Stairwell cleaning in Śródmieście, Lodz

A stairwell in a central tenement is a different job from one in a block, and a different quote. Three things decide it: the type of stairs, the absence of a lift, and the fact that the building is usually a hundred years old and needs different products from seventies terrazzo.

Timber stairs

In many tenements in Lodz the flights are timber, often original. They are not washed wet in the way stone is: water gets into the joints and delaminates the treads over the years. We work damp rather than wet and without strongly alkaline products, which leach the natural oils out of the timber. The result is less spectacular than on stone, but the stairs do not lose another year of life over it.

Terrazzo and stone

Where the treads are stone or terrazzo, the biggest problem is winter. Road salt carried in on shoes leaves white streaks and damages the surface faster than ordinary dirt. Through the season we work with salt-neutralising products; it costs the same and extends the life of the floor.

Handrails and balustrades

In tenements they are often cast, with ornamental profiles in which dust and old paint collect. We wipe them selectively, without scrubbing, because the coatings on such elements are usually multi-layered and brittle. We do not touch flaking sections and we report them to the manager.

No lift

Equipment and water have to be carried to the top floor and the work then runs downwards. In a five-storey tenement without a lift the effort is noticeably greater than for the same number of storeys in a block, which is why we quote after seeing the building rather than from the area alone.

Price and billing

The base rate is 2 zł per square metre with a minimum order of 200 zł, and the actual amount is set on site. The month's visits are collected into one invoice with a list of dates, ready to present at a community meeting. The discount is 15 % on a weekly schedule.

What we do not do

We do not clear the pavement in front of the building or remove icicles, we do not clean façades or gates from outside, we do not clean chimney flues and we do not handle refuse chutes. We do not remove bulky waste left in the stairwell; we report it to the manager. We do not restore joinery or handrails.

Where we travel

Katedralna, the area around Piotrkowska, the streets around Nowe Centrum Łodzi and Księży Młyn. Travel is included in the price.

The first visit to a tenement

It usually takes twice as long as the ones that follow. In a building cleaned irregularly for years, the layers on the treads and skirting come off in one go, and only then does the schedule maintain the result. It is worth treating it as a separate job and quoting it as such, rather than judging the whole cooperation by the first pass.

Frequently asked questions

Who can order the service?

The community board, the property manager or the tenement owner.

Do you clean courtyards and gateways?

Yes, as a separate item agreed at the quoting stage.

Do you clean the stairwell windows?

Yes, within arm's reach. We do not handle tall glazing from a ladder.