They are quadraplex units, a mixture of dark red and earth tones on the brick. Trimmed by brown painted wood. No grafitti. Buildings themselves are surrounded by grass and shrubs. Parking is close, but grass separates building from parking by about 20 ft. 4 apartments per building, two floors, a breezeway in the middle of the building with wooden stairs/handrails and cement floor.
I would have to more closely inspect to answer your black streak question. None visible at a distant look. They just look dull, more so at the bottom up to about 10 ft above ground level. The dullness is a gray/black color, preventing the color of the brick from its full potential.
Sq footage? That's a tough one. I'm just guessing at the dimensions of the buildings, but I figure for 4 buildings, 30,000 sq. ft.
I did finally talk to the manager last night. Home office has informed her that they will be giving the entire complex (and one like it in a town 4 miles away) a complete makeover. New roof, new stairs and handrails, windows/screens, etc. She didn't know to what extent they will be interested in cleaning the exterior, but will ask them.
She invited me over to pick up some bid sheets (I guess they have their own) and submit my proposal. They won't be ready to do all this until the end of the year, or the beginning of next year.
I plan to get the "big dog's" # and explain to him/her that it would not be adviseable to wash in the cold weather because it may take several days for brick to completely dry. If there's and water in the fine cracks in the mortar, it can freeze and make a bigger crack, getting to interior fixtures and causing rust and damage to insulation, and drywall, not to mention getting to electrical wiring. Am I pretty much on base there?
I appreciate your response. If necessary, I can get a picture of one of the buildings and email it to you, or post it here. I hope I have answered all your questions thoroughly enough. If not, hit me again.
Thanks again!
Randy