Unless you are a part of the small subculture that produces graffiti (not to be confused with decorative street art), in all likelihood, you look at graffiti removal as one of the necessary services provided by your municipality or region. If you were to look at what cities throughout the world are doing when it comes to graffiti, you will see that not only the megapolises such as Paris or New York or London, but also much smaller cities and towns spend millions each and every year on graffiti removal so as to allow for the beautification of their streets to continue in the right direction. The approaches to graffiti vary, from quick patch paint jobs, which are rarely satisfactory or visually appealing, to the use of chemicals and sandblasting rooms and equipment. What are the pros and cons of the approaches?

Why painting over graffiti doesn’t work

One of the fastest and deceptively easiest ways to combat graffiti is taking a bucket of paint and putting that paint over what many would call “visual pollution”. However, as easy as that sounds, it is hardly the way to go, as too many factors make this approach fruitless and not altogether helpful. Perhaps the most important one of these is finding the same shade of the same color and making the patch blend in with the rest of the wall or building. Besides, painting over something doesn’t necessarily mean it would not stand out through the paint at a later date. Sandblasting rooms cleans off the offensive visual element permanently, and it is this approach that is more decisive and long term.

How do sandblasting rooms work?

Sandblasting rooms operate through the use of sophisticated and yet reasonably priced technology that combines the application of compressed air with that of sand and other materials in order to removal the top layer from a surface. In addition to graffiti removal, sandblasting rooms can be used for the removal of rust, surface imperfections and other undesirable elements on buildings and in equipment. While in the past the process was not always carried out in keeping with the best practices in regards to people’s health and safety, as well as the protection of the environment, today larger professional sandblasting service providers can guarantee a high level of performance without endangering the workers’ and general public’s health or nature. Sandblasting rooms is the direction in which major municipalities have gone for their graffiti removal needs in recent years - how about you? Which method would you use to protect your streets from visual pollution?