Graffiti prevention and removal
A guide for small businesses
Brisbane City Council delivers a comprehensive program to combat graffiti, working closely with the police, community organisations, businesses and residents. Graffiti is vandalism and it impacts on our community both socially and financially.
Graffiti can make your business and the surrounding area
Graffiti can make your business and the surrounding area appear unsightly and unwelcoming so it is important to send a strong message to vandals that their graffiti will not be tolerated.
Small businesses play an important role in graffiti management and to help, Council provides free graffiti management advice and assistance so that businesses can remove graffiti quickly.
This guide provides prevention strategies, techniques for removing graffiti and reporting information.
By working as a team to clean-up and prevent graffiti, we can strive toward our vision to keep
Brisbane clean and green now and into the future.
To find out more about Council’s commitment to a graffiti-free Brisbane, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/graffiti or call Council on (07) 3403 8888.
Graffiti prevention tips
While graffiti can be a common problem for small businesses, there are ways to help prevent graffiti from occurring on your property.
Make your property visible
· Try to make the view to your property as clear as possible. If vandals can hide behind something while vandalising, they will.
· Ensure external lighting is working in public areas.
· Consider surveillance cameras to watch over high-risk areas.
Control access to your property
· Remove items that may be used to gain access to higher areas, for example bins that may be used to get onto awnings or roof tops.
· Incorporate plants to restrict access to walls, fences and other surfaces.
· Install fixtures such as fencing to restrict access to graffiti-prone areas.
Create clear boundaries
· Make sure it’s clear who owns the property as this makes intruders more easily identified.
· Consider using fences, landscaping, signs, lighting or changes in surfaces to define public, semi public and private spaces.
· Maintain your premises and grounds so that it communicates you are operating a business in the space.
Remove existing graffiti quickly
• Removing graffiti quickly reduces the prestige of graffiti vandals and helps to prevent further occurrences. It is also important to remove graffiti as soon as possible, as the longer it remains the more difficult it is to remove.
Graffiti removal quick reference guide for small business
To help remove graffiti from your property, Brisbane City Council has developed a quick reference guide with the best removal methods for different surfaces. To find out more about Council’s commitment to a graffiti-free Brisbane, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/graffiti or call (07) 3403 8888.
SURFACE
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Painted Brick / Paint over / Or / Apply graffiti remover in small amounts / Rub with a soft cloth or brush / Wash off / When dry repeat steps 2 – 4 until removedUnpainted Brick / Apply graffiti remover / Wait for the product- recommended time / Rub with a stiff brush / Wash off or water blast / When dry repeat steps 1-4 until removed
Colourbond fence / Paint over / Or / Apply graffiti remover in small amounts / Rub with a soft brush / Wash off straight away / When dry repeat steps 2 – 4 until removed
Unpainted wooden fence / Use sander, sand paper or scraper / Or / Apply graffiti remover / Rub with a stiff brush / Wash off or water blast / When dry repeat steps 2 – 4 until removed
Painted wooden fence / Paint over / Or / Apply graffiti remover / Rub with a soft brush / Wash off straight away / When dry repeat steps 2 – 4 until removed
Plastic rubbish bins / Apply graffiti remover / Rub with a stiff brush / Wash off / When dry repeat steps 1-3 until removed
Steel and aluminium / Apply graffiti remover / Rub with a stiff brush / Wash off / When dry repeat steps 1-3 until removed
Glass / Use blade scraper for aerosol paint / Or / Apply graffiti remover / Rub with a soft cloth or brush / Wash off / When dry repeat steps 2 – 4 until removed
Pathways or driveways / Apply graffiti remover / Wait for the product- recommended time / Rub with a stiff brush / Wash off or water blast / When dry repeat steps 1-4 until removed
Tiles / Apply graffiti remover / Rub with a stiff brush or non-scratch scourer / Wash off / When dry repeat steps 1-3 until removed
Signs / Apply graffiti remover in small amounts / Rub with a soft brush / Wash off straight away / When dry repeat steps 1-3 until removed
Vinyl siding / Paint over / Or / Apply graffiti remover in small amounts / Rub with a stiff brush / Wash off straight away / When dry repeat steps 2 – 4 until removed
Graffiti removal from glass
Removal options
• Use graffiti wipes or apply graffiti remover to a cloth and use a circular motion to remove aerosol paint and marker pen.
• Use a blade scraper to remove aerosol paint.
Maintenance
• Apply an anti-graffiti laminate to reduce damage created by etching.
Considerations
• Always test a small area to see if ghosting or shadowing appears after the graffiti has been removed using a chemical remover. You may need to get advice from the product manufacturer on how to reduce ghosting.
• Be aware that some products may be abrasive and can scratch the glass. Always test a small area first.
Graffiti removal from timber
Removal options
• Paint over the graffiti.
• Use a powered sander, sand paper or a sanding block to remove the graffiti.
• Use a chemical remover and high pressure wash.
Maintenance
• Keep paint on hand to paint over further graffiti.
• Consider using plants to create a barrier between the graffiti vandal and the canvas.
Considerations
• When painting over graffiti on a fence, ensure you paint from the top of the paling to the bottom and not just over the tagging to leave a better finish.
• If using high pressure be aware of what is on the other side of the fence.
• Because wood is porous it may take several attempts to remove the graffiti.
Graffiti removal from signage
Removal options
• Use a chemical-based graffiti remover to remove aerosol paint and marker pen.
• Try buffing or polishing buff with a cutting compound similar to car polish.
Maintenance
• Apply an anti-graffiti laminate or protective coating to new signs to make graffiti removal easier.
Considerations
• Some signs might get damaged by chemical remover so be careful when using this method.
• Reflectorised signs may get damaged by chemical remover so check with the chemical product manufacturer before applying.
• Painted signs are sensitive and may be difficult to remove graffiti from.
• Always test a small area to see how effective chemical removal will be.
Graffiti removal from concrete and unpainted bricks
Removal options
• Chemical graffiti remover followed by pressure washing.
• Soda blasting.
• Sand blasting.
• Painting.
Maintenance
• Remove graffiti as soon as possible. The longer it stays on a porous surface the harder it is to remove.
• Soda and sand blasting require specialist equipment; consider getting advice from a professional.
Considerations
• Ghosting or shadowing may occur on porous surfaces and require further attempts or another product. Seek advice on products that may assist.
• Do not let run-off to enter drains or waterways. Capture any paint flakes and dispose of in accordance with government regulations.
• Be aware that several coats of chemical remover may be required, waiting two to three minutes between applications.
• When using high pressure water blasters, angle stream against the surface to minimise splash back and damage to the surface. Work from the top down so the water undercuts the softened graffiti.
• For porous surfaces, heavy-duty remover may be required. Use a scrubbing brush where necessary.
Painting over graffiti
Tips
• Assess the surface and perform any preparations such as removing flaking paint, dust and grime or other unstable substrates.
• Paint out the graffiti in full sections rather than just painting over the letters or tag.
• An undercoat may be required to stop the graffiti showing through.
• Apply paint to dry surfaces only.
• Always match the existing paint colour. In most instances, if you have a sample, your local paint or hardware store will be able to make a close match.
Considerations
• Correct surface preparation is essential for a good finish.
• Consider storing remaining paint in a smaller container to prevent a skin forming over the paint.
• Record the paint colour so a match is possible in the future.
• A base coat may be needed for lighter colours such as yellow or red.
Staying safe when removing graffiti
When you are using chemical products or paints to remove graffiti, it is important to take precautions to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you.
When using paints
• Always wear eye protection and follow the product manufacturer’s instructions.
• Do not allow paint run-off or flakes to enter the stormwater or waterways as this can damage the environment.
• Try to wipe/squeeze excess paint from rollers and brushes back into the paint tin for future use.
• Paint out brushes and rollers onto newspaper and then dispose of with your general rubbish once dry.
• Use two containers to clean your brush. The first one to clean the brush and another to use for a final clean.
• Use newspaper to clean out the remainder from your cleaning buckets and dispose of with your general rubbish once dry.
When using chemicals
• The chemicals in graffiti removal products can be hazardous so be sure to wear protective items such as gloves and safety glasses or goggles.
• Only use chemicals in a well-ventilated area.
• Always follow the directions on the product.
• Keep away from children and animals.
• Do not allow chemical run-off to enter the stormwater or waterways as this can damage the environment.
• Dispose of chemicals safely. Council’s waste transfer stations have chemical disposal facilities.
• Chemicals rely on a reaction with paint. A wall that has been in direct sunlight for a period of time will be easier to remove graffiti from than one that has been in the shade. A better reaction occurs when the surface is warm.
Graffiti vandalism is a crime
If you have information that might lead to the identification of persons involved in graffiti, please call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
• For more information or to report graffiti:
• SMS a photo and location details to
• Council’s Taskforce Against Graffiti on 0429 234 948
• visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/graffiti
• contact Council on (07) 3403 8888.
市政府以繁體中文提供涂鴉管理資訊：
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/chi
市政府以简体中文提供涂鸦管理信息：
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/zho
시의회가 한국어로 그래피티에 관한 정보를 제공합니다.
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/kor
Hội Đồng cung cấp thông tin về graffiti bằng tiếng Việt tại
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/vie
يقدّم المجلس البلدي معلومات بالعربية عن الكتابة على الجدران على
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