Graffiti Towers Cleanup Begins
Crews have started cleaning the notorious graffiti towers. The new owners ... Read More
Skateparks can be some of the most challenging public spaces to keep graffiti-free. Spray paint, paint markers and permanent inks can penetrate porous concrete, while older skateparks may have years of overlapping tags and paint layers covering bowls, ramps, walls and surrounding pavement.
The good news is that even heavily vandalized skateparks can be restored to their original concrete without grinding, sandblasting or painting over the graffiti making it safer for skaters and park users.
The key is identifying the surface and type of graffiti, choosing the right remover, allowing enough dwell time, and letting the graffiti remover do most of the work before pressure washing.
Not every surface in a skatepark should be treated the same way.
Surfaces in and around the skate park include cast and polished concrete, CMU cinder block, asphalt parking lots, painted or coated surfaces, metal rails, signs and other sensitive materials.
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Removing Spray Paint and Graffiti from Bare Concrete
For typical spray-paint graffiti on bare concrete, we recommend World's Best Bare Brick, Stone & Masonry Graffiti Remover (BBSM).
Apply the remover generously to the graffiti rather than simply misting the surface.
For typical graffiti:
- Apply the first flood coat of BBSM.
- Allow approximately 3 minutes of dwell time.
- Apply a second flood coat.
- Wait approximately another 3 minutes.
- Apply a third flood coat.
- Allow the remover a few additional minutes to work before pressure washing.
During the dwell period, the remover penetrates the pores of the concrete and begins breaking the graffiti down.
Rinse thoroughly with a pressure washer.
At Mosqueda BMX & Skateboarding Park in Fresno, California, a city abatement crew tackled approximately 40,000 square feet of older, sun-baked graffiti. World's Best products have also been used on skatepark cleanups in Venice and Chula Vista, California, as well as skateparks internationally.
Whenever possible, work systematically across the park rather than attempting to pressure wash the graffiti away immediately. Dwell time makes ALL the difference and will significantly reduce the amount of water and pressure required to complete the removal.
Don't Try to Blast the Graffiti Off
Let the graffiti remover do the work first. A pressure washer should primarily be used to rinse away graffiti that has already been dissolved /softened by the appropriate remover.
Excessive pressure can etch concrete, expose aggregate and leave permanent cleaning marks. This is especially important on skatepark bowls and riding surfaces, where preserving the original surface and texture is part of the restoration.
Remember our Golden Rule. "IF ITS NOT COMING OFF EASY YOURE DOING IT WRONG". Click here for important tips and tricks on removal of shadows.
Removing Old or Layered Graffiti
Skateparks that have gone extended periods without cleaning may contain multiple layers of spray paint, latex or acrylic paint. These areas can require additional applications and longer dwell times.
Start with a test area using Bare Brick Stone & Masonry Remover. Longer dwell times and multiple applications may be necessary as successive layers of graffiti are broken down. Brooming the product onto the graffiti and agitating between coats will allow the remover to fully penetrate and dissolve the graffiti from behind as well as the front.
For thick or heavily layered paint or when graffiti was previously painted over with latex or acrylic paints use, Transgel Paint & Graffiti Remover to soften and swell the paint rather than dissolve it all with Bare Brick Remover.. Apply Transgel thickly and leave it on as long as possible before rinsing. A HOT water pressure washer will make a huge difference.
Removing Floor Mural from Skatepark with Adam from AR Property Services and Transgel Paint Remover.
When working on a heavily graffitied skatepark, divide the area into manageable sections rather than trying to treat the entire park at once. Begin with representative test areas containing different types of graffiti and determine which remover, dwell time and pressure washing technique works best before moving on to larger areas.
Flood coat graffiti thoroughly and allow it to work in the background between coats. Remember as long as the product is wet, its working and your pressure washer is always the last thing started. Most graffiti will be easy to remove so don't sweat the small stuff! Any remaining graffiti shadows an be treated using the techniques described above.
Removing Paint Markers, Permanent Marker & Graffiti Shadows
Skateparks frequently contain Paint pens, permanent markers, inks and dyes that penetrate deeply into porous concrete and may leave behind staining or a visible shadow even after the bulk of the graffiti has been removed.
Start by removing as much as possible using Bare Brick, Stone & Masonry Graffiti Remover (BBSM) . For stubborn inks and dyes, apply Feltpen Fadeout to the remaining stain. Feltpen Fadeout is particularly useful for permanent marker, ink and dye staining, as well as shadowing left behind by some spray paints, especially reds.
Allow the product time tfade away the remaining stain before rinsing. Depending on how deeply the pigment has penetrated the concrete, additional treatment may be necessary.
Stubborn Black or Blue Spray Paint Traces
On some concrete skatepark surfaces, particularly silt-coated walls and bowls, black or blue spray paint can leave stubborn traces after the main graffiti has been removed. A diluted muriatic solution ( ~ 6 parts water to 1 part muriatic acid) will remove the shadow. Brush or broom on, agitate and gun off. Repeat as needed. At this dilution it is harmless on the concrete but always test first and follow the supplied safety and handling instructions.
Avoid trying to remove a stubborn shadow simply by increasing pressure. Aggressive pressure washing or using zero tip sizes or turbo nozzles can permanently etch the concrete.
Removing Graffiti from Asphalt
Many skateparks have asphalt paths, parking areas or riding surfaces surrounding the primary concrete structures.
Asphalt requires more caution than concrete. Always perform a test on a small, inconspicuous area before treating a larger surface.
Typical spray-painted graffiti on older asphalt can often be treated with Bare Brick, Stone & Masonry Graffiti Remover (BBSM) using multiple applications followed by pressure washing.
However, newer blacktop contains bituminous oils that can be affected by extended chemical dwell times, so use shorter dwell times and closely monitor the test area.
For heavier, older or more built-up paint, Transgel Paint & Graffiti Remover may be a better choice. Its thick consistency allows it to remain wetter for longer and it is PH nuetral and typically non reactive to asphalt surfaces.
Vanish Graffiti & Paint Remover can also be useful for smaller areas and detailed cleanup after the bulk of the paint has been removed with TRANSGEL. For large areas of heavy paint, or line stripe removals Transgel is generally the most practical choice.
As with concrete, avoid relying on excessive pressure to force the paint off. Allow the appropriate remover to soften the paint first, then use pressure washing to complete the removal. Transgel wil stay wet for many hours or overnight. If it dries out, you can rehydrate it with water or wet it down thoroughly with another one of our removers before gunning off with a pressure washer.
Removing Graffiti from Signs & Sensitive Surfaces
Skateparks also include surfaces such as street signs, painted or coated walls, metal rails, powder coated light poles, park fixtures and other finished surfaces
For graffiti on these surfaces, we recommend using Sensitive Surface Graffiti Remover.
Apply the remover to a small test area first to confirm compatibility with the underlying finish. Allow it time to dissolve and suspend the graffiti, before wiping it away with a damp toweling rag or rinse off with your pressurte washer.
See detailed advice on cleaning street signs.
See detailed advice on cleaning coated surfaces.
Protect the Skatepark After Cleaning
A major graffiti cleanup is also an opportunity to make the next cleanup easier!
Once bare concrete has been restored, consider applying a protective treatment to areas that are repeatedly targeted.
For concrete ramps and bowls and horizontal skating surfaces, 4G Surface Guard: Floors can help reduce the ongoing burden of graffiti removal while maintaining the appearance of the concrete.
For municipalities and park operators dealing with recurring vandalism, protection can turn a major restoration project into a much simpler maintenance program.
