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As professional graffiti removal specialists, we’ve seen first-hand the detrimental effect that graffiti vandalism can cause. Not just on a personal level, but in terms of the financial and reputational impact on a business - the hidden costs that make this type of anti-social behaviour so much worse than just meets the eye.
Your building - be it a modern skyscraper, a purpose-built factory or a tiny Victorian terrace - is the window to your business. You probably spend thousands on keeping it looking inviting, clean and professional, to attract the best employees and encourage loyal customers through your doors. Nothing can be so heart-breaking and frustrating, therefore, as finding it defaced with illegal graffiti. Discovering ugly tags, carelessly sprayed or scratched across your walls, can be devastating for you and your business.
Discussion persists around whether graffiti is art or vandalism (which we explored in a previous blog), but the fact remains: while 85% of big city street art is commissioned by property owners, illegal graffiti victims do not choose for their surfaces to be defiled. What’s more, ONS data shows that it is considered a public concern by 11 per cent of survey respondents. It takes just 15-30 minutes for aerosol paint to dry, meaning that most tags appear nothing more than quick, unnecessary, deliberate damage. The impact on the victims, however, can be long-lasting.
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The financial and reputational impact of graffiti
Removal of graffiti, though incidences are reportedly declining, still costs British local councils a six-figure sum each year. Little wonder that some (usually difficult to reach) public areas remain defaced for extended periods of time. Councils in London, where there is the greatest amount of graffiti crime, spent £100m on tackling it in 2022 alone and the rail industry annually forks out £20m to clean trains, stations and tracksides. It’s an expensive problem.
For private businesses, the financial impact of the physical vandalism itself can vary on the size, surface, method used (paint, stickers, scratching, etc) and whether additional reparation is required. If graffiti vandalism is an occurring issue, then costs will inevitably mount up. To avoid further damage and expense, graffiti removal should always be undertaken by experienced specialists who use the appropriate vandalism cleaning techniques.
However, it’s not simply the cost of removal that business owners need to consider, it’s also the reputational dent that this anti-social behaviour brings about. Would you choose to go in, for example, a café where the exterior was defaced with tags? Public perception of graffiti-defaced buildings is not surprisingly poor, and the resultant loss of earnings due to the unattractive appearance of a building can be significant.
In some cases, illegal graffiti can also encourage further crime, as communities can lose their sense of pride in a defaced area or building. Tragically, this additional disorder can transform a whole area into one to be avoided, lack of custom presenting local businesses sometimes with no choice but to close. It has serious implications for property values, too. There are so many ways in which victims suffer financially. That’s why it’s crucial to arrange emergency graffiti removal before passers-by see and form the wrong idea about your business.
As commercial graffiti removal specialists, we’ve tackled our fair share of vandalism and we fully appreciate the effect it can have. Thankfully, there are many steps you can take to deter / prevent graffiti tagging.
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Dealing with vandalism: our top tips for anti-graffiti protection
Graffiti: we’ve seen - and cleaned - it all. Here are our recommendations for keeping your buildings and businesses protected:
1) Consider sacrificial coatings: the most common ‘canvas’ is a brick wall - 67% of all graffiti is painted on one. If you do operate in a vulnerable area and/or have inviting brick walls, then it’s a good idea to apply a protective, sacrificial coating to reduce the damage that graffiti can cause to a surface. A sacrificial coating is a near-invisible barrier coating that can be pressure-cleaned if graffiti occurs, making the vandalism easier to remove, then is reapplied for further protection.
2) Remove graffiti quickly: the longer it’s there, the more damage it can do to surfaces and to your reputation. From a personal perspective, fast graffiti removal also enables you to regain some control and reduces the feeling of being victimised. We’re available 24/7, 365 days a year for emergency call-outs.
3) Preventative landscaping: vandals want a blank canvas, so if your wall is covered in plants, vines, trellis, anti-graffiti mesh, etc, it shouldn’t be targeted. No time to wait for shrubs to grow? Buy artificial ones. Who thought preventing graffiti could be so creative?
4) Install security cameras and lights: admittedly, prolific graffitists seem to think they are invincible, unidentifiable and unarrestable, but cameras and lights, plus relevant warning signs, should act as a deterrent for most and can help to keep your property safe.
5) Always report the crime: Without fail, report any instances of graffiti vandalism to the police, as it will help them to address this anti-social behaviour and possibly lead to an arrest. In some cases, the perpetrator can be forced to pay compensation to those impacted, so you could receive some financial reparation.
The humble aerosol spray paint can has a lot to answer for. It might only cost a few pounds to buy in the shops (if not swiped), but its misuse has huge financial and reputational ramifications for those whose properties are defaced - far-further reaching than just removal costs. There’s no thought for the people who live, work or run businesses from the affected buildings. No consideration of the impact tagging may cause.
If you’ve been affected by graffiti crime or are concerned about your buildings, then talk to us. We can advise on removal and preventative measures which are right for your environment, to give peace of mind and the reassurance that should the unthinkable happen, we’ll be there to help. Give us a call on 01283 550503 for an expert and empathetic chat about your challenges.
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