“We primarily deal with
graffiti by power washing the surface or by
media blasting, using walnut shells or
crushed glass as the blasting media,” says
Mike Haydeman, owner-operator of Canadian
Restorations.
The company may have ongoing
contracts with a construction project —
cleaning off hoarding and fencing once or
twice a month for example, with most of the
work being performed early in the morning,
prior to heavy traffic and the start of the
construction work day.
“We get in and out as quickly
as possible, particularly when we’re
performing a media blasting operation,” says
Haydeman.
The largest component of
construction work for the company is the
post-construction cleanup of concrete and
brick surfaces prior to the hand-over of the
final project to the owner.
“We’re usually there with a
3600 psi jet of hot water, which is
preferable, or with a chemical detergent if
necessary,” says Haydeman. “If we find a
particularly difficult surface — some sort
of porous brick — we may have to clean it
several times, but each time the graffiti
dulls a little bit.”
Posters, stickers and
handbills are simply blown off walls and
hoarding by a high pressure water spray in a
clean sweep operation.
“We also help to protect
buildings by coating surfaces with a
graffiti barrier, a clear sealer that makes
it difficult for the graffiti to adhere to
concrete surfaces,” he says.
The company recently helped
to graffiti-proof a newly-constructed
climbing wall at a Toronto park and will be
working to clean and protect the newest
downtown Toronto Ronald McDonald House on
McCaul Street prior to project hand-over.
Graffiti is typically applied
with cans of spray paint, but
graffitologists have added new ammunition to
their arsenals.
“Lately, we’ve seen a lot of
action with indelible marker,” says Haydeman.
“They’ve realized that the marker is easier
to hide when they approach the surface and a
lot more difficult to get off–particularly
when they use the big, fat tips up to half
an inch wide. They can leave a pretty good
signature with that.”
However, even the indelible
marker speaks more of delay than defeat. A
special solution is placed on the surface,
and allowed to dissolve the ink. A few
minutes later, the message is washed downed
the drain.
