In the state of Louisiana, graffiti falls under the category of unlawful property destruction. If you can track down the vandal, you might be able to win money to cover the damages done to your property.

In the meantime, however, the graffiti on your company’s exterior walls could be ruining your business’s appearance. The problem lies in the fact that graffiti can be very difficult to remove.

Here is a quick guide on how you can try to remove graffiti from the exterior walls of your company. 

Should You Use Chemical Paint Thinners to Remove Graffiti?

Almost all commonly used building materials are porous. This includes cement, brick, grout, and wood. 
When spray paint is applied to porous materials, it seeps into the cracks and pores. This makes it very difficult to remove, and you may find that a good old fashioned soapy sponge won’t do the trick.

You might be tempted to use chemical paint thinners, which will effectively remove the paint from most of these materials. The problem is that the chemicals used in paint thinner will seep into your building’s walls, too. This can cause wear and structural weakness, which could end up costing you quite a bit of money down the road. 

It should also be noted that on certain porous materials, such as brick, paint removers may not get all of the paint off, to begin with. Instead, it will smudge the paint around, pushing it deeper into the cracks and crevices of the brickwork. 

How to Remove Graffiti Without Causing Structural Damage

If you need to remove graffiti, but don’t want to take the risk of causing unnecessary structural damage, consider using a power washer.
A power washer set to around 3000psi should do the trick. However, you will want to avoid using a power washer with a thin nozzle that produces an extremely concentrated stream. This pinpointed pressure can actually etch certain surfaces, and you may end up leaving behind an outline of the graffiti. 

As you power wash, work your way from the outside of the graffiti to the middle. That way, any backsplash will not lead to a spread of paint to previously clean surfaces. 
If you notice any remaining residue, apply a cleaning solution with a base of acetone or baking soda. As long as you don’t scrub it with a rough pad into the exterior of your building, it should not cause any wear.
 
To ensure that you are getting the proper power washing treatment, consider hiring professionals who are experienced with graffiti removal. 

Professional Graffiti Removal

Learning how to remove graffiti from exterior walls isn’t difficult but executing proper removal techniques is!
If you’re in East Louisiana and have discovered a graffiti issue on your company’s exterior walls, consider hiring Ethan’s Roof & Exterior Washing.

We have great customer reviews and a #1 ranking on Google and Facebook.
To start, request a free quote. Let us know where you live and what services you need, and we’ll let you know how much it will cost before you sign any paperwork.