all i see is grafitti 
but seriously, it looks like it holds to inside the grooves on the shadier parts of the columns of the weather exposed places…is that what you’re seeing?
Not just graffiti, someone had the audacity to install Christmas lights while they were up there.
it could use some…lol
Are those not C9 bulbs pointing up all along the rim? My vision ain’t what it was a while back but I’ll bet it looks great after dark.
More like C109s (if that is even a thing), as big as those ornamentations are
Probably rust stains since they’re probably limestone Could have been caused by someone cleaning and not neutralizing, or corrosion over the years. You’ll need to use a mild acid to remove.
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This is the process I’m thinking,
- Remove the graffiti with taginator,
- Heavy duty restoration by Prosoco to remove the red stain caused by the taginator
- Prosoco vanatrol for copper stains
- full clean using Prosoco heavy duty restoration for carbon stains.
Any thoughts?
@Historic I would love to get your input
Love the architectural details on this building.
I would start with the copper scrollwork. Vana trol might not be the best option. That green is copper oxide and not vanadium. Prosoco does make a copper stain remover. I believe it is called 515 copper stain remover. It’s a 2 part mix that gets painted on thick and draws the stain out. It gets scraped/brushed off after it has dried and then post treated with your cleaner. It would most likely need multple applications. If I were doing it, I would hit the copper top as well unless they want the green. Then when dry, hit it with a clear coat spray paint to hold off future oxidizing for a little bit. If the copper is really stubborn, some 600, wash off and clear coat immediatly when dry.
I’ve never used the taginator but looked it up. It looks effective. Prosoco does make a heavy duty paint stripper that works as well. Check with your dealer on price of a 5 gallon jug. It might be cheaper than the $300 tagonator. Keep the stone below wet so none of the dirty runoff soaks into dry stone.
Heavy duty restoration cleaner is right on. Should work well.
Those rust stains on the column could be a few things. Like Racer said, could be a previous acid heavy cleaning. Those columns are most likely hollow with steel beams in the center. My guess is water soaked into the columns and rusted the steel beams and the rust is escaping out where the stains are. If they are stubborn, 600 it. 600 will remove rust. Check the tops of columns for voids or easy access for water entry.
Also, don’t forget sealing. Siloxane or Natural Stone Treatment are water based sealers. Easy spray on application and super low VOC’s. Works very well and an easy, effective upsell.
Good luck! Show some after pics when you land the job 
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That’s going to be a heck of a job, based on high traffic area where it’s at. Let us know if you get. Are you going to use a lift or scaffold it? Hate to think of all the permits you might need up there…The cleaning part will be the easy part compared to the logistics.
Thanks for your valuable insight, it’s gonna be a doozy to price and execute
Kind of hoping I don’t get it… I will probably use a lift, sidewalk shed and will need multiple permits…
It’s amazing the stuff you can run into doing downtown historic buildings. We had one couple of years ago, not nearly as complicated as that one, but building was in a triangle of a busy intersection in the city. We were going to need to shut down the inside lane for just a day. On one side it was a county road, getting permission to shut down, no problem. the other side is a state maintained road, 3-4 months just to get permit.
Because at the point of the intersection was handicap accessible crossover, if we blocked the section of the sidewalk where we were going to be working, then we had to station a person back up the street about a block, to direct any wheelchair bound person to crossover there.
And we were going to have to hire an off duty police officer to enforce keeping people from walking thru our taped off lines or parking in blocked off spaces adjacent to building, because people are idiots.
Net result is you need double the manpower that you would need if building was sitting out somewhere. I can’t imagine the headaches you have to deal with up there in the city. Got to double the cost.
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Doubt that would come close to covering it…
