There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding graffiti. For instance: most people think everyone who approaches a wall with a can of spray paint is a disgruntled teenager. In fact, many are in their late 20s and 30s. Another misconception is that all graffiti is “art”. It’s not. While there is no denying the talent of some graffitists, much of it (especially that stuff produced by disgruntled teenagers) is nothing more than vandalism. And there’s also the misconception that once a building, wall, or sidewalk has been “tagged” there’s nothing that can be done. Pressure washing can dispel that myth forever.
Power Washing: The Antidote to Graffiti
As graffiti piled up in cities worldwide during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s a general sense of despair settled over property owners as there did not seem to be any effective way to deal with it. A lot of removal methods were tried with varying degrees of success. For instance, wire brushes were used for a while to try and scrub graffiti from walls, but that method just wound up ruining the concrete or other surface being scrubbed. Chemical solutions were in vogue for a while, but the fumes and toxic runoff caused that method to fall out of favor.
Enter pressure washing.
The idea of using water under pressure to clean things goes back almost a century. But it wasn’t until the 1980s that advances in pump technology made power washing a viable commercial cleaning option. And even then it wasn’t until some time later that someone had the idea of using it to remove graffiti.
Today, power washing is widely recognized as the best, most effective, most low-impact method of removing most graffiti. We say “most” because it’s not recommended for removing graffiti from glass or plastic surfaces. But if you have awakened to find someone has vandalized the side of your home or business your first call should be to Majestic Windows & Exterior Cleaning.
We have the know-how, equipment, and experience to remove graffiti quickly, safely, and affordably without damaging the surface it was painted on. In short order, your home or business will be back to normal.
How it Works
Removing graffiti with pressurized water is not always as simple as pointing the nozzle and pulling the trigger. The technician must first assess the vandalized area and determine what type of surface material is in play (concrete, wood, brick, etc…). Then they must determine whether the graffiti needs to be pre-treated to break down the chemical structure of the paint before washing can begin. They also need to determine the right water temperature to use. Once all those determinations have been made the cleaning can begin.
Time is of the Essence
As a general rule the sooner you call Majestic Windows & Exterior Cleaning after the graffiti has appeared the better. The longer the paint has to set and cure the harder it will be to remove. So the minute you notice someone has tagged your home or business you should pick up the phone and call us.
The Benefits of Pressure Washing Graffiti
Our pressure washing services provide an array of benefits over other forms of graffiti removal, including:
It’s faster: Using high-pressure water to remove graffiti is faster than virtually any other method. After making their initial assessment of the situation our technicians waste no time getting to work and you’ll start to see results almost as soon as the washing process begins.
It’s affordable: Some people choose to simply paint over graffiti. But this is an expensive and temporary fix. On top of the original expense, the surface will eventually need to be repainted ($$$) or the graffiti will begin to emerge again. With power washing it’s one-and-done.
It’s Eco-friendly: There are still those in the graffiti removal business who use chemical solutions only to remove graffiti. This method can quickly create an environmental hazard as run-off is nearly impossible to contain. Power washing on the other hand is much less impactful on the environment.
It prevents loss of property value: Curb appeal can have a huge impact on the value of a property. If a home or business owner chooses to do nothing about graffiti because they want to save a few bucks they need to consider the resulting loss in property value, which will be much more considerable than the cost of having the graffiti removed.
Tools of the Pressure Washer’s Trade
When the pros from Majestic Windows & Exterior Cleaning arrive at your home or business they’re equipped with the latest and best tools of the trade. These include:
Extension wands: The extension wand enables the technician to reach out-of-the-way places that might normally require a tall ladder or scaffolding to reach. Because of this, the extension wand is safer for the technician, reducing the chance of accidents. And because there’s no need to set up ladders or scaffolding, it’s also faster, which also means it helps to keep costs down.
Turbo nozzles: The turbo nozzle – also called the “rotary nozzle” – enables the technician to bring even greater pressure to bear on places where the graffiti is particularly stubborn. Before the invention of turbo nozzles graffiti cleaners would typically resort to painting over hard-to-remove graffiti. Now they’re able to remove it.
Water brooms: A water broom bears some resemblance to a standard commercial broom in that it’s thin and wide. But that’s where the similarities stop. Instead of having bristles across its breadth, the water broom features a number of high-pressure nozzles. It also has small wheels that enable the technician to roll it back and forth across the area to be cleaned. A technician might use a water broom to help remove graffiti on a driveway or walkway.
Telescoping wands: Whereas the extension wand is a fixed length, the length of the telescoping wand is adjustable. If there is graffiti in several hard-to-reach places the technician may opt to use the telescoping wand rather than an extension wand.
Expert Pressure Washing Services in Dix Hills
If your Dix Hills home or business has been tagged with graffiti it’s important that you call Majestic Window & Exterior Cleaning before the paint has a chance to set up. We’ll get someone out to your location ASAP and get straight to work restoring the appearance of your building.
Don’t forget we also offer expert window washing, deck cleaning, and other services that will help keep your property always looking its best. So don’t delay. If graffiti has you down, call 631-421-2295 and let the experts from Majestic resolve the problem in a fast, effective, and affordable manner.