The value of anti-graffiti coatings

Graffiti can be an eyesore for both commercial and residential property owners, and it can impact a community in many ways.

First, it can make people wary of living or working in that area, as people may see graffiti as a sign of higher potential for crime or other disruptive behavior. Communities with a regular occurrence of graffiti generally have lower property values and struggle to attract new businesses to the area.

Second, it carries a monetary cost for property owners and residents in terms of cleanup. Professional graffiti cleanup can cost anywhere from $1 to $3.50 per square foot, which means cities and property owners spend millions of dollars each year to clean up graffiti and keep their communities looking their best.

While anti-graffiti coatings can’t prevent graffiti from happening, they can greatly reduce the cost by making cleanup a quicker, easier process. There are two primary types of anti-graffiti coatings: permanent coatings and sacrificial coatings.

Permanent coatings

Permanent coatings provide a long-term solution with a one-time coating. It creates a barrier that prevents graffiti from adhering to the surface, which means removal is as simple as wiping down the surface.

For structures that are difficult to access for cleaning, such as water towers and billboards, permanent coatings are a great investment. They’re also a great option for building owners who don’t want to pay for multiple applications of sacrificial coatings.

Sacrificial coatings

As suggested by the name, sacrificial coatings are removed along with the graffiti paint during cleanup. When graffiti occurs, washing the surface with a high-pressure washer removes the graffiti and the coating.

Once cleaned, the sacrificial coating can be reapplied to the surface for easy cleanup if graffiti occurs again. Sacrificial coatings are more commonly used for surfaces with easy access from the ground, such as bridges and some building exteriors.