Suburban house in Plainfield, IL with a limewashed brick front and greige siding

The oldest community in Will County

Aurora Limewash: Limewash in Plainfield

Two historic districts near the old centre, and miles of newer brick fronts around them.

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 brick finishing for homes in Plainfield, Illinois, about 9.5 miles south of Aurora, through local contractors. The village calls itself the oldest community in Will County, settled in the 1820s, and it has about 48,900 people across Will and Kendall counties today.

A Plainfield brick front typically runs $1,600 to $6,400 to limewash; paint it with acrylic to match the siding instead and the stripping to undo it later is priced at $1.50 to $9.50 a square foot.

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

A full brick exterior in Plainfield typically runs $4,000 to $12,000 to limewash, at $4 to $8 a square foot as a Chicago-suburb applicator publishes. A brick front on a siding house is often $1,600 to $6,400 for 400 to 800 square feet of brick.

Get a price: (630) 528-2808

Signs a Plainfield house needs a different first step

It sits on Amboy Street, Bartlett Avenue, Center Street, Route 59 or Evans Street in the East Side district
It is one of the 65 downtown properties on Lockport Street
The brick front has been sealed or painted
The HOA covenant controls exterior colours

Two historic districts

Plainfield's Historic Preservation Commission was formed in 2004. The East Side Historic District, approved by the Village Board on November 3, 2008, covers residences on Amboy Street, Bartlett Avenue, Center Street, IL Route 59 and Evans Street, built in Queen Anne, Italianate and Colonial Revival styles over roughly 1850 to 1950. The Downtown Historic District, approved on September 19, 2011, covers 65 properties along Lockport Street, generally from Route 59 west to James Street, and is on the National Register.

When a certificate is needed

The village says a Certificate of Appropriateness is not required for ordinary maintenance and repairs, but is required before a permit for major work and other changes that may affect the exterior architectural appearance of a structure. A first limewash on unpainted brick changes the appearance, so ask the Planning Department before booking it on a district property.

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

The newer brick fronts

Outside the two districts, a newer subdivision house with a brick front and siding around the rest is a different job, covered on the brick front limewash page: dense face brick to test, a clean stop at the corners, and the homeowners association to check before the colour is chosen.

Season and scheduling

The weather rules are the maker's: no limewash below 50°F or above 88°F, and none with two freezing nights to follow. Plan exterior work between mid-May and early October.

Lockport Street storefronts

The Downtown Historic District's 65 properties along Lockport Street include the downtown's commercial buildings. Where those are brick, a limewash means planning around a sidewalk, storefront glass and opening hours as well as the review. The commercial limewash page covers that work. As with houses in the East Side district, a change that affects the exterior appearance needs a certificate before the permit.

Questions people ask

How much does limewash cost in Plainfield?

Typically $4,000 to $12,000 for a full brick exterior, or $1,600 to $6,400 for a brick front.

What are the signs my Plainfield house is in a historic district?

It is on Amboy, Bartlett, Center, Route 59 or Evans in the East Side district, or on Lockport Street downtown.

Does limewash need a certificate in Plainfield?

On a district property, changes that affect the exterior appearance need one before a permit. Ordinary maintenance does not.

When was Plainfield's East Side Historic District created?

The Village Board approved it on November 3, 2008.

Can a newer Plainfield brick front be limewashed?

Usually, after a splash test shows the brick absorbs water and any HOA approval is in writing.

Common jobs here

Brick front limewash

The brick front that makes a newer house look dated, softened to sit with the siding instead of fighting it.
Exterior brick limewash

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

For the owner who wants painted brick, without the peeling that ordinary paint brings.

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.