Graffiti Removal

Graffiti seems to be part of the social fabric in our urban society. While some graffiti is deemed art work, more often than not, it’s seen as detractor and can often stigmatize a neighborhood, community or business. There are several methods to dealing with graffiti, and other than paint, most methods are only available to commercial contractors. Numerous studies report that when graffiti is removed quickly, vandals tend to move on to other areas, so getting it cleaned up as soon as possible is to your benefit.

Identification

Knowing what kind of surface the graffiti is painted on is important to removing it. Brick, stone and other masonry all behave differently than wood, drywall or metals when it comes to erasing unwanted designs. Depending on the finish, some substrates are more porous than others, which will allow the graffiti paint to penetrate deeper, adding challenges to removal.

Removal Methods

There are three basic ways to deal with removing graffiti. It can be painted over, dissolved away with chemicals or erased with media blasting. Initial cost savings is one of the benefits of painting over unwanted artwork. Drawbacks to this solution are a patchwork effect appearing on the surface as the paint often doesn’t match perfectly. Also, cover-up paint on areas that have been tagged numerous times tends to peel and create other issues.

Chemical solvents dissolve the graffiti. Experts use this method on surfaces where contact with the chemicals won’t cause any damage, such as stripping of the desired paint or staining of porous materials, like wood or drywall.

Media blasting uses a media, such as sand or baking soda for example, to erase the graffiti from the building. This method is often the fastest and when performed by a professional, leaves the surface ready for a protective coating.

Protective Coatings

Once the graffiti is removed, it’s important to apply a protective coating. This coating not only protects the underlying surface, but it also makes any future graffiti easier to remove. There are two types of protection, sacrificial and permanent. Sacrificial coatings come off the protected surface when new graffiti is removed. It’s called sacrificial because it bonds to what is applied over it. Permanent coatings are unaffected by the removal process and remain on the surface.

Be aware that graffiti is a crime and should be reported to your local law enforcement as soon as you find it. Take pictures before and after clean up for your records. They can help determine if it’s the same group that tags your property.

RUST PREVENTION AND MEDIATION

Rust is the result of oxygen and moisture bonding with the iron in steel. The oxidized layer continues to feed off the iron beneath it as long as there is oxygen and moisture present. Since steel is often used in construction, steps have to be taken to slow or prevent the rust from happening and weakening the underlying surface.

The pictures here show steel beams that have holes rusted through them. These photos were taken in an electrical vault that was improperly primed. If the beams had collapsed, the results would be deadly. Fortunately, the situation was discovered and remediated before that could happen. 

There are several ways to remove existing rust and depend on the area where the work is performed. Wire brushes are great for hard to reach areas and tight spots. Media blasting works well in situations where the media can be recovered and there is ventilation. Acid baths are good for pieces that can be soaked for extended periods of time.

Once the rust is removed, the surface needs to be inspected. If there isn’t enough salvageable metal left, then entire sections need to be replaced. The idea here is to have a finished product that is as strong or stronger than it was when it was new.

For sections where there is enough steel remaining, the surface need special treatment. This is because rust is difficult to completely eliminate. Rust inhibitors help keep the rust from returning while encapsulating primers form a tight seal around the steel. Once the entire area is thoroughly primed, the final coatings can be applied. 

Routine maintenance, such as inspections and cleanings can go a long way to making sure steel structures aren’t showing signs of rust. If blistering, pockmarks or other indications of rust appear, it’s time to strip off the old coatings, repair the issues and recoat.