Frequently asked Graffiti Questions

Everyday we get asked a lot of questions about graffiti removal remedies. What’s the best way to remove graffiti? Can I clean off graffiti myself? What surfaces can graffiti be removed from? And so the list goes on.

Can I just paint over graffiti?

This is not recommended. Most graffiti comprises of dark-coloured aerosol paint which will remain visible under light paint. It would take multiple layers of paint to completely cover it up and even using a dark colour will still require several coats. This makes the job extremely time consuming and costly – especially if the graffiti takes up only a small part of the surface, and you are having to paint layer upon layer over a large area of space. Even if you did decide to just paint over the graffiti spot itself, then the fresh paint will be a different shade to the rest of the surface area as it won’t have the fading or weathering the existing paint had. In the end you’ll need to paint the whole structure with several coats to hide it.

Can I remove graffiti by abrasion or using my high pressure cleaner?

The abrasion method is also not recommended, as it will often end up costing you more! Commonly graffiti ends up on porous surface structures. Most people tend to think that graffiti paint lies directly upon the top layer of those surfaces, though unfortunately much like water soaking into a sponge, graffiti paint soaks deep beyond the surface.

In order for the order for abrasive procedures to work you would have to sand back and scrub plus blast, with your pressure cleaner, a considerable quantity of the wall away to completely remedy the graffiti. The ramifications of this would be crumbling of brick, render and stone. Timber would rot, mortar would easily remove itself and colourbond would rust.

What types of surfaces can graffiti be removed from?

One piece of excellent news is that graffiti can be removed from almost any surface. These are the common surfaces from which we remove graffiti:

  • Bricks
  • Concrete
  • Timber
  • Render
  • Stone surfaces
  • Stainless Steel
  • Aluminium
  • Colorbond
  • Painted Surfaces
  • Vehicles
  • Trees
  • Bitumen
  • Paving
  • Cladding
  • Plastic
  • Glass

Can graffiti be removed with paint stripper or bleach?

Unfortunately, we would not recommend this. Strong cleaning chemicals such as bleach will result in white ‘shadow’ stains and we would usually be called in to rectify this also when self-cleaning graffiti has gone wrong.

So what are the best ways to remove graffiti?

To acquire a great finish and to sidestep stain marks and or structural damage, the best way to remove graffiti is to draw the paint out to the surface. We do this by matching the correct cleaning product for the particular surface that has been damaged. This cleaning solution is used to break down the molecular structure of the paint that has been used, drawing it up and out to the surface layer. The surface is then meticulously neutralised at the precise pH levels to ensure it is left completely clean and looking back to its best again.

Is there such a thing as environmentally friendly graffiti removal?

Of course. Our products eliminate the need to trade off between a products’ effectiveness and safety/environmental features. The Graffiti Pro range of graffiti removal products tick all the boxes for environmentally friendly graffiti removal.

Our graffiti removal products are:

  • pH neutral
  • Non flammable
  • Non aerosol (no propellants)
  • Water soluble
  • Sweet light citrus odour
  • No Phosphates
  • Non Toxic
  • Non Polluting
  • Low Volatile Organic Compounds (voc) – safe for use in confined areas
  • Conforms to United Nations AGENDA 21 to protecting the ozone.
  • Water Deactivated (except Professional Edition)
  • Biodegradable

If my local council will remove graffiti free of charge, should I wait for them to get it done or should I pay someone to do it now?

It’s really great that your local council is willing to do something to remove graffiti. You just need to think “How” are they doing it? Are they just painting over it? Or just hiring the cheapest people to do the job? Are they just using high pressure cleaning? As we discussed earlier, painting over it is not always the best option due to dark colours showing through and high pressure blasting can cause damage to some surfaces.

All in all, professional graffiti removal by a qualified graffiti expert is the way to go. They know what to do and what to use for particular surfaces. Here at Graffiti Pro we know how to get the job done right the first time, every time! Give us a call today.