Graffiti has been part of the social fabric of the urban society for a long time. Most people view graffiti as detrimental to their society beauty and hence the government has outlawed the practice.
The decision prompted the need for graffiti removal. Graffiti artists have a tendency of marking almost any surface. This antisocial behavior portrays the art as a negative externality and over the years it has been connected to crime organizations.
A graffiti artist can mark almost anything. From stone, brick, street signs, walls, and bus stops. The texture of the surface is hardly any hindrance to a graffiti artist. Paints, markers, stickers, pencils and sprays are the primary ways used by artists to mark surfaces.
Methods of Graffiti Removal
- Paint
Painting out graffiti is the most common and oldest forms of removing graffiti. The paint covers the art such that the markings are no longer visible. Whereas painting out graffiti works better on painted walls, other surfaces may not be quite useful.
Also, painting surfaces destroy the appearance of the surface when patches of the art are visible. With time, especially after multiple repaints, the paint starts to peel off making the surface uglier.
Remember to choose the right color that will match the one existing to reduce the visibility of the patches.
- Chemicals
The use of solvents to remove graffiti is quite efficient. However, this method can have detrimental results if not applied correctly and carefully. In most cases, removing graffiti using chemical solvents is done by an expert. This approach is being wiped out due to the pollution effect it has on the environment.
Choosing the right chemical is important. The type of surface requiring graffiti removal is the major determinant of which chemicals to use.
- Pressure Washing
Painted graffiti can be removed using water under high pressure. The water may be mixed with soda or sand and sprayed on the surface. The main disadvantage of using force to remove graffiti is that it is detrimental to the surface.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Method for Graffiti Removal
Temperature
High temperatures weaken the bonds in paint used in graffiti and hence the removal process is faster. In high temperatures the removal products have high energy and this speed up the process. This factor is quite useful on pressure washing methods where you can opt to go for the hot water pressure systems.
Time
A remover that has longer contact with the art removes the graffiti faster. It is hard to remove graffiti on sensitive surfaces since the contact time between the agent of removal, and the graffiti is not enough to facilitate any bond breaking.
Time as a factor majorly applies when using active chemical molecules. Increasing the contact time of the chemical agent and the graffiti is critical for a faster process.
Remember to apply a coating material especially after using chemicals and pressure removers. When the task at hand is large, call an expert. Professionals have safer techniques of graffiti removal.
