Graffiti Removal

GRAFFITI REMOVAL: basic technical advice from English Heritage after damage by vandals to historic buildings and monuments

1. Graffiti media include paints applied by brushes or aerosols; dyes; felt-tip markers; ball-point pens; wax crayons and lipsticks; chalks; adhesive labels and posters; and the physical scratching of surfaces. They are visually disfiguring and may cause physical damage to historic surfaces of masonry, particularly where such surfaces are quite porous.
2. It is not generally appreciated that historic surfaces are sensitive to damage from many graffiti removal processes, especially where the graffiti penetrate the pores and crevices of absorbent surfaces to deep levels. It may not be possible to remove all ghost staining of a graffiti attack, even with repeated cleaning treatments, without excessive damage to the original fabric. This is especially so for historic buildings and monuments where the original masonry may be quite fragile.
3. Chemical removers (of solvent, chelating or alkaline types) applied in poultices, packs or gels, then neutralised and rinsed away, form the most common approach to graffiti cleaning and removal. Air-abrasive and pressure-washing systems are also employed, as now are laser cleaning systems. Cleaning with chemicals or water can drive graffiti stains further into the masonry, making removal impossible. Chemicals can cause their own staining, or damage adjacent materials such as decorative metalwork. Systems utilising medium- to high-pressure washing can also abrade, etch and badly erode fragile historic surfaces. Operator skill and sensitivity are essential for a careful clean.
4. Graffiti attack is usually localised and removal will often result in random alteration of the appearance of an historic building or monument through selective reduction of surface patination e.g soiling or lichen growth. The correct selection of removal method may help to minimise such patchy effects.
5. Specialist expertise is required to:
         - recognise the sensitivities of the historic masonry
         - identify the graffiti media involved
         - undertake speedy, discreet trials of cleaning methods and make informed judgements as to their impact and
           effectiveness, and to put into effect as quickly as possible appropriate, effective, benign cleaning regimes
6. Cleaning systems have public and operator health and safety implications and so must be supervised and carried out by qualified specialist contractors.
7. Local planning authorities and their conservation officers are generally sympathetic to the plight of owners whose historic properties have suffered the ravages of graffiti attacks. Normally, all works that materially affect the special interest (character, appearance and physical well-being) of listed buildings and scheduled ancient monuments should receive the benefit of statutory consent and obtaining that can be a time-consuming process.
8. Conservation officers remain concerned because of the risks of exacerbated damage through the employment of unsuitable or inappropriate cleaning methods. But they also understand that the best approach is to clean the graffiti away as quickly as possible before the media cross-link or chemically combine with pollution on the masonry, and so as not to encourage further attacks in close proximity. Early consultation with them is essential as they may also be able to recommend specialist consultants and contractors in the area.
9. The application of graffiti barrier treatments is rarely recommended for historic buildings and monuments as English Heritage's research has shown that the long-term risks associated with their periodic removal and replacement may outweigh their benefits.
10. Deterrents to graffiti vandalism include improvements to area lighting, the employment of closed-circuit television cameras and the installation of physical barriers such as shrubbery or decorative fencing. The general improvement of the local environment and the rapid response of management also discourage such vandalism.

SOURCES OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Graffiti removal and management

Free publication from English Heritage

English Heritage, 1999 Graffiti on historic buildings and monuments: methods of removal and prevention.
Technical Advisory Note. London, English Heritage.
Available free from English Heritage Customer Services, Product Code XH20101
Telephone: 01793 414910
Fax: 01793 414926
e-mail: customers@english-heritage.org.uk

Other publications

Historic Scotland, 1999 The Treatment of Graffiti on Historic Surfaces,
TAN 18, Edinburgh, Historic Scotland.
Price £14.50 + £2.50 post and packing from Historic Scotland Publications Department
Post: Longmore House, Salisbury Place. Edinburgh. EH9 1SH.
Telephone: 0131 668 8638
Fax: 0131 668 8669
e-mail: hs.conservation.bureau@scotland.gov.uk

Maurice Whitford, 1992 Getting Rid of Graffiti: a practical guide to graffiti removal and anti-graffiti protection
London, E&FN Spon

General Masonry Cleaning

Ashurst N, 1994 Cleaning Historic Buildings (2 vols.).
London, Donhead.

British Standards Institution, 2000 Code of Practice for the Cleaning and Surface Repair of Buildings.
BS 8221:2000 London, BSI

Cooper M, 1998 Laser Cleaning in Conservation: an Introduction.
Oxford, Butterworth Architecture

Webster, R.G.M, 1992 Stone Cleaning and the Nature, Soiling, and Decay Mechanisms of Stone.
Proceedings of the International Conference, Edinburgh, 14 – 16 April 1992.
Wimbledon, Donhead

ORGANISATIONS

National Graffiti & Vandalism Association
22 Hadyn Park Road
London
W12 9AG

Stone Federation of Great Britain
Construction House
56-64 Leonard Street
LONDON
EC2A 4JX
Tel 020 7608 5094
Fax 020 7608 5081
http://www.stone-federationgb.org.uk

The United Kingdom Institute for Conservation (UKIC)
109, The Chandlery
150, Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7QY
Tel: 020 7721 8721
Fax: 020 7721 8722
http://www.ukic.org.uk

Brick Development Association (BDA)
Woodside House
Winkfield
Windsor
Berkshire
SL4 2DX
Tel 01344 885651
Fax 01344 890129
http://www.brick.org.uk

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
37, Spital Square
London E1 6DY
Tel: 020 7377 1644
Fax: 020 7247 5296
http://www.spab.org.uk