Cost of Cleaning Building Graffiti

 

Regardless of where your business is located, graffiti is likely going to be a problem at some point. It just takes one person with a can of spray paint to deface your building and stick you with a costly cleaning bill. That eventuality is why many companies choose to outfit their buildings with an anti-graffiti surface film. Although anti-graffiti surface film is cost-effective, it can still be difficult to justify the upfront expense. In order to help you determine whether or not surface film is right for you we have gathered graffiti facts and cleaning costs together to make this comprehensive guide. 

The Nature of Graffiti in the United States

It is a common misconception that graffiti is usually gang-related. Nationally, only about 10% of graffiti is actually the result of gang activity. In fact, it’s far more likely that the neighbor teen down the street was just offloading some angst through unconventional arts and crafts. Statistically, suburban boys between the ages of 13 and 20 are responsible for about 50% of all graffiti in the United States. 

Given their age, we can infer that most of them don’t fully understand the costs associated with the damage to your building. Without a sense of real consequence it feels like a victimless crime to them, while clearly hurting your bottom line unless you have a city government willing to pay for the removal. 

Cost of Cleaning Building Graffiti

On average, graffiti cleanup costs $4 to $7 per square foot. If your facade ever attracts a particularly ambitious teen or requires multiple cleanups each year, the costs can add up quickly. If there is any physical damage to a glass or metal surface, it will cost you substantially more. 

The Case for Anti-Graffiti Film

Custom surface film is one of the most important investments you can make if you need to protect glass or metal surfaces from physical damage. This includes graffiti, etching, and gouging as well as glare and UV rays. While these specialized films decrease your energy bills and reduce fading inside your office, they also serve as a protective layer between your building and the outside world. 

If the surface is vandalized, you simply have to remove the affected sheet of film and replace it with fresh film. This guarantees an immediate return to normal, which research has proven to be the most effective form of prevention when it comes to recurring graffiti. Given that the majority of graffiti is an attempt to gain attention or notoriety, pretending like it never happened means you’re less likely to experience a repeat offense. 

Making the Right Choice for Your Company

Investments can be frightening, especially if you’re unsure of what the return will be. If you are unsure of whether or not custom surface film is the right choice for you, then talk to your local city government. Find out if they have a team devoted to removing graffiti in the area, and have a list of questions ready if they do. You may want to ask some of the following: 

• According to your statistics, how often is a building vandalized in the city?
• Do you offer graffiti clean-up? If so, is it funded by tax dollars or by the individual businesses?
• How long, on average, does it take the city to clean up a reported piece of graffiti?

If:

• You are responsible for clean-up costs
• Graffiti is a common occurrence
• It takes the city more than a few days to organize graffiti clean-up

Then you should seriously consider installing anti-graffiti film on any hard surfaces that allow for it. The last thing you want is to be dependent on a slow-working bureaucracy while you’re losing business due to graffiti. Instead, opt for an easy solution that saves you money in the long-run.