For a homeowner, graffiti can be a pain to deal with; if murals are for embellishing, one may say that graffiti are for defacing. Staring at a beautiful building whose surfaces are marred by garish doodles, derogatory epithets, expletives, or other vulgarities is quite unpleasant. Thankfully, with powerful pressurized water, one can kiss all that graffiti goodbye. But how does that all work?

Apply

As with most pressure washes, graffiti removal can be an extremely satisfying thing to spectate. But before spraying all that H₂O on the painted surface, remember to apply some chemical when appropriate. Although sheer water may somewhat attack the doodles, some product can help soften the particularly hardened layer of paint. Different surfaces require different chemicals, so take care to examine whether the graffiti is on a smooth surface like masonry. Ruining the surface further would be a travesty.

Spray

Using only water (with no addition of chemical supplement) is beneficial to the graffitied surface in that it minimizes the wear and tear on the surface. One intuitive strategy is to keep the pressure washer nozzle at a steep angle; blasting the water straight on can make the graffiti sink deeper into the surface. (Yikes!) As far as water goes, hot water is more effective than cold water, since raised temperature can make the painted surface expand and break up the graffiti material. Do be careful with the pressure; a pressure of 2000-35000 PSI may suit concrete surfaces, but walls made up of materials like stucco or wood are more fragile!

Draw

Graffiti removal is a little bit like reverse graffiti in that it is a craft that relies on how well a person can trace the curves and shapes that form the graffiti. (After all, graffiti means “scribblings” in Italian.) Being surgical and patient is crucial to success. Mastering the use of high-pressure tips and the rest of the pressure washer too enhances the job very much. But even if you end up mastering neither, don’t panic; professionals can help.

Conclusion

The tools of vandalism may keep coming, but thankfully, pressure washers continue to prove to be a formidable threat to them. Know that you don’t have to go through graffiti removal alone. The team at Hydra Pressure Washing LLC is out to help. Simply contact us!