, but pressure drops with height, so rinsing the top of a tall wall takes more passes. Above that, a lift is safer and gives better control, and the lift rental adds to the quote.
Tell us the number of stories and what’s around the building, like a parking lot or landscaping. Access for a lift often decides the final price.
How Do We Wash Historic Buildings in Lexington?
Historic buildings in Lexington are washed with the gentlest method that works, which is the standard set by the National Park Service in its Preservation Brief on cleaning masonry. That guidance says to start at very low pressure, usually 100 psi or below, and to test a small spot first.
Lexington has 15 local historic districts, and owners in them need a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior changes. The city’s page doesn’t say whether cleaning counts, so owners should ask the Board of Architectural Review staff before booking.
We don’t use abrasive cleaning or muriatic acid on historic masonry. A test patch comes first, and the owner approves it before we wash the full wall.
What Do We Protect Around a Building Wall?
We protect cameras, lights, outlets, door seals, and plants before the wash starts, because water and cleaning solution can harm each of them. Our crew keeps spray away from windows, screens, door seals, and cameras, and we cover outlets and motion lights. Our guide to grass, plants, and pets explains how we protect landscaping around the walls.
Sodium hypochlorite, the active ingredient in household bleach, is mixed down to a controlled strength, and plants beside the wall are soaked with plain water first and rinsed after.
Before we start, we photograph any damage that’s already there, like cracked mortar, loose sealant, and faded paint, so the owner and our crew begin with the same facts.
Does Building Washing Include Windows or Interior Cleaning?
Commercial building washing covers exterior walls, trim, and entrances, and it doesn’t include windows or interior cleaning. We clean the walls around the glass and keep spray off it, but window washing and janitorial work aren’t part of the job and need a different company.
Wash water from the walls is controlled with berms and pickup, and none of it goes to the storm drain. Our soft washing page explains the low-pressure method we use on walls.
How Often Should a Commercial Building Be Washed?
A commercial building should be washed once a year, and twice a year where walls are shaded or face a busy road. Spring is the best time, because algae that grew over winter comes off before summer customers arrive. A fall visit helps shaded walls that stay damp into winter.
Light growth lifts easily, and heavy buildup that sat for years takes more time and cleaner, which is why a yearly visit costs less over time. For month by month timing, use our scheduling guide.
Our Process for Commercial Building Washing
Walkthrough and Test Patch
We walk the building, note the wall materials and height, and test the cleaner on a small hidden spot first.
Protect and Pre-Wet
We cover or avoid outlets and cameras, soak the plants, and set up berms so wash water stays out of the storm drain.
Soft Wash the Walls
A cleaning solution goes on at low pressure and does the work, then a gentle rinse lifts the loosened growth.
Rinse & Photo Report
We rinse the full wall clean, check corners and trim, and we’ll send you photos of the finished walls.
How Much Does Commercial Building Washing Cost in Lexington, KY?
Commercial building washing in Lexington usually costs $0.20 to $0.40 per square foot of wall. The wall material, the building height, and how heavy the grime is change the price within that range. Walls taller than three stories need a lift, and the lift is quoted separately. We give a firm number after a walkthrough. Other service ranges are in our pricing guide.
- Wall material, such as brick, stucco, EIFS, metal, or stone
- Building height and whether a lift is needed
- How heavy the algae, mildew, or rust streaking is
- Access around the building, like parking, landscaping, and after-hours work
Why Choose Our Lexington Building Washing Crew
Insured, With a COI
We carry active general liability insurance, and we’ll send a certificate of insurance to the owner or manager on request.
Test Patch First
Every new wall material gets a small test spot, so the owner sees the result before the full wash.
Photo Proof of the Work
When the job is done, you’ll get photos of the cleaned walls for your records.
Common Questions
Building Washing FAQs
Lexington property owners and managers ask these questions before scheduling commercial building washing.
Our 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee
Our 30-day guarantee covers every cleaned wall, and if growth returns within 30 days, we’ll clean it again at no extra charge. Call us or use the contact form, and we’ll set up the return visit.
Related Commercial Cleaning Services
Building owners often need more than one service. Here are a few related ones.
Get a Free Building Washing Estimate
Ready for cleaner walls? Request a free estimate, and we’ll walk the building, test the cleaner, and give you a clear price. See how Lexington PressureWash handles every job.