CM Dec'09 64+4pp 14/12/09 16:16 Page 38
Graffiti, Gum & Grime Removal
Make your mark on graffiti
Australia is still a land of discovery as Steve Poole of Graffiti Removal explains. He
travelled there a few years ago to source a graffiti removal system that was gentle,
effective and simple
quantities of water. Originating from Australia where
water conservation is essential, the system has inbuilt
‘green’ credentials.
With graffiti removal no longer causing damage, it
means a ‘clean all’ approach can be used with confidence
instead of just cleaning publicly owned buildings. This is
crucial in the fight against graffiti crime. Graffiti offenders
do not distinguish between privately or publicly owned
property. Leaving a single piece of graffiti sends the
message that graffiti will be tolerated and will quickly
attract more graffiti.
The second key point is the importance of removing
graffiti as quickly as possible. The faster graffiti is removed
the less likely it is to reappear. Once an area has been
cleaned it must be regularly checked and re-cleaned as
necessary. Swansea City Council have found that
approximately 80% of graffiti cleaned has not reappeared
for six months after using these specialist solutions.
“Our removal rate prior to the Graffiti Removal system
raffiti is applied in hundreds of different guises – spray cans,
G
marker pens, leather dyes – the list goes on ad infinitum.
Offenders add different inks and dyes to their marker pens
including acetone to make the dye burn into the substrate they are
working on. Add to this the myriad of surfaces graffiti is being
applied to and the problem multiplies exponentially.
Traditionally graffiti has been tackled by using inappropriate
products, high pressure and in many cases, damaging abrasives such
as sodium bicarbonate and sand. Manufacturers have created
systems with over 15 products making graffiti removal complicated,
slow and often ineffective.
Graffiti Removal manufactures products originating from Australia.
John Rose from Adelaide had spent 20 years perfecting a system
which was quick, safe and non damaging. Following a phone call one
January evening in 2003, Steve Poole, MD of Graffiti Removal, landed
in Adelaide a week later to meet Rose.
“From our discussions over a week it was quite clear John was
either mad or brilliant. In actual fact he was both,” says Poole. was, say, 350 tags per month,” says Richard Allen of Cambridge City
Descriptions of removing graffiti with hose pipes and claims that Council.“After we took on GR, our rate went up to 1,500 and
graffiti would ‘disappear in front of your eyes’ were difficult to believe Cambridge is now a clean city. We do a good job and we have the
for seasoned graffiti remover Poole. However, all was revealed when best chemicals to do it with.”
the plane touched down in Adelaide.
Training is essential
Fantastic four Graffiti Removal is now a specialist trade – removing the wide range
The system is made up of only four mainstream products; Spray Can of graffiti materials from such a myriad of surfaces is a real skill and
Paint Remover, Heritage Graffiti Remover, Sensitive Surface Graffiti proper training is required. Nationally accredited courses are run to
Remover and Trace and Ghost which is designed to remove the cover all aspects of removal and explain the health and safety aspects
burnt-in marker pens from porous and non porous surfaces. arising removing graffiti; often in public areas.
Having only four products makes the system easy to teach, As the graffiti vandals create new dyes and become more
eliminating the hit and miss nature of removing graffiti. The graffiti is daring in their exploits, the graffiti removers have to become
divided into three blocks with an appropriate removal methodology quicker and more effective. With decreasing budgets, the
for each block incorporating the four products. challenge is to make the whole removal process efficient.
The system is not only quick and very effective, it does not require removing all damage to property
42818 or cleaning-matters.co.uk/enquiry
the use of damaging abrasives, high pressure jet washers and huge and the environment.
Tel: 01256 883029
38
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68