Pressure Washing: How to Remove Graffiti

!±8± Pressure Washing: How to Remove Graffiti

Graffiti can be a nightmare, especially if it's on your business building or your home. Soap and water, even applied with some elbow grease, are just no match for removing graffiti. Some people try to repaint the tagged surface. Though this may be a successful approach for some surfaces, it doesn't work for all. For example, painting over a brick surface that is covered in graffiti is just not going to cut it.

This is where the pressure washing option comes in. Sometimes paint can be loosened and lifted off a surface just by using a pressure washer (which can emit water at 300 times the power of a standard garden hose). Graffiti removal may be more challenging for traditional pressure washing, but no worries, graffiti removal service providers use a specially created eco-friendly cleaning agent along with pressure washing to get the job done. It's best if you get in contact with a pressure washing company as they have the technology and cleaning formulas to remove even the most difficult of graffiti cases.

Here is a list of tips on how to remove graffiti using pressure washing:

Choose a high pressure setting. When removing graffiti via pressure washing, you will need to apply a high pressure setting, but don't overdo it as you could wear down the surface you are trying to clean. Pressure washers have adjustable pressure settings, and it is recommended to set it at 3,000 PSI for graffiti removal (this may change due to the paint and surface receiving the cleaning).

Avoid extremely cold or very hot temperatures. If the surrounding temperature is extremely high or low, there is a chance that the paint remover will not work.

Set your pressure washer to a high water flow setting. Pressure washers are commonly equipped with an adjustable water flow setting. Having a high rate of flow (around three to five gallons per minute) is generally best for removing graffiti but, again, don't go overboard. To avoid causing damage, slowly increase the water flow to the desired flow rate until the graffiti marks begin to lift off of the surface.

Consider adding heat and/or steam. Modern pressure washing machines have the capability of delivering heated water (as high as 330 degrees Fahrenheit) which can come in handy when removing graffiti paint, as well as other substances such as grease. Heat and/or steam have been known to soften paint and make it easier to strip. As a pressure washing warning, be careful about going straight to the highest temperature available on the washer; gradually find the right steam or heat that will get rid of the graffiti marking.

Choose the right cleaning agent. Different surfaces will require their own cleaning solutions. There isn't one universal cleaning solution that can be applied to both masonry and wood alike. Do some research and figure out what type of cleaner will be best for the exterior you want to clean. Follow instructions provided by the manufacturer to avoid causing serious damage.

For example, solvent-based cleaners do not mix with water, but alkaline paint removers require the surface to be pre-wetted before cleaning. All of the different requirements can be confusing, so to make sure you don't destroy the surfaces, it may be best to hire a pressure washing company for graffiti removal service.

Start at the bottom and work your way up. Applying all of the elements of your pressure washing machine listed above - pressure, heat, steam, and cleaning agents - you should start from the bottom of the structure and work your way up. This prevents lower surfaces from getting stained.

When it comes to removing tags from the exterior of your business or home, it's best to turn to a graffiti removal service. The graffiti removal service professionals have an advanced understanding of what pressure washing technology to utilize for efficiently removing graffiti from all kinds of surfaces. Instead of stressing out about all the aspects of pressure washing that you may not be familiar with and wasting time and money, consider hiring a pressure washing company that offers a specialized graffiti removal service.