You did it. You finally invested in a permanent building for your business. These premises mark a new beginning, the start of something special. You walk out the front door of the building to admire its curb appeal. But what’s that unsightly mark around the corner of the building, stretching around the entire left side? Graffiti. This has unfortunately become a common issue that many property owners encounter, making quality anti-graffiti coatings an important investment.
Understanding the Graffiti Issue
The graffiti problem is a broad and complex issue that goes beyond the financial cost of property damage. Many Australian cities have vast urban landscapes that provide a canvas for graffiti vandals who often target the commercial buildings and public spaces of inner-city areas. The pervasive nature of graffiti affects not only the visual appeal of our environment but also has significant social implications, often fostering a sense of neglect and contributing to a decrease in perceived property values.
A common problem in all major cities today, it is nearly impossible to determine the amount of damage that graffiti inflicts on residential and commercial buildings each year. However, information found within federal, state and local sources places conservative estimates at around $1.5 billion annually, nationwide.
The major source of graffiti is widely believed to be gangs and younger people in their teens and early twenties, and this problem is gradually being tackled with a range of preventive measures. While these measures may prove to be effective in the long term, property owners require fast solutions to these problems beyond future prevention. When these acts of vandalism occur, fast graffiti removal solutions are required, because graffiti comes with a social price tag.
Graffiti can harm the public’s impression of commercial and residential properties, and this can result in the loss of business income and private property owners’ reputations. For these reasons, finding a solution to graffiti is a community concern. Thankfully, there is an effective solution.
Sacrificial and Non-sacrificial Anti-Graffiti Coatings
Sacrificial and non-sacrificial anti-graffiti coatings are both effective ways to fight back against graffiti. Each solution has a range of advantages and disadvantages, and knowing the differences between the two will help property owners choose the solution that best meets their needs.
Sacrificial anti-graffiti coating – when applied to surfaces, sacrificial anti-graffiti coatings are nearly unnoticeable. Offering non-permanent protection against graffiti, this is a highly cost-effective means of protection. Once the graffiti has been removed, a new layer of coating must be applied to the surface. However, the drawback of this application is that it doesn’t act as a preventative measure as it can only be used to remove graffiti, and it must be applied each time a new section of graffiti is created. Because of its limited use, this type of anti-graffiti coating is best applied to buildings and structures that rarely suffer from vandalism.
Non sacrificial anti-graffiti coating – once this highly effective protective coating has been applied, an attractive glossy appearance is left on surfaces, making it possible to remove graffiti easily, even hundreds of times. Although more expensive, it offers a permanent solution to these problems, potentially reducing the graffiti removal costs in the long run. Non sacrificial anti-graffiti coating is the ideal solution for areas that are frequently attacked by vandalism.
Understanding The Differences
In essence, non-sacrificial anti-graffiti coatings offer a permanent solution to the problem of graffiti, while sacrificial coatings offer more temporary protection and require reapplication after graffiti removal. For property owners that do not regularly incur graffiti-related damages, sacrificial ant-graffiti coatings may be more appropriate. However, for property owners looking for highly effective coatings that can withstand multiple graffiti incidents without losing their functionality, non-sacrificial anti-graffiti coatings are more appropriate.
One of the advantages of non-sacrificial coatings is their attractive gloss appearance, which is left on surfaces after application. This enhances the aesthetic appeal of the protected area and makes it easier to remove graffiti, even after multiple instances. Non-sacrificial coatings can reduce the cost of graffiti removal costs in the long run, as the protective layer remains intact without the need for extensive repainting or repairs.
These protective coatings are particularly suitable for areas that are frequently targeted by vandalism. They are applied to a wide range of surfaces, including metal, plastic, concrete, brick, and stone. This versatility makes them ideal for protecting different surfaces commonly found in urban environments.
Which Surfaces Are Best Suited To Anti-Graffiti Coatings?
Sacrificial and non-sacrificial anti-graffiti coatings can protect many types of public and private property, including:
- Any painted surfaces: Protect painted walls, facades, and other surfaces from graffiti damage.
- Plastic and metal structures: Maintaining the clean visual appeal of structures such as street furniture, utility boxes, and outdoor equipment.
- Playground equipment: Preserving the appearance and safety of play structures in public parks and recreational areas.
- Any type of signage: Preventing graffiti from defacing signs and maintaining their visibility and legibility.
- Public areas/benches and tables: Preserve the cleanliness and appeal of public spaces by protecting benches, tables, and other communal furniture.
- Heritage buildings and council properties: Safeguarding historical structures and properties owned by local councils from graffiti damage.
- Homes and commercial buildings: Offering long-term protection for residential and commercial properties, ensuring their visual appeal and maintaining property values.
- Fencing: Protecting fences and boundary walls from graffiti vandalism, maintaining their appearance and structural integrity.
Protect Your Property With Effective Anti-Graffiti Coatings Today
If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of non-sacrificial anti-graffiti coatings, you can contact All District Coating, the premier provider of commercial and domestic painting services in Sydney. Our friendly team can provide further information to help you select the right anti-graffiti coating for your specific needs. Invest in your property and your reputation today with quality anti-graffiti coatings.