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Use a Low PSI for Graffiti Removal Chemicals
Using water pressure alone instead of a graffiti removal chemical will reduce wear and tear on your building, and naturally cuts the cost of graffiti removal. Stubborn layers of paint require graffiti removal chemicals, but use those chemicals operate your equipment with approximately 80 PSI. The low PSI will deliver the graffiti removal product to the surface of the building where the graffiti removal is needed. Higher PSI drives the graffiti removal chemicals deep into the masonry and may cause staining.
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Starting A Graffiti Removal Business
If you are thinking of starting a graffiti removal business, your first order of business should be to contact local community organizations and town councils. Let them know that you are willing to help clean up their neighborhood and outline for them exactly how you will do it.
Having the right graffiti removal equipment is essential. And it is important to be quick and efficient about clean-up. No one wants to see the buildings of walls all around their home covered in spray paint. The longer you take to get out and remove the paint the less likely they are going to be to give you the business.
Graffiti removal costs will likely be determined by the amount of time you have to spend cleaning an area and the products that are required. Try to give local officials or residents, depending on who has hired you, a fair and accurate price quote. In most cases, if you do a good job it will not go unnoticed. If graffiti artists plague an area and spray paint removal is important enough to the local community, you should have a steady business up and running in no time.
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Using Raw Acid For Graffiti Removal
Do not use undiluted acid followed by water blasting to remove graffiti . There was a time when raw acid, (usually muriatic acid), was the only thing available to clean masonry, but today, graffiti removal chemicals used with a chemical injector work much better when a sandblasting equipment is not advisable. Today's masonry is much different than the kind made in the 20th century, and pure, raw acid is no longer recommended for graffiti removal. In some cases you may need to resort to an acid solution for cleaning dark brick. One part acid to nine parts water is a good place to start if you must use an acid-based solution. When mixing, pour acid into the water rather than pouring water into acid. This reduces the potential of being splashed with the acid.
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Removing Graffiti With A Pressure Washer
If you run a local community organization and are responsible for graffiti removal in the neighborhood, pressure washing is one of the best ways to go about it. If you cannot afford to purchase the right graffiti removal equipment, see if the town will spring for one. You would be surprised at what the local government might be willing to help you pay for if they don’t have to pay for the man hours to get the actual job done. If that is a dead end, you could see how many of your neighbors would be willing to chip in to by one.
A good pressure washer can use a number of different graffiti removal chemicals and you can adjust the pressure as needed. Whenever you head out to clean up the neighborhood, always make sure you are using the right chemicals and pressure setting for the surface you want to clean.
Start by purchasing chemicals that work best on the surfaces you need to clean the most. If the majority of your neighborhood’s graffiti is on concrete walls, you want to start with chemicals designed for that surface. Using the wrong ones might cause more damage to the wall than the graffiti itself.
Sandblasters can also be used to get rid of unwanted art on the walls of neighborhood buildings, but make sure you follow the safety instructions that come with it and wear safety goggles at all times. Also, a rotating spray nozzle will certainly make your job easier without the added frustration of twisted hoses and limited rotation to get those hard to reach angles.
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The Graffiti Removal Test Area
Are you new to graffiti removal? To get consistent results with your equipment, begin each job with a small test area to make sure the masonry can stand up to sandblasting before you start. Many modern buildings have dyes in their masonry; some are "integrally dyed", while others have only a surface coating which bleaches out easily. Because buildings are often built with a mixture of materials, streaking and discoloration during graffiti removal is always possible. Cleaning a small test area will help you determine what method of graffiti removal will give the best results.
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Do It Yourself Spray Paint Removal
Spray paint removal can be a challenge for the do-it-yourselfer. Depending on the job, pressure washing or sandblast equipment may be needed. Spray paint is made of pigment, a binder that holds it to the surface, and a solvent. The texture of the surface, and the amount of solvent in the paint determines how deep the paint may penetrate the masonry. As the paint dries, the solvent evaporates, and the binder solidifies. How long the paint has been on the building, and how deeply it has soaked into the masonry will determine if sandblasters are needed, or if a pressure washer will be enough for spray paint removal. If the spray paint is fresh and has been hastily applied, you may be able to handle the problem yourself. The graffiti removal process is more complicated if the paint has penetrated deeply, and you may need a professional to help deal with old, stubborn spray paint.
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What Surfaces Are You Cleaning?
If you are starting a graffiti removal business, the surface you are cleaning dictates how to proceed. Concrete brick and simulated stone often look like clay brick and natural stone, but will require different methods of graffiti removal. The key to successful sandblasting is using the portable sandblaster on surfaces durable enough to withstand the work. Concrete brick and simulated stone are simply not tough enough.When you do use the sandblaster, avoid the mortar joints to prevent damage to the structure.
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Important Steps For Sandblaster Graffiti Removal
One of the benefits of using a sandblaster in graffiti removal is that the results are more attractive than repeated paint overs. This can be an important consideration if the building in question is for commercial or public use. For best results, remember three steps. Step one, start with a low pressure and stand a conservative distance from the surface. Always use the least amount of pressure possible to get the job done. Increase pressure in steps, paying close attention to the effect it is having on the surface. This helps complete the job with minimal wear and tear on the building. Step two, avoid patches of inconsistent texture by using the sandblaster on the entire area of the wall, not just the graffiti that is to be removed. Step three, put as much effort into the clean up afterward as you do into the sandblasting itself. Leaving a messy work site is worse than the graffiti itself.
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Prevention Chemicals
Graffiti removal is tough enough without having to go back to the same surface and remove a newly tagged area. You can help make repeated graffiti removal faster by using pressure washer chemicals on the market geared toward making cleanup much easier. Apply the chemical to a high graffiti area with a pressure washer and the cleaner will form a wax-like barrier to prevent the new graffiti from saturating the surface. The next time graffiti shows up, you can simply wash it off with soap and water.
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When to Use a Sandblaster in Graffiti Removal
Knowing which graffiti removal method to use is the first step to a successful clean up. A sandblaster is an essential tool to have, but if used inappropriately it can cause more damage to the building than the graffiti. Sandblasters can remove problem substances such as spray paint quickly and efficiently, but should only be used on pavement, concrete, and solid masonry. The durability of these surfaces makes them ideal for aggressive graffiti removal. Sandblasters are also safe to use on ordinary masonry or wood. Aluminum siding, fiberglass, metal, street signs, stucco, utility boxes, and vinyl siding are better served by using a graffiti removal chemical. For tougher jobs, the chemicals can be used in combination with a pressure washer. Never use a sandblaster or a pressure washer on historic masonry, the risk of damage isn't worth the effort.
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Removing Graffiti
You can find graffiti in virtually every major urban area. Graffiti removal can be an exhausting and time-consuming process. However, using a pressure washer can help clean up the city's walls and streets.
• For metal surfaces, if removal methods like paint thinner and sandpaper aren't effective, try using a pressure washer on low pressure. • You can employ a pressure washer on low pressure on a wood surface, but you must be careful to test an area to make sure you're not damaging the surface or driving the paint into the wood. • For a masonry surface, the best method of graffiti removal is employing a pressure washer on low pressure. Take care to make sure that your nozzle is not on a narrow spray as this may etch the graffiti into the surface.
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Graffiti Removal Technique
If you're using a pressure washer for graffiti removal, it's a good idea to start off with a test area to make sure you're using the appropriate amount of pressure and prevent further damage to the marked surface. Use a wide spray pattern to avoid etching any paint into the wall or area you're cleaning. You have to be especially careful with older masonry surfaces that are prone to crumbling. Make adjustments as you go until you find the right pace and pressure setting to remove the paint.
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Graffiti Removal Precautions
If you've determined that pressure washing is the best way to remove the graffiti from the surface you are cleaning, it's smart to exercise some safety precautions. Check out this list to help ensure further damage to property or injury doesn't result:
• Familiarize yourself with the manufacturer's instructions before operating the pressure washer. • Keep the water pressure less than 500 PSI for delicate masonry. • Set your nozzle angle at 15-50 degrees for optimal graffiti removal. Do not set your nozzle to zero degrees as this can damage wood surfaces and masonry. • Never use a pressure washer on glass as the force may break or damage the surface. • Never aim a pressure washer at another person or animal.
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Battle Graffiti with Baking Soda
One great way to remove graffiti is to sandblast it with a pressure washer and baking soda. This technique can be very effective for graffiti removal if used with a hot water pressure, though cold water can be used as well. There's one word of caution, though. If you're using this technique around landscaping, be sure you have adequate drainage that allows you to avoid the grassy areas or any other plant life. Water runoff containing baking soda changes the pH balance in soil and this can ruin any vegetative growth on top of the soil. Also check your local laws regarding retaining pools to see that toxic materials like lead based paint don't get into storm drains or seep into the ground water.
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Turbo Attachment to the Rescue
Graffiti removal by traditional means like paint thinner is difficult enough. Using a pressure washer can speed up the process and make graffiti removal an efficient process. To move things along even faster, use a turbo attachment to cut away the paint more quickly. Make sure you use this attachment only on durable surfaces like concrete or solid masonry walls.
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It's All About the Angle
When dealing with graffiti removal, it's best to direct the spray of your pressure washer at a steep angle towards the surface you are cleaning. In other words, you must have your spray wand up close to the wall. This helps chip away at the graffiti and remove it in a peeling action. Refrain from spraying the surface straight on, as this may simply imbed the graffiti into the surface.
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