A pressure washer/vacuum attachment is ideal for jobs where water reclamation is vitally important. Apply Bare Brick, Stone & Masonry Graffiti Remover with a brush and agitate before using the pressure washer with the attachment to rinse off. A wet vacuum and power connection are required for this method.
Natural Restoration uses the EcoBlaster Portable Pressure Washer for hard-to-reach locations that are often only accessible by kayak. Images Courtesy of Natural Restorations
When this type of equipment is not available, you can protect runoff from entering a waterway by using a tarp and disposing of the water into the dirt to biodegrade. This is essential for removing graffiti from natural environments.
Before
After
Alternatively, choosing a consistent color, such as ‘river rock grey,’ to paint over the graffiti can be a quick and effective method of disguise in these situations. If more graffiti occurs, you will always have the color on hand.
Note: On rocks that have aged from mold, algae, or dirt, there can sometimes be a ‘clean’ spot after removing graffiti, especially if a pressure washer has been used.
To restore an ‘aged’ look, you can apply strong coffee grinds. Additionally, sour milk can be brushed, sprayed, or applied and left for a few weeks to create algae staining. When you're satisfied with the patina, it’s best to apply our World’s Best Graffiti Coating (WBGC). It’s so quick and easy and makes getting graffiti off the next time around a pleasure.
807 sq. ft. of graffiti removed from Canyon Lake at Boulder Creek, Arizona. Images Courtesy of Natural Restorations
If the World's Best Graffiti Coating is applied to new stones, then they should remain clean looking for quite a while (maybe a couple of years).
To prevent algae staining, a 2% solution of Copper Sulfate or some newer Benzalkonium Chloride (disinfectant types) can be applied prior to applying the coating.
If you're looking for a slightly aged look before applying a coating, use the coffee/milk trick outlined above.
Check out these two videos of graffiti removal from natural stone featuring organizations Trash No Land and TrailMothers.
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 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.
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