This is perhaps the most common question asked of us so we thought we'd dedicate this page to an answer on how to remove graffiti from walls.
Firstly, is the wall painted or unpainted?
Removing Graffiti from Unpainted Wall
If the wall is built with unpainted brick, stone, masonry or concrete follow these basic steps.
For typical graffiti tags, flood coat withBare Brick, Stone & Masonry Graffiti Remover three times (at roughly 3-minute intervals), wait another few minutes then rinse with a small pressure washer.
Agitation as you apply this product can be of great assistance. Continued experience with the product will enable the user to judge how many applications are necessary for varying surfaces and particular spray paints. On older/thicker graffiti, patience with dwell time is the key. Keep the graffiti wet with the product, as long as possible before rinsing.
Removing Graffiti with Doug's Pressure Washing
For some inks/dyes ( such as magic markers) and some spray paints (especially reds), Feltpen Fadeout might be needed to fade away residual stain during or after removals with Bare Brick Stone & Masonry Graffiti Remover. This can ensure you achieve perfect results without leaving a shadow.
Red spray paint bubble writing
Brushing on 3 coats of BBSM
Feltpen Fadeout brushed on
Read TDS sheets for more detailed instructions or contact us for expert advice on your job before starting.
Removing Graffiti from a Painted Wall
If the wall is painted see instructions below.
For smaller graffiti on a painted wall use Sensitive Surface Graffiti Remover (or Graffiti Safewipes) . These products are designed to dissolve and suspend graffiti on a painted surface so you can wipe it away with a DAMP toweling cloth and avoid re depositing the graffiti back into the painted surface and causing smears or smudges.
If it’s larger graffiti on painted walls, it may be possible to remove the graffiti using our products, although it is usually far quicker and easier to match the color and paint it over. The trick to painting over graffiti professionally is having the ability to color match, and use tools that can be easily cleaned on the job, such as High Volume Low-Pressure Spray Guns (HVLP), mini rollers, and paint pads. Often this will yield the quickest and best results.
Color Match for Concrete Bridge Abutment
You only need to color match any given wall once, and from then on you can keep that color for future paint overs, if needed. Very often, building owners or managers have the exact color you need to spray their wall (stored under a kitchen sink or in their garage) so don’t be shy to ask given the opportunity.
Standard graffiti block-out colors you choose might include Navajo White, Sound Wall Tan, Cinderblock Gray, Concrete Grey, Old Wood Fence, New Wood Fence, Mission Brown, Forest Green, Electrical Box Green, Brick Red, City Beige, Country White, Fire Hydrant Yellow etc.
If you would like to remove graffiti from a painted wall follow these steps.
i. Start up your pressure cleaner, making sure that it is running low pressure on warm to cold temperatures, and thoroughly saturate the graffiti area.
ii. Using a soft nylon broom and a rectangular bucket containing Bare Brick, Stone and Masonry Graffiti Remover, quickly apply and agitate about 10 square feet of the graffiti until approximately half disappears (the graffiti is dissolving and running).
iii. Using low pressure, quickly rinse this treated area, and thoroughly wet down ahead to repeat the same on the next section. Approximately 95% of the spray can graffiti should be gone. If you find that it is affecting the underlying paint, you will have to shorten your initial application time. The reason you stop at approximately half dissolved is that the rinsing tends to remove another 50% more than you have.
iv. Carefully spot clean any uncleaned areas using Sensitive Surface Graffiti Remover. If the dissolved graffiti has stained the wall, a dilute application of Feltpen Fadeout will return it to its former glory. With this technique never use hot water (It could blister the underlying paint)!
Protecting a Wall from Graffiti
For maximum graffiti resistance we generally recommend World's Best Graffiti Coating on walls made from brick, stone, concrete, masonry and other natural building surfaces such as timber. This product is also suitable for stucco and coated surfaces. To learn more click on the link below.
Products Mentioned
Bare Brick Stone &
Masonry Graffiti Remover
From $21
For Bare Brick, Stone, Concrete, Block Walls & Masonry
Feltpen
Fadeout
From $22.50
For Removing Ink & Other Stains from Porous & Smooth Surfaces
Graffiti
Safewipes
From $6.50
Remove Graffiti, Grease, Grime & Other Marks On Painted & Smooth Surfaces
3 Golden Rules
1) If graffiti is not coming off easily, you're doing it wrong! You may require a change of tact or use of another product.
2) If you can't remove a little bit of graffiti, then you're not going to remove a lot. TEST FIRST before applying product to an entire job. This way you can determine if you’re on the right track before embarking on full scale removals.
3) If you're working hard, you're doing it wrong. Forget the scrubbing, blasting and any other abrasive measures. Put simply, either your products are working or they’re not. Any problems can be taken care of with the right technique.
Removing Graffiti from Brick Walls with Western Mass Prowash
Expert advice
Click on any of the icons below for how-to's & more
