Rough-cut limestone wall on an older house in Geneva, IL, half washed in translucent lime white and half bare

The Kane County seat, eight miles up the Fox

Aurora Limewash: Limewash in Geneva

An older river town where the Historic Preservation Commission has binding review over exterior changes.

Aurora and ten towns within 20 miles
Written price before work starts
Licensed, insured local contractors
Historic district rules covered

Aurora Limewash arranges limewash and masonry finishing for brick and stone homes in Geneva, Illinois, about 8.4 miles north of Aurora on the Fox River, through local contractors. Geneva was established in 1835, is the Kane County seat, and has one of the most active preservation programs in the valley.

A Geneva brick exterior typically runs $4,000 to $12,000 to limewash; skip the Historic Preservation Commission on a house in the district and you risk paying again, $2 to $4 a square foot, to strip a finish the commission did not approve.

$4,000 to $12,000 for a typical brick exterior

Limewashing a brick exterior in Geneva typically runs $4,000 to $12,000, at the $4 to $8 a square foot a Chicago-suburb limewash applicator publishes. Stone walls and foundations, common on older houses, are priced the same way and often sit toward the top of the range.

Get a price: (630) 528-2808

Signs a Geneva house needs work before any finish

Recessed or sandy mortar on an older brick or stone wall
Old paint peeling from brick that was once bare
White salt streaks below windows or near the ground
Brick or stone faces flaking after hard winters

A commission with binding review

Geneva's Historic Preservation Commission was set up in 1982, when the city adopted a preservation ordinance, and it was advisory at first. In 1994 the ordinance was updated and the commission gained binding review authority. It has seven members appointed by the Mayor and City Council and meets at 7:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at City Hall, 109 James Street.

The commission reviews any project that needs a building permit and involves exterior alterations to a building in the Historic District or to an individual landmark. The city's FAQ says a building permit is required for any substantial alteration. Talk to the city's preservation planner before a limewash on a district property, and before you choose the tint.

The city has thought about paint on brick

At the start of its meetings, the commission hears short field-guide presentations, published on video. Recent series include "To Paint Or Not To Paint", "Brick Detailing", "Set In Stone" and "Gentlest Means Possible". They are worth watching before you apply, because they show how the commission thinks about exactly this kind of change.

Not sure what your brick will take? Describe the house, the brick and the look you want, and get a straight answer on coats, prep and a typical price.

Call (630) 528-2808

Third Street and the older core

Preservation in Geneva began in the 1940s, when homes along Third Street were converted into boutique shops and tea rooms. Where old brick or stone is soft and absorbent it takes limewash readily, and a lime finish is about as close to a historic coating as anything available. The stone limewash page covers how stone behaves.

Outside the district

Outside the district and its landmarks, a brick home in Geneva takes limewash like anywhere else in the valley, after a splash test on the brick. The city notes that any property at least 50 years old may be considered for designation, so check your address on the city's historic designations map first.

Questions people ask

How much does limewash cost in Geneva?

Typically $4,000 to $12,000 for a brick exterior, at $4 to $8 a square foot.

What are the signs a Geneva house needs repair before limewash?

Sandy or recessed mortar, peeling old paint, salt streaks, or flaking brick and stone faces.

Does Geneva's Historic Preservation Commission review limewash?

It reviews exterior alterations needing a building permit in the Historic District and on landmarks. Ask the preservation planner first.

When does Geneva's commission meet?

At 7:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 109 James Street.

Can limewash go on old stone in Geneva?

Yes. Absorbent stone takes limewash readily, after a test patch and any repointing.

Common jobs here

Stone limewash

Lime on stone is the oldest pairing there is, and it settles into the joints in a way paint never can.
Tuckpointing

Limewash will not hold a crumbling joint together. This is the masonry work that has to come first.
Exterior brick limewash

A breathable lime finish over the whole brick exterior, from a faint wash to near-solid white.

Talk it through before anyone opens a bucket

Say what the brick is, whether it has ever been painted or sealed, and how much of it shows from the street. You will hear what the job usually involves, what it tends to cost, and whether your town needs a sign-off first.