3 Ways To Remove Graffiti From Your Property

Graffiti in major cities unfortunately is a common maintenance issue that property owners and landlords must address as part of exterior maintenance. When left unaddressed, graffiti can detract from your property’s curb appeal and influence how your rental is perceived by both current and prospective tenants. Making sure to remove the graffiti in a timely manner helps to preserve the appearance of the building while supporting a consistent standard of care.

Below we have gathered three different ways to help you get rid of graffiti from your property and help keep it off.

Power Washing

Power washing is oftentimes the first method considered when graffiti appears on the exterior surfaces of your property such as concrete, brick, fencing and sometimes painted walls. This approach uses pressurized water, occasionally combined with detergents to remove paint from both porous and non porous surfaces. Power washing is relatively cost effective and can be completed quickly. This makes it suitable for smaller graffiti incidents.

Unfortunately, power washing isn't suitable for all surfaces, too much water pressure can damage older stucco, chip soft stone or erode mortar. In coastal cities, you need to be extra careful since moisture can penetrate deeper into building material which can contribute to wear and tear.  Additionally, power washing the graffiti does very little to prevent future problems. When used appropriately, power washing can be an efficient response that restores the curb appeal without requiring permanent alterations.

Sandblasting

Sandblasting is a more aggressive version of power washing, where instead of water being used, it uses an abrasive. This is typically used for more severe graffiti cases, or when the graffiti has deeply penetrated the surface. This method essentially stripes away a thin layer of the surface material itself. For this reason it is used primarily on concrete and metal surfaces which can take the extra abrasive.

Due to sandblasting altering the surface, it needs to be used with caution. As improper application can permanently damage building materials or create an uneven texture making future graffiti harder to remove. For this reason, sandblasting is usually done by a professional who can assess the condition of the surface and select the appropriate abrasives. While more expensive than power washing, sandblasting may be justified when other removal techniques are either ineffective or the long term appearance of the property is a high priority.

Repainting

By far the most straightforward solution to remove graffiti is repainting the surface. In many cases, repainting is by far the most cost effective and practical solution to removing graffiti, especially when the paint damage is extensive. The main limitation of repainting is the ongoing costs if graffiti occurs frequently, as well as matching the original surface color, as some paints can degrade or fade over time, meaning even if the paint used is from the same batch, as the original paint, there can be inconsistencies. 

Repainting, however, offers the opportunity to landlords or property managers to apply anti-graffiti paint. While more expensive than traditional paints, anti-graffiti paint can make future graffiti removal easier and more affordable. From the point of view of your tenants, prompt repairing sends the message that the property upkeep is being taken seriously which can reduce complaints from tenants. While for landlords, it can be a predictable and controllable maintenance expense when incorporated into routine exterior maintenance.

The most effective graffiti removal strategy depends on a variety of factors such as surface type, severity, frequency and budget. In many cases landlords benefit from structured response plans rather than a reactive approach. Many landlords opt for a combination of these three methods in order to have the highest success rate in removing graffiti from their rental properties. If you need help removing stubborn graffiti from your rental, or if you need help managing your Beach City rental property, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or complete our Owner Application online.