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Authorities generally agree that to reduce the chance of a wall becoming the target of repeated attacks by graffiti
vandals, it is essential that any evidence of graffiti be eliminated immediately ... within a few hours, if possible.
There are basically two approaches to reducing the graffiti problem:
(A) "Clean, Clean, Clean!", or (B) "Paint, Paint, Paint!".
(A) The "Clean, Clean, Clean!" Approach Clean (i. e., remove) all evidence of graffiti immediately by cleaning the surface. Since graffiti can be caused by many materials, including spray paint, indelible ink or
felt tip markers, wax crayons, even greasy lipstick, a number of different cleaning materials must be employed to clean all the different kinds of graffiti materials off the wall surface, and some of these may be very
strong cleaning chemicals or solvents. Depending on the original finish on the wall surface, these cleaning chemicals may well remove not only the graffiti, but also the original wall finish as well. Once
the original wall finish is removed, this could cause additional problems if the wall surface were ever attacked by graffiti vandals again. (B)
The "Paint, Paint, Paint!" Approach This requires covering over the graffiti markings by painting over the entire wall surface so the
graffiti is hidden by the new coat of paint. Sometimes this works quite well, but other times it may not. For example, paint won't stick to greasy or waxy substances, so if the graffiti markings are caused
by waxy crayons or greasy lipstick, a coat of paint will not stick and therefore will not cover the graffiti. Furthermore, some cheap, poor quality paints will not hide or cover the dark and/or vivid colors used
by graffiti vandals, so more than one coat of paint may be necessary. Eventually what could happen is that you paint over succeeding layers of graffiti so often that too many layers of paint are built up on the
wall, and the paint may eventually start to peel off the wall, leaving you with yet another unsightly wall surface.No matter which approach, (A) or (B), you take to combat a graffiti problem, SOMAY
can help you .
(A)
The "Clean, Clean, Clean!" Approach
If you are using the "Clean, Clean, Clean!" Approach, then SOMAY can provide you a surface coating system that will
make it somewhat easier to clean graffiti off the wall surface. This approach is appropriate when the wall surface is
very smooth, i.e. as smooth as a mica table top surface. Note: If the surface is very rough, the "Clean, Clean, Clean!" Approach will not
work very satisfactorily, since it would be practically impossible to clean a very rough surface.
SOMAY can offer a choice of two (2) surface coating systems that will make it easier to clean graffiti off a smooth wall surface, including:
System 1 -
Use very high-performance coatings, including a 2-component cycloaliphatic amine epoxy primer, top-coated with a 2-component acrylic, aliphatic poly-urethane finish coat. When fully cured, this will provide a
surface finish with excellent weatherability, excellent gloss and color retention, excellent abrasion resistance,
excellent flexibility, and very good resistance to many acids, alkalis and cleaning solvents. This system is relatively
expensive, about 43¢ to 56¢ per square foot for materials when purchased wholesale at the SOMAY PAINT
FACTORY, plus the cost for preparing the surface and applying the two (2) coats of paint. These are very high-tech
products, which should be used only by professionals who are comfortable working with 2-component coating systems. SOMAY represents manufacturers of these coating systems, for example:
Primer –
SOMAY/Carboline Product No. 890, "Carboguard", 2-component Epoxy (240 sq. ft./gal @ 5 mils DFT), "Safety White" (Approx. $62.99/gal. = $0.25 per sq. ft.)
Color Finish -
SOMAY/Carboline Product No. 134HG, "Carbothane" 2-component Aliphatic Acrylic/Urethane, "White" (other
colors available at extra cost), (560 sq. ft./gal. @ 2 mils DFT), 2 coats recommended (Approx. $99.99/gal. = $0.18 per sq.ft.) Clear Finish -
Carbothane "CLEAR COAT" - High Gloss (Approx. $94.99/gal. = $0.19 per sq. ft.) - or -
Carbothane "CLEAR COAT" - Satin Sheen (Approx. $107.99/gal. = $0.23 per sq. ft.)
Note: Proper surface preparation, coatings application and coating curing is required for the successful use of this
system. Once cured, practically any graffiti can be cleaned off this coating surface, without significant damage to the
coating surface. However, this coating system cannot be applied over any water-thinned acrylic or vinyl-acrylic latex paint without a special tie-coat, such as SOMAY/Carboline "Rustbond".
System 2 - Use a much less expensive, much more user-friendly, VOC compliant, water-thinned and water clean-up
system of 100% acrylic latex products, including a pigmented first coat, which can be tinted at SOMAY to whatever
color may be desired, and a "clear", 100% acrylic latex finish coat. Once cured, many graffiti markings can be
removed relatively easily from the clear finish coat with detergents or, if necessary, stronger solvents. If necessary,
a solvent as strong as xylene can be used to clean off the graffiti; and if the clear coat surface is partially or
completely removed, another coat of clear finish may be applied to protect the surface from future graffiti attacks.
This system is relatively easy for a "Do-It-Yourselfer" to apply, since it uses water-borne, 100% acrylic latex products
that have no offensive fumes, etc. And the system is relatively inexpensive, only about 17¢ per square foot for
materials purchased wholesale at the SOMAY PAINT FACTORY, plus the cost for preparing the surface and applying the two (2) coats, one of paint and one of finish coat.
This coating system includes two SOMAY manufactured products.
First Coat – SOMAY "Premium" 100% Acrylic Latex, Heavy-Duty, Industrial Strength Semi-Gloss Enamel,
SOMAY Product No. 630 - White (other colors available at extra cost) (306 sq.ft./gal. @ 2 mils DFT) (Approx. $21.99/gal. = $0.07 per sq.ft.) Top Coat
- 100% Acrylic Latex "PST" ("Primer, Sealer, Topcoat"), Product No. 777 - Clear (150 to 200 sq.ft./gal. @ 2 mils DFT. Coverage depends on the porosity and smoothness of the surface).(Approx.
$16.99/gal. = $0.10 per sq.ft.)
(B)
The "Paint, Paint, Paint!" Approach
If your approach to battling graffiti is to immediately paint over any graffiti to blot-out the problem, SOMAY either
manufactures or distributes for other manufacturers, practically every conceivable kind of paint or coating. We will be
pleased to serve you by supplying whatever kind of paint you choose to use, starting from the least expensive vinyl
latex paints (approx. $10.99/gal. = approx. 5¢ per sq. ft.), when purchased "Cash & Carry" at the SOMAY PAINT FACTORY, plus cost of surface preparation and paint application.
SP-109-P-2010 April, 2010
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