Important to note: these details and problems are specific to painted surfaces like murals or painted sculpture. Removal of graffiti from untreated stone, concrete and other building materials is a different discussion.

This information was requested as follow up to the discussion on protecting murals located at https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/murals/varnishing-a-mural-antigraffiti-measures-protecting-public-art/

These details are highlighted because their use results in problems that create variable speeds of removal, safety for the mural = costs). In other words, The following variables complicate giving a standardized per sq. ft price for removal of graffiti.

Types of paint used for graffiti

A quick visit to a seller of canned spray paint will immediately make evident that the paints are of varying types: enamel (and other high heat qualities), epoxy, acrylic, vinyl, latex, oil based, alkyd, lacquer, rust preventative paints, other plastics, urethanes… and more. Qualities of spray paint for vandals are voted on for popularity and published: http://leakestreetarches.london/ten-topgraffiti-spray-brands/ Graffiti writers are fiercely loyal to Rustoleum. “Rusto” is legendary as the thickest and most durable of all spray paints. According to the taggers, there’s nothing that’ll last like it.

Other types of paint and ways of applying it

Any kind of paint is also often applied with portable spray devices like “supersoakers” or “extinguishers” which enable covering vast square footage at the entire height of a 3 story industrial building. CalTrans in Los Angeles dealt with a vandal who got access to the yellow paint used for lines on roadways (extremely hard and resistant) and hit buildings and murals with paint that was extremely damaging and expensive to remove. With the right equipment and close proximity access, a vandal can shoot any kind of paint onto public art at a height reaching 30 ft.  One of the problems with  this type of chaos is that the  paint is applied in very thick layers. So, difficulty of removal and access for clean up compound the problems. This complicates giving a standardized per sq. ft price for removal.

The “mathematical equation” or recipe for removal of graffiti from murals takes the following into consideration:

1. It is important to realize that the various qualities of paint redissolve (can be cleaned off) at different rates or with varying degrees of difficulty. So a square foot price for removal may not be possible.
2. The thicker the paint is applied, the more effort (more solvent, more force) is required to remove it. This also complicates giving a standardized per sq. ft price for removal.
3. Does removal of graffiti require special equipment, special access, special permits, protecting the public from toxic materials… or? These factors complicate giving a standardized per sq. ft price for removal.
4. These reasons relate to unprotected murals

Other factors that determine the speed and success of removal without damage to a mural

1. More thickly painted murals are more resistant to damage. Thinly painted murals are damaged more easily.
2. Multiple layers of graffiti compound the problems of removal (speed and avoidance of damage to the mural… or leaving behind residual spray paint on the mural) and increases the price.
3. Is the mural protected by a hard varnish (protective clear coat). Is it applied thickly or thinly?
4. Is the protective varnish’s strategy supposed to be “sacrificial” or an impenetrable barrier? These two types of varnish are different qualities of materials. 

Maintenance is the key. As we all know from experience that quick action discourages further chaos. The key to a maintenance program working is to be organized having good coordination of interested parties. Given the best of conditions and favorable circumstances here are some guidelines for unprotected murals: Small graffiti initials/name applied over an unprotected mural can usually be removed for several hundred dollars, based on the amount of time it takes. A tag that is more thickly applied and bigger, maybe a few hundred more dollars. An enormous, repainting-type of graffiti can still be removed for maybe $3,500- $5,000. But multiple layers of graffiti compound the problems of removal and increases the price (speed and avoidance of damage to the mural… or leaving behind residual spray paint on the mural).

Is it worth having public art if its just going to be damaged?

Consider other nice things (personal, at home, at work, in community) you appreciate. They often require maintenance/upkeep over a continued basis.

Removal of Giant Graffiti

on Blue Moon Trilogy

(in front to the Hollywood Bowl)

week of October 27, 2024

It appears that during the night of  Sunday, Oct 27th, a massive defacement of Blue Moon Trilogy in the Oldin Underpass in front of the Hollywood Bowl covered the entire bottom 1/3 and the entire width of the mural (7′ x 186′). Hearts sank and shed a tear or two from the neighborhood that keeps an eye on this treasured public art and all concerned with its health.

But, true to form for the vigilant neighborhoods in the vicinity, the vandalism was reported immediately to all concerned (yes, there is a standing plan of response)… including the contractor for powerwashing. He put it on his immediate schedule and the entire wall was clean of this monster tag and within 3 days it was off!!! As we all know from experience that quick action discourages further chaos.

Here are the factors that contributed to this successful, quick, minimally expensive public art maintenance effort.

1. Pride of ownership! People care about the appearance of their city!
2. The city believed me about the level of protection needed and allowed me to properly protect the artwork against this type of vandalism. The mural was protected with 4 good applications of MuralGuard (not just the single coating that the manufacturer’s website suggests).
3. FACL (Scott Haskins) has had several discussions with the powerwashing company (especially after the first job when they damaged the protective coating with improper techniques). So they are properly educated. Since then, they have been exemplary at being careful and talented when removing graffiti from public art (which is different that blasting off graffiti from cement walls). I believe that the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs has a standing contract with the powerwashing company, so they can act at a moment’s notice.
4. Even though the powerwashing company is reliable, Scott Haskins follows up to determine if the graffiti removal was satisfactory and to see if the protective coating/varnish/MuralGuard was damaged. If damage to the protective coating happened to take place, then the coating can be repaired without major complications with bureaucracy.

The  technician that actually did the removal of the graffiti from Blue Moon Trilogy,  said “the coating is still strong and the graffiti came off with virtually no problem.” You’ll remember that we applied 4-5 layers of MuralGuard on the lower 1/3 of the mural. Of course there were areas of graffiti where there were multiple layers of paint that the taggers had sprayed on so those areas took some more time, ie took more effort.

The tag, from the photos, I estimated at about 7′ tall and covered the entire 185 ft width of the mural!  It took the technician about 3 hours to do the complete removal!!! The hardness and characteristics of MuralGuard made this possible… which I have never seen this good with other coatings. This was an amazing clean up job because of the protective coating.

The tech said that he thought some of the bottom part of the mural’s paint/coating is coming loose from the wall from what he believes to be water leaching out from the underlying concrete, creating “bubbles” under the paint/coating, at the lower portions.  This is a problem with the wall, probably… not the protective coating… and this is not something the powerwashing company knows how to fix. I’ll be in the area on this Sunday so, I will go by and take a look, probably in the afternoon. Ongoing awareness and maintenance!!!

Have any questions? Feel free to call me on my mobile 805 570 4140

Here is the MuralGuard webpage

MuralGuard IsoFree® Technology two-component, high-performance, zero-VOC, odorless, water-based, aliphatic polyurethane varnish. MuralGuard provides long term excellent protection against weather conditions, UV exposure, corrosion, and vandalism, as this example point out. Additionally, this product has good chemical acid resistance, excellent water resistance, abrasion resistance and is environmentally safe. It remains colorless and clear with no measurable changes with scientific equipment in over 20 years of aging tests. Should MuralGuard need to be removed, it has proven to be reversible in qualified solvent systems that will not harm many types of paints utilized in painting murals.

The ease of removability of graffiti depends, also on the quality of the paint utilized by the vandals. There are about 8 different types of paint, some of them quite difficult to dissolve or remove easily. If you let the graffiti get layered one on top of another, the more multi-layers there are, the more difficult it is to remove.

Here is the MuralGuard webpage

Other questions and opinions public art administrators 

have requested from Scott M. Haskins

Varnishing a Mural – Antigraffiti Measures- Protecting Public Art Testimonial https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/murals/varnishing-a-mural-antigraffiti-measures-protecting-public-art/

Other blog posts by Scott M. Haskins regarding graffiti: https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/?s=graffiti

Example of proposal for mural maintenance services by FACL, Inc. for communities  https://www.FineArtConservationLab.com/graffiti_removal_from_mural_proposal

Scott M. Haskins

805 570 4140 mobile

https://www.FineArtConservationLab.com/mural/

https://www.FineArtConservationLab.com/consultations/