Sadly, graffiti has become an all-too-common sight in our towns and cities, even spreading to rural areas that were once free from this form of vandalism. Street signs, bus stops, public places and buildings, and even the walls of private homes - nowhere seems safe from this unsightly problem.
This increase has partly been fuelled by cultural trends and the fact that some graffiti is regarded as street art (see below). However, for most people, it is an unpleasant and unwanted form of criminal damage that needs to be removed by our graffiti removal services.
Graffiti As Art?
Tagging accounts for at least 80% of all graffiti, which is basically someone writing their name or a symbol, often in relation to a local gang marking out their perceived territorial boundaries. Less than 5% of all graffiti is classed as art, and this is usually commissioned by community-based art projects in conjunction with the local authorities.
So, the vast majority of graffiti is vandalism that needs to be washed away.
To give you an idea of the scale of this problem, more than £1 billion is spent each year in the UK on graffiti removal.
Once an area has been tagged, it quickly attracts more graffiti, along with other forms of vandalism and anti-social behaviour. Before long, the area acquires an unsavoury reputation and property prices are affected negatively.
Graffiti on commercial property can deter potential customers, adding to the economic impact.
It's always best to remove graffiti as soon as possible, as it discourages the culprits from persisting.
Also, the longer the spray paint is left, the more difficult it will be to remove.
In some cases, it's possible to remove graffiti yourself, using a bucket of soapy water and a stiff brush. Sadly, however, this is usually not enough, as some of the spray paints and marker pens used by these vandals can be extremely difficult to shift completely.
It also depends on the surfaces that have been sprayed: porous surfaces are notoriously difficult to clean as the paint gets deep into the material. Using the wrong method when removing graffiti paint can cause a lot of damage, or make the situation even worse.
That's why we recommend calling graffiti removal experts, like RenWash.
So, how do we go about removing graffiti? Here are some of the methods we use.
Where possible, we use environmentally-friendly chemicals to remove spray paint, particularly when working in a sensitive environment.
Even so, we may need to use powerful graffiti removers at times, especially in areas with a heavy build-up of spray paint that's been left for decades.
The graffiti-cleaning solution is sprayed onto the wall and left to allow the active ingredients to break down the paint. It is then rinsed off, leaving the surface looking clean. Our team always takes care to stop the chemicals in graffiti removal products from contaminating other areas nearby.
This is a highly-effective method called DOFF cleaning where water is superheated to around 150º c and sprayed onto the surface at low pressure. It's suitable for most surfaces as it is gentle enough not to cause damage while being powerful enough to break down the paint.
The machine is portable enough for the team to carry to most areas, making it a valuable graffiti-removal tool.
Another very effective method, this machine is great for hard surfaces. Even so, care is needed in order to avoid damaging brick or stone.
Our team is also aware of the hazards of working near sensitive equipment, such as telephone routing/broadband cabinets and anything carrying an electrical current.
Again, the equipment is easily transported by van and we generally carry our own water supply.
On the whole, a pressure washer is used alongside other methods and is a good way of rinsing off the walls.
A TORC cleaning machine is used to blast a mixture of sand (or grit) and water through a vortex nozzle onto the surface. This will safely remove all traces of paint without damaging the surfaces beneath - provided the graffiti removal experts know what they're doing!
The total cost varies depending on the severity and extent of the problem. Older graffiti can be problematic, too.
However, the RenWash team has an excellent success rate, and in 99% of cases, the offending matter is completely removed.
The techniques and methods used will have a bearing on cost, as will the type of surface affected. To give a ballpark figure, expect to pay between £7 and £20 per square metre, plus extra for anti-graffiti coating (see below for more details).
As most graffiti only affects a small area, using a professional graffiti removal company like RenWash is a cost-effective solution.
According to UK law, the owner of the affected surface is responsible for cleaning it up. This means that if you own the building, you need to absorb the cost of graffiti cleaning.
It seems unfair, but that's how the law currently stands.
The trouble is that graffiti is often found on a wide range of objects, like telephone kiosks, street lights and signs. Business premises are particularly hard hit, especially around the service entrances or in shop doorways. Disputes often arise over who exactly owns the surface affected, so it's important to establish this before we get to work.
One of the best ways to counter the problem of graffiti vandalism is to act quickly. The sooner it is removed, the less likely the culprits are to make the effort to paint in the same place again.
Also, it's wise to apply anti-graffiti coatings where possible, as these prevent the paint from bonding to the surface. It won't stop the blight of graffiti from appearing, but it makes removal so much easier - it should be possible to wash it off using a mild detergent.
The good news is that some of these anti-graffiti coatings can remain effective for up to 10 years!
The battle against graffiti can sometimes be frustratingly long and tedious. It seems that once you've had the graffiti removed, more appears to take its place.
If you wish, we can establish a regular graffiti removal schedule that tackles the issue as soon as it arises. Eventually, the culprits involved will give up - especially if you ask us to apply an anti-graffiti coating.
The RenWash graffiti removal experts will use their skills to remove all traces of graffiti (paint and ink) from brick, metal, glass, stone, plastic, concrete, wood and all exterior surfaces.
The RenWash team is highly trained and fully insured, offering you the best possible means of tackling your graffiti problem.
Call us now to discuss your graffiti removal requirements, and we'll have your walls (or other surfaces) looking fresh, bright and clean in no time. Our specialist team also handles other types of paint removal aside from graffiti, so be sure to enquire about this if you need paint stripping from external walls.
Graffiti cleaning accounts for a small part of our repertoire as cleaning specialists, but it's a vitally important one. Graffiti affects us socially, visually and economically, and it must be dealt with robustly.
Protect your property and your community today by calling RenWash, and together we'll fight back against graffiti!
Graffiti removal services typically combine pressure washing and chemical solutions to remove graffiti from a variety of surfaces such as brick, concrete, metal, glass, painted walls, and wood. Graffiti removal services, on the other hand, may not be appropriate for all surfaces; for example, some delicate or porous surfaces, such as marble or limestone, may require more specialised methods and should be treated by professionals.
During the removal process, our graffiti removal services take care to protect the surrounding surfaces. To protect any areas that may be harmed by the cleaning process, we use protective coverings such as plastic sheeting or masking tape. We may also use specialised equipment, such as a "graffiti shield," to prevent surface damage.
Our graffiti removal services will include preventative measures to help keep future graffiti at bay. Among these measures are the application of anti-graffiti coatings, the installation of security cameras, and the provision of regular maintenance and monitoring services to keep the area clean.
As a professional graffiti removal service we are fully insured and have our employees trained for graffiti removal services.
