How to remove graffiti from diffrent surfaces.

1. HOW TO REMOVE GRAFFITI FROM DIFFERENT SURFACES

2. Introduction • Graffiti is commonplace around the world and has even gained street art status in the eyes of millions. But unless you’ve given outright consent, any graffiti on your property is nothing but vandalism. • Although most graffiti can be removed using soapy water or basic cleaning solutions, some amount of damage to the surface is unavoidable. This damage can even be permanent as the surface’s character can change as a result of the paint’s action. Because of this, permanent graffiti removalcan become very hard, if not impossible. • That said, timely action can get you significant success in removing graffiti. Here we look at how to remove graffiti from different surfaces.

3. METAL SURFACES Paint can be cleaned off metal surfaces more efficiently than all other surfaces, except glass. The most effective way is to scrub the paint off using a paint thinner. Commonly available paint thinners include lacquer thinner, mineral spirits and acetone. You can use off-the-shelf graffiti removal products for the purpose as well. WOODEN SURFACES You could try removing the graffiti by wiping the wooden surface using mineral spirits, provided the wood is not the weathered kind and has been sealed with stain, sealer or paint. As with metal surfaces, you could also try a power-wash at high pressure for wooden surfaces. However, ensure the pressure does not cause the paint to go deeper into the grain as that would make it almost impossible to remove the graffiti.

4. PLASTIC SURFACES Most people prefer to replace the affected part, rather than try removing the graffiti, as plastic is cheap. However, if replacing is not possible or expensive, you can use highly fine bronze or steel wool to rub away the paint. Avoid paint thinners or other graffiti removal chemicals as they cause the plastic to go soft, which can lead to permanent tackiness or clouding. GLASS SURFACES As mentioned previously, removing graffiti is easy when it’s a glass surface. Almost all paint can be scraped off the glass surface using a fine razor blade. Another useful method is to use highly fine bronze wool and water to softly rub off the paint. Paint thinners are also quite effective at dislodging paint from glass surfaces.

5. MASONRY The most effective way to remove graffiti from masonry is to give it a power-wash at high pressure. If that doesn’t work, sand-blasting should do the trick. Sand-blasting is a process that uses a jet of sand to clean a surface. Powered by steam or air, sand-blasters are highly effective at removing paint off masonry. However, it needs to be done carefully because if the sandblasting tip remains at one point for too long, it can lead to permanent etching of the surface.

6. OTHER SOLUTIONS 1. Painting It Over The first thing is to paint over the graffiti. If you go with painting, it’s recommended to either paint the wall straight from top to bottom or repaint it entirely. That is because matching the colour of your building is a complicated task. Mismatched colours, apart from dragging down your building’s look, also serve as continuing proof of graffiti. 2. Non-Chemical Graffiti Removal Agents You can also try graffiti removal products that do not contain any chemicals. These products are based on citrus extracts and completely biodegradable. You can buy these products at any neighbourhood hardware store. Citrus based graffiti removers can be safely applied to all painted or natural surfaces. However, some types of plastics might not react well to them and suffer cloudiness or discolouration.

7. Other Tips & Advice • WHY YOUR BUILDING’S STONE EXTERIOR NEEDS REGULAR CLEANING & MAINTENANCE • HOW TO REMOVE GRAFFITI FROM DIFFERENT SURFACES • 5 SERVICES TO RESTORE YOUR BUILDING’S GLORY | INFOGRAPHIC

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