Graffiti, a problem that’s thousands of years old
Graffiti, is the act of paint marking other people’s or public property without their consent, has been around for thousands of years, so it’s unlikely we are ever going to eradicate it completely.
But there are proven ways to discourage today’s graffiti vandals and protect property against constant defacement. So let’s begin our war on graffiti with these top tips.
Is graffiti art?
In rare cases, it can be argued that some graffiti has artistic merit. But 99.9% of it is pure vandalism. So, unless you are dealing with a Banksy, Eduardo Kobra, David Choe, Lady Pink or a recognised muralist it is pretty likely that you are dealing an unworthy scribble of a vandal.
Graffiti in Australia is a criminal offence and punishable in most states with a hefty fine or imprisonment. It’s also against the law to possess paint or markers with the intent of defacing property.
Graffiti laws may vary depending on the state as stated in the following government links for NSW, WA, QLD, VIC, but overall it is a crime.
The economic and social costs of graffiti
Graffiti costs Australian businesses and authorities around $1.5 billion a year to clean up and control. But there’s also a social cost. When graffiti is allowed to remain on buildings, property and infrastructure, it negatively affects the perception of safety, security and quality of life in that area. It also attracts more graffiti.
What is it trying to say?
There are various styles of graffiti. The simple one-colour tag is the vandal’s unique signature. Then there’s the throw-up or blockbuster with its characteristic colourful bubble-style or blocky letters.
More modern graffiti includes the use of stencils or even posters. The underlying message can be about the individual – the tagger, gang-related or politically motivated. Our message? It needs to go.
Be quick. They hate that!
Graffiti vandals thrive on seeing their work defacing property for as long as possible. So a great way to ruin their day is to have the graffiti professionally removed straight away. That way, the vandals don’t get the satisfaction of an audience. And they really hate that!
How to prevent graffiti?
Keep Australia Beautiful’s David Imrie recommends a multi-action strategic approach to prevent graffiti. “Use one of the commercial anti-graffiti coatings on exterior walls, remove any graffiti as soon as it appears and keep the exterior well lit. Good exterior lighting and visible security cameras are good deterrents.”
Cheap graffiti protection? Don’t make the sacrifice
There are two basic types of anti-graffiti coating. A sacrificial coating is cheap and easy to apply, but once defaced needs to be removed along with the graffiti and reapplied. This makes it an expensive choice for areas prone to frequent graffiti attacks.
A non-sacrificial coating is a tough, two-part epoxy which forms an invisible barrier which resists the harsh chemicals used to remove graffiti. Applied properly, it can last up to 10 years. Non- sacrificial anti-graffiti paints are also available in most colours.
How anti-graffiti coatings contain costs?
Concrete, cement and brick surfaces are highly porous and unless they are sealed will absorb all types of paint and marker inks. Conventional paint will seal the surface, but if defaced, the whole area will have to be repainted to avoid a patchwork effect.
A non- sacrificial anti-graffiti coating is a barrier between the substrate and the outside word – so only the graffitied areas need to be cleaned leaving the building or structure looking as good as new.
For an obligation-free assessment and quote of your premises simply click here.
We hate graffiti as much as you do
At Kleenit, we’ve been waging war on graffiti for over 30 years and have the equipment, manpower and materials to remove any graffiti from anywhere. We’re also the anti-graffiti coating experts using the very latest techniques using materials approved by the relevant authorities.
If your civil project or building needs cleaning or protecting, then call the industry experts for advice and an obligation-free quote.
