| --> | | | | application of a coating of wax or acrylic that |
| Graffiti has been a problem in urban areas for | | | | protects the surface beneath it. Anti graffiti wax is |
| decades, but it's spread far beyond the city limits. | | | | the least expensive short term solution, and may be |
| 'Taggers' use anything from permanent felt markers | | | | suitable for a surface that isn't likely to be targeted. |
| to aerosol spray cans to leave their marks on | | | | Once the wax has been graffitied, the wax and |
| anything that doesn't move - or at least stays still | | | | graffiti are removed together by melting the wax, |
| long enough for them to leave their artwork on it. In | | | | often with a stream of hot water. The drawback, of |
| the process, they rack up an impressive £200 | | | | course, is that the sacrificial anti graffiti coatings are |
| million cleaning bill - footed by you, in the form of | | | | one use only. Once you've removed the graffiti, you |
| county taxes. | | | | need to reapply the wax to restore the protection. |
| The manufacturers of markers and paints haven't | | | | Semi permanent anti graffiti coatings |
| helped the matter much, either, though it's only a | | | | A step up from the sacrificial coatings are semi |
| side effect of them giving us what we want. When | | | | permanent anti graffiti coatings. These are often |
| you apply a coat of paint to that porch chair, for | | | | based on polymers, polyesters, acrylics or epoxy and |
| example, you want a reasonable assurance that you | | | | can be applied in multiple layers. While the graffiti |
| won't need to repaint it next month. Paint | | | | agent - marker, paint or whatever - adheres to the |
| manufacturers put billions into researching ways to | | | | coating, it doesn't adhere to the wall or surface |
| make their paints adhere to surfaces better and last | | | | beneath it, and can be removed. Most often, removal |
| longer. The end result - paints that will stay on your | | | | will require the use of some chemical cleaner, and |
| patio deck for decades. Unfortunately, those same | | | | eventually, sometimes after only one or two |
| paints are near to impossible to remove when they're | | | | cleanings, the anti graffiti barrier will have worn away, |
| used to brand an innocuous business front with some | | | | exposing the underneath surface. |
| tagger's logo. | | | | Permanent anti graffiti coatings |
| The solution being used by more and more municipal | | | | Generally the most expensive up front of the anti |
| councils and private businesses is the application of | | | | graffiti measures, permanent anti graffiti coatings are |
| anti graffiti finishes on any surface that is likely to | | | | likely to save money over the long run. The coatings |
| collect signatures and the other expected drivel. Anti | | | | are similar to those used in non-stick pans. They |
| graffiti finishes come in several different types and | | | | offer nothing for the paint or markers to adhere to, |
| offer differing levels of protection. While they don't | | | | making it easy to simply whisk graffiti away with |
| prevent graffitists from making their marks, they do | | | | nothing more than soap and water. |
| ease the difficulty of cleanup - and if you've every | | | | In addition to anti graffiti coatings, many providers of |
| been faced with a scrawled epithet on a | | | | industrial cleaners supply powerful anti graffiti cleaners |
| white-washed wall, you know how important that | | | | which are meant to remove the spray paint or |
| can be. | | | | marker while causing as little damage to the |
| Sacrificial anti graffiti coatings | | | | underlying wall as possible. |
| One method of easing the removal of graffiti is the | | | | |