Graffiti Removal

February 19, 2018 – by Tony Earnshaw

There’s no doubt that graffiti is a modern-day frustration affecting many urban areas, and graffiti on your wall or fence is often something that you’d like to remove quickly.

Wood, Walls & Masonry

A garden fence is a classic surface for graffiti artists to spray their tag to mark their territory, with no thought for the owner. If your fence is not sealed, try using a power washer on a low pressure. Don’t go above 700 psi or you might drive the paint even further into the grain of the wood. If your fence is treated with paint or sealer, wiping it with mineral spirits might be more effective. And if that doesn’t work, painting over the whole area again might be the only solution.

Similar to wood, a gentle pressure wash is the best way to remove graffiti from a brick or masonry surface. Again, don’t go above 700 psi, and be careful not to choose too narrow a nozzle; you could end up etching a perfect outline of the graffiti that you’re trying to remove. Alternatively, the brick might need repainting.

Glass

If you have glass that has been graffitied – a window or greenhouse, perhaps – the easiest way to remove it is to use a razor blade to gently scrape away the paint. If this method leaves any residue, then rub the area gently with very fine bronze wool to remove any remaining paint. Paint thinners are also an option, although they will generally take longer to work.

Perhaps the easiest option is to employ the services of an experienced professional who is able to tell the type of paint used straight away and has the correct tools and equipment to hand. A company such as UK Commercial Cleaning is experienced at removing graffiti and can offer a nationwide service. You might find that you get a better job done, for less trouble and more quickly, than if you were to attempt it yourself.