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.
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.