How To Remove Graffiti From Brick

• Why you must have graffiti removed from bricks
  • It devalues property
  • It creates a negative impression
  • There is a risk of repeat attacks
• How to remove paint graffiti from brick wall
• How to prevent graffiti
• Contact us today

If graffiti appears on your business’ property, it can put off customers visiting your business, damage your brickwork, and attract more crime. Unfortunately, removing it from bricks is very difficult.

Here at ICE Cleaning, we are a graffiti cleaning company that offers fast and effective graffiti removal services. We have a 100% success rate on all surfaces including brick, stone, and concrete, and our non-toxic solutions won’t ruin the surface or surrounding areas.

Read on to find out how to clean graffiti from your brickwork.

Why you must have graffiti removed from bricks

It devalues property

Although in some instances graffiti is seen as artistic expression, more often than not vandalism makes communities look unattractive and feel unsafe.

It also usually contains offensive content or is used to mark territories, fuelling gang-related violence and other criminal activities. As a result, locals may move to safer areas. The local economy may be affected, too, as people are less likely to use amenities, such as shops and parks.  

It creates a negative impression

If there happens to be offensive or unsightly graffiti on your property, it can be upsetting to customers and clients who are visiting your workplace.

It may suggest you don’t care much for your brand image, either, and might deter them from spending on your goods and services. You can find out more about the impact of graffiti on business in this blog.

There is a risk of repeat attacks

Evidence suggests existing graffiti usually encourages more vandalism. Removing it quickly before more is added is essential.

How to remove paint graffiti from a brick wall

You must not attempt graffiti cleaning yourself. Not only is it very difficult to clean paint off of bricks without specialist knowledge and equipment, you could end up damaging the masonry.

Brick is porous so paint can sink into the grooves. This means you cannot scrape it off like other surfaces, and caustic chemical solutions could damage or discolour bricks. Should you use the wrong techniques and solutions, and you could make it worse:

• Shadows: the wrong solution can cause a dark shadow to appear around the paint, making it more visible. This is especially a problem on stone walls.
• Edging: corrosive chemicals could leave behind a rough surface and burn-like stains. The paint may be gone, but it could make it more unattractive.
• Pressure washing damage: this might seem the obvious solution, but it can cause holes in the bricks.

The most popular solution is using a chemical paint stripper. Application may be a time-consuming, manual process that may need to be repeated depending on how much paint there is and how long it sat there.

Only professional cleaners should attempt graffiti removal. They have the knowledge of which chemicals and techniques to use for each surface and type of paint, and can restore the brickwork to how it was before.

Paint strippers tend to contain harmful chemicals, like methylene chloride, too. Without personal protective equipment and training in handling these chemicals, you could be at risk of cancer, heart and liver problems, and skin and eye irritation.

You also might need to work at height depending on where the graffiti is, putting you in danger of falls. Most cleaners will be qualified to work at height, like ICE Cleaning’s technicians, so they can safely reach and remove all the paint.

Contact professional cleaners when you spot any on your property. They will already have all the specialist products, equipment, and training to clean off all the graffiti quickly.

How to prevent graffiti

• Add extra lighting to the outside of your building: graffiti artists usually work at night and prefer dark areas. You can put them off quite easily by making sure any walls and vulnerable areas are well lit.
• Consider an anti-graffiti coating: our technicians can create a barrier on the surface of your brickwork that makes it easy to remove it in the future.
• Block access to the walls: bushes and shrubs make it hard for graffiti artists to reach the walls. Thorny or vine plants are especially effective at deterring vandals and should help improve the aesthetic of your business, as well.
• Have a mural painted on the building: multi-coloured designs and patterns can discourage graffiti as it is harder to tag.

Contact us today

Our technicians can remove all traces of the graffiti with our safe cleaning products and, if required, apply an anti-graffiti coating to protect your property. They are available nationwide, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can be on site in a matter of hours in an emergency.

Get in touch with our friendly team on 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk to find out more about our graffiti removal services.