Graffiti Removal/Pressure Washers C&


M


Planning an assault on graffiti


Cleans while others are still charging.


www.optimabatteries.com


The British government has estimated that removing graf- fiti from public and private sector premises costs rather more than £1 billion every year, and that the problem is not getting smaller. With such a large market available and a significant range of approaches to removing graf- fiti on offer, it is hardly sur- prising that a great many graffiti removal contractors compete for the business. It is also unsurprising that there are many companies seeking to supply the contractors with a variety of chemical products appropriate to removing vari- ous paints, dyes and inks. The problem is that many of the chemical products that will, for example, remove paint from concrete without a problem will do no good at all to a plastic sign daubed with the same paint. The solution has to be tailored to the surface, or substrate, on which the graffiti appears, as well as to the substance used to create the graffiti. That has caused any contractor dealing with scribbles in black paint on a brick wall one day, and sexually explicit drawings in ink on ABS panels in a bus shelter the next, to have to stock dozens of different solutions, which represents a considerable investment.


Alternative approaches


One of the big problems with graffiti is that, almost as soon as somebody removes the ‘artist’s’ daubs from a wall or building, he or she will be back to deface the same wall or building with further graf- fiti. This is usually somewhat different and often produced using a different ink, paint or dye to the first time. The process of deface, clean and deface again can become what the graffitist sees as a game. The problem is that the constantly repeated removal of graffiti by a con- tractor can be expensive, and not removing the graffiti leaves the premises in an unsightly condition that does nothing for a business’s repu- tation or for the appearance of the neighbourhood. In this situation, many graffiti contractors


recommend installing an anti- graffiti coating. These


September 2010 C&M15


coatings are available in two quite different types, known as sacrificial and non- sacrificial. Sacrificial coatings create a transparent water- soluble barrier on top of the normal finish of the wall or building, so that when graffiti builds up on it, the whole graffiti can simply be hosed off with water and a brush, taking the barrier layer with it. After cleaning, the area then has to have the barrier applied again for further protection.


Non-sacrificial coatings are more expensive but last for years, despite repeated cleaning of graffiti from them. In places badly afflicted with graffiti vandalism, a non-sacrificial coating can be a sound investment.


The newer, quicker way


The latest development, just announced by UK Cleaning Systems based in Lymm, Cheshire, is QR7 Graffiti Remover - a safe and easy-to- use spray-on product that removes all types of graffiti - paints, marker pens, leather dye, crayons, even chewing gum - from just about any surface - wood, metals, all types of stone, concrete and plastics. QR7 solves virtually any graffiti problem in min- utes. You just spray it on, leave it for five minutes and wash it off with water. You don’t need different products for different surfaces or dif- ferent graffiti materials, and removing graffiti becomes either easier for the contrac- tor, and therefore cheaper for the customer, or a straight- forward DIY chore. Take a look at www.ukcleaningsys- tems.com and watch the video showing you exactly how QR7 Graffiti Remover is used.


For a graffiti removal contractor, a cleaning contractor or a facilities


The latest development, just announced by UK Cleaning Systems based in Lymm,


Cheshire, is QR7 Graffiti Remover.


manager, QR7 is claimed to reduce the need to stock a range of different chemicals for different surfaces and for removing different graffiti paints, inks and dyes. This means that far less space is needed for storage and that far less money has to be invested in materials. Exclusive to UK Cleaning Systems, which is currently appointing UK distributors and trade outlets, QR7 is harmless to humans and animals and does not damage the environment. QR7 is non-toxic, non-caustic and pH-neutral, with no fumes and no risk of skin burns. No specialist personal protective equipment is required.


QR7 Graffiti Remover even removes graffiti safely from most spray-painted surfaces, such as railway carriages, buses or freight vehicles, provided the graffiti remover is not left on the painted surface longer than recommended. On any painted surface, a small test area should be cleaned first.


New market for cleaning contractors


This new type of graffiti removal product effectively eliminates the need for expertise, and thereby makes it possible for contract clean- ers to add graffiti removal to their range of services with- out specialised training or detailed understanding of most of the chemistry. The technical mystique of know- ing how to go about getting red paint off a plastic road sign, or magic marker ink off coated aluminium cladding has been a significant deter- rent to contract cleaners undertaking graffiti control, but that need no longer be the case. www.


ukcleaningsystems.com For more information please contact OPTIMA® Batteries on 01895 838999/91, or visit our website at www.optimabatteries.com


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