Graffiti Clean-up Products

By Leslie McGuire, managing editor

The clean-up operation is in three parts. The first is the application of a gel graffiti remover, which is painted over the offending items. This is left on for a few minutes to dissolve the paint, then hosed off with a pressure wash.

Municipalities. institutions, schools, Public Works Departments and Departments of Transportation have all had problems with graffiti on equipment, walls, signs?EUR??,,????'??+you name it. There are many ways to remove it, of course. Some are harder to use than others, some are more hazardous than others, some pose storage issues and some prevent further artistic additions. Here is an overview.

Graffiti coatings provide protection from paint, markers, solvents, acid and alkali chemicals. They should be UV and impact resistant, with good gloss retention, adhesion and flexibility. Urethane coating is an effective barrier against paints, markers, physical abrasion and corrosion in addition to resistance to commonly encountered acids, alkali chemicals, gasoline, brake fluid, alcohols and UV light. Coating systems are ideally suited for educational, commercial, food handling, industrial, and transportation environments, or wherever a durable coating is required to protect from graffiti.

 

After the first round of cleaning, a ?EUR??,,????'??ghost?EUR??,,????'??? of the original image is sometimes left so another chemical is applied to help remove this before another blast of the hose. If parts of the ghost image still exist, a final ?EUR??,,????'??ghost rinse?EUR??,,????'??? is used.

(Before) Painting over a surface that is not properly prepared may lead to peeling and cracking of paint. Ensure appropriate surface preparation before painting over any graffiti. When painting over surfaces like wood, concrete, block wall, and brick choose ?EUR??,,????'??breathable?EUR??,,????'?? paint, such as an acrylic latex (i.e. paint manufactured so that moisture can pass through the product and escape from inside the surface).

(After) When painting over graffiti, color match the paint to the original surface color. If this cannot be done, repaint the entire surface. If limited by time and/or paint, paint the entire surface from ground level up to a certain height (making sure that the line of paint is clean and straight).

Graffiti wipe cloths are an easy-to-use graffiti remover that does not contain methanol, methylene chloride or other “halogenated” solvents prohibited on many projects. They are capable of removing a variety of graffiti stains from most smooth masonry, wood and metal surfaces. Among their advantages are low odor, easily rinsed with cold or hot water and they provide a chemical assist for cold-water removal of sacrificial coatings. Their limitations are that their efficiency is reduced during cold weather and they may damage synthetic or reflective glass.

Using a sealer makes graffiti easier to remove from porous surfaces. A clear, solvent-based silicone elastomer can weatherproof concrete block and other porous masonry materials and protects masonry surfaces from repeated graffiti attacks without altering the natural appearance by penetrating and filling pores to prevent water penetration through exterior walls exposed to normal weathering. Sealers are easy to apply with low-pressure spray, brush or roller. Treated surfaces exhibit surface beading, withstand extreme temperatures and have UV stability. However, they are not suitable for extremely dense or polished surfaces, asphaltic surfaces or below-grade applications. They also won?EUR??,,????'???t prevent water penetration through structural cracks, defects or open joints.

Some metal finishes and glass installed in recent years may be damaged by these cleaning products. Test the surface or protect if necessary. Sacrificial coatings are protective, but come off when graffiti is removed and must be reapplied. Non-sacrificial or permanent anti-graffiti coatings are unaffected by the graffiti removal process and remain on the surface.

If the graffiti is on plastic then special polycarbon-friendly wipes can be used to remove it. Different wipes should be used for glass.

Poultice systems consist of an easily applied paste, which is then covered with a fibrous laminated cloth, allowing them to work together for optimum performance while controlling evaporation. Not all projects will require use of the cloth cover. These provide a safe system for removing oil and latex paint and almost all chemically resistant coatings, including epoxies, urethanes, elastomerics, chlorinated rubber, marine, automotive, and aerospace.

Always remember?EUR??,,????'??+it is often illegal and always environmentally irresponsible to allow dirty cleaning water into the sewer systems or into the soil. Disposal methods will likely vary depending on the amount and type of material requiring disposal