Discovering graffiti at your place of business or home rarely incites joy, but you don't always have to undertake a large paint job to cover the graffiti and keep the targeted wall or fence uniform in appearance. Spot cleaning the tarnished area can be effective, less time-consuming and cheaper than repainting, but different surfaces require different removal methods. Here are some tips for removing graffiti from common surfaces:
Brick
When removing graffiti from brickwork, you need to be careful not to damage the pointing or mortar, which will only lead to problems in the future, such as water damage, or moss growth. Since brickwork is porous, it tends to absorb spray paints, which are solvent-based. So, chemical graffiti removers aren't particularly effective on brick, but using a pressure jet washer can yield good results. Avoid using a narrow tip on your jet washer, which could etch the surface of the brickwork. A pressure wash from the outer edges of the graffiti toward the middle of the area being cleaned to prevent the graffiti paint from spreading to untarnished areas.
Wood
If you've had a wooden fence tagged, you have a couple of options for cleaning off the paint. Wood that's treated with a sealant or wood stain can be cleaned with acetone, which will thin the graffiti paint and allow you to wipe it away with a scouring pad. You may need a few applications of acetone and a fair bit of elbow grease, but this method is effective on treated wood. However, untreated or weathered wood will need to be pressure washed, as applying acetone will only allow the graffiti paint to soak deeper into the wood and make it more difficult to remove.
Metal
As metal is non-porous, it's relatively easy to remove graffiti from metal surfaces, such as shop shutters or doors, using a spirit-based paint thinner. Apply the thinner and rub the surface with a scouring pad. If it's proving difficult to lift the paint off with a scouring pad, use a slightly more abrasive wire wool pad or lightly sand the surface, but be careful not to scratch the surface under the paint.
If you're finding it difficult to remove graffiti yourself, contact your local graffiti removal company for some assistance. They have access to industrial paint removal chemicals and commercial pressure washers. They will inspect the area to be cleaned and make a recommendation based on their experience and your budget.
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