Interested in anti-graffiti coating? Some consider it art, some consider it vandalism. No matter which side you’re on, there’s no denying that for the most part, waking up to find the exterior of your business premises has been tagged can be really frustrating.
The fact is that for many people, graffiti has negative connotations. If you’re a business trying to attract passing trade, this isn’t going to help. Unfortunately, first impressions count and customers may be put off or intimidated by the appearance of graffiti.
There are a few solutions. Many companies now offer graffiti cleaning services, and there are cleaning products designed specifically to remove spray paints, adhesives and marker pens from all kinds of exterior surfaces. Even better, you can apply an anti-graffiti coating, which helps prevent the problems caused by graffiti from the outset.
We’re going to take a look at how these anti-graffiti coatings can really make a difference to your business and its success…
Graffiti: Not Just A City Problem
Graffiti is everywhere. It’s virtually impossible to leave your house without seeing some form of graffiti. Though you will generally find a higher level of graffiti in towns and cities, smaller villages and more remote settings are not exempt from tags from bored teens or adults. Bridges and tunnels around public transport are common targets.
Common graffiti includes a ‘tag’, which is a signature or logo of sorts. It identifies the ‘artist’ or marks out an area considered territory. It is often carried out with specialist spray cans, but markers and even household paint can also be used.
What Graffiti Means For Your Business
If you’re unlucky enough to be targeted by graffiti – and not the kind that brings billions of people to your door – it can be damaging to your business.
Just some of the problems you may encounter are:
- It’s off-putting to customers – if the first impression a customer gets of your business is the exterior of the building, which happens to be covered in graffiti, they may think you care little about your image or reputation.
- It can be offensive – often graffiti will contain swear words or prejudiced and offensive remarks, which can make people feel unsafe in the area.
- Persistent graffiti can devalue property – unfortunately, once an area has been tagged, it will more than likely become a regular target, and if the graffiti is not removed, you may find the area becomes inundated, devaluing properties in the area.
- Time-consuming to clean – cleaning graffiti from surfaces takes time and money, and some materials leave a mark even after scrubbing.
Even the ‘cool’ kind of graffiti can cause issues for your business. Residents and businesses that operate near Banksy’s previous artworks have encountered some serious problems, including not being able to access their property, risk of theft from their property, additional graffiti work over the original, the cost of hiring security to protect it and legal fees in deciding ownership.
As we mentioned previously, there are a few measures you can take to prevent your business from being targeted by graffiti. We’re going to take a closer look at them now…
What Can You Do To Combat Graffiti Vandalism?
If your business or personal property is affected by graffiti, taking steps early on can reduce the problem. By making it harder to leave graffiti in the first place, you are less likely to have a recurring problem, plus it will save you a lot of time and money spent on cleaning. We suggest:
Lights
Installing security lights which illuminate the area whenever there is movement, means that graffiti artists can’t remain as anonymous as they’d like. This is, therefore, a simple and effective measure to take to remove the risk of your business being tagged.
Camera
A security camera is an effective way to deter vandals. And if they are careless enough to go ahead anyway, the anti-social behaviour will be caught on camera, so you can use it to identify them if needed.
Action
You can take action by protecting your walls and shutters with an anti-graffiti coating. More on that now…
What Is An Anti-Graffiti Coating?
An anti-graffiti coating is a coating or surface treatment that stops paints, inks, aerosols and other markers from bonding to a surface. That doesn’t mean the coating somehow makes it impossible to apply paint to the surface, but that it prevents the paint from staining the surface. This means the surface can easily be washed down and returned to its former glory.
There are two main types of anti-graffiti protection. These are sacrificial and non-sacrificial coatings:
A sacrificial anti-graffiti coating forms a clear film barrier on the surface. If the surface is then vandalised, the coating can easily be removed, taking the absorbed paint with it and leaving the surface graffiti-free. This does mean the coating must be re-applied after each graffiti removal. A sacrificial anti-graffiti coating is usually less expensive, but there is the possibility of erosion or damage to the surface underneath when washed multiple times.
A non-sacrificial anti-graffiti coating provides a permanent protective layer, so only needs to be applied once. If the coating is vandalised, a simple solvent can be used to remove the graffiti paint and the coating below is left untouched. This type of coating is often more expensive, but it allows for easier graffiti removal and lasts for a much longer period of time.
Effective Prevention
Here at GI Sykes, we are highly experienced anti-graffiti coating contractors, and our specialists can advise on the best anti-graffiti coating to help protect your building from vandalism.
Graffiti could be costing you customers, damaging your reputation and causing problems in your community. It is also expensive and time-consuming to keep removing and repainting, taking time and money away from your business.
An anti-graffiti coating offers a great solution, reducing the man hours needed to restore your premises and acting as a deterrent to street artists. After all, why waste time and paint when it’s so easily washed away the next day?
Get in touch to talk to us about protecting your building – and your reputation – today.
