How Does Graffiti Affect The Community?

Monday 8th March 2021

Sophie Rioch

1 commment

Graffiti in alleyway CONTENTS

Graffiti is a controversial and divisive issue, with some viewing it as an art form and others as an act of vandalism. There is no denying that graffiti has a significant impact on the neighbourhoods in which it appears. It can alter the aesthetic of a street, impact the economy, and change the community.

If your property has been the victim of a graffiti attack, you can rely on ICE Cleaning's specialists to provide high-quality graffiti removal services. We are a graffiti removal company that specialises in using non-abrasive solutions and state-of-the-art technology to remove all traces of graffiti, whilst keeping the exterior surface intact.

Read on to learn more about how graffiti can impact the community.

Get A Quote

Continue reading to learn how graffiti affects the community.

How graffiti causes environmental damage

Despite the potential positive messages conveyed through graffiti, its environmental impact remains a cause for concern. The use of aerosol sprays in graffiti emits volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers common organic pollutants. 

Scientific American has noted that these pollutants contribute to ozone levels, further exacerbating environmental issues. Moreover, the cleaning substances used to remove the spray paint are often just as harmful to the environment as graffiti. 

While there is a growing number of eco-friendly products available, many cleaning companies in the UK still rely on the use of harsh, toxic chemicals.

What is the financial impact of graffiti?

Penningtons Manches Cooper reported in 2015 that the estimated cost of graffiti cleaning costs is over £1 billion, with London Underground reporting to spend £12.5 million annually. 

However, the cost of graffiti goes beyond simple removal efforts. In many cases, multiple attempts are required to completely eradicate all traces of paint from affected surfaces, doubling the cost. Additionally, there is the possibility of further damage that may require professional repair if removal is attempted with the incorrect tools.

While it might not be possible to prevent future graffiti attacks, investing in anti-graffiti coatings for your surfaces is a wise investment. The initial cost of anti-graffiti paint will be less costly than the expense of remediation and can protect any surface for several years.

Did you know? Graffiti costs our capital over £100 minllion per year?

How graffiti can be bad for businesses

The threatening appearance of graffiti could cause serious harm to the reputation of many businesses. Graffiti attacks negatively impact all types of companies, especially those that rely on physical storefronts, such as shops, restaurants, and salons. In addition to being expensive to remove, the presence of graffiti can also discourage customers from visiting. 

The sight of graffiti may suggest neglect to potential customers, creating a negative first impression. Once a business' reputation is damaged, it can be hard to rebuild.

An initial dip in sales could quickly escalate into serious cash flow problems due to the loss of customer support and the cost of graffiti removal. Without prompt intervention, the business might eventually dissolve.

How graffiti can hurt the community

One of the most immediate effects of graffiti is its impact on the aesthetic of a neighbourhood. Illegal graffiti is unsightly and remove the natural beauty of the surrounding environment, creating a feeling of neglect. This can result in a sense of concern among residents and discourage potential visitors from exploring the area.

Moreover, graffiti has negative economic effects on a community. It can lead to a decrease in property values, resulting in a loss of revenue for homeowners and local businesses. The costs associated with graffiti removal are also substantial, decreasing the funding for community youth services.

Graffiti can contribute to a sense of corruption in a community, increasing crime rates and further damaging the area's reputation. It may also be used to spread hateful or discriminatory messages, creating a hostile environment for residents and visitors alike.

How to act when you see graffiti

When you spot graffiti on your home or business, the first thing you should do is contact your local council to report the vandalism. However, when it comes to the party responsible for cleaning costs, it will be down to the individual who owns the business or property. 

Public buildings or monuments will have graffiti removal costs covered by the council, but otherwise, it is up to the victim to pay for professional cleaning services. You can report graffiti and vandalism on the GOV.UK website, or contact your local council.

Get in touch

You can count on ICE Cleaning to provide efficient graffiti removal services. Our non-abrasive solutions effectively remove all traces of graffiti from brick and stone surfaces without damaging the surface, guaranteeing a high-quality result. We also offer an anti-graffiti coating paint service, that is applied after the removal. 

To talk to us about our services and our graffiti removal process, contact our friendly customer support team at 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk. Our graffiti removal specialists are on-hand across the UK and can be on-site at your earliest convenience to tackle a graffiti attack. We are available 24/7 across the year, including bank holidays.

Comment

Comments

Elijah Ackhurst

Over a year ago

Thank you for sharing these blogs. Very helpful and informative.

Zoe Dunning

Zoe Dunning

Sales Representative

Add to contacts

Speak with me today,
I’m here to help

By asking you a few questions either via phone or email I can immediately provide a realistic estimation of the cost.

You’re in good company. We’ve cleaned for the following commercial clients… View all

Customer reviews

Our happy customers have rated our service as
4.9 on Google.

View All Reviews

Sue Sullivan

Star Star Star Star Star

6 months ago

Ice did a brilliant job and I would highly recommend them. Reilly in the office booked everything in and was most helpful, and then Harry came and…

Read more

Posted on Google

John Hatswell

Star Star Star Star Star

7 months ago

We had a pressing need to address concerns regarding a clean up of a Trauma site. Ice Services and Zoe were responsive, informative and professional.…

Read more

Posted on Google

Eddie Mack

Star Star Star Star Star

8 months ago

I’ve used ICE Cleaning a few times and the service has been absolutely terrific. Paul Gimenez was incredibly helpful and dealt with everything…

Read more

Posted on Google

Martha Sparkes

Star Star Star Star Star

8 months ago

Power cleaned my external brick walls and look very good. They were punctual, hard working and respectful. I would recommend them with no hesitation.

Read more

Posted on Google

Simon Nicholson

Star Star Star Star Star

8 months ago

Booked ICE Cleaning at short notice to help with the clean-up of our outdoor Event Site in Central London. Whilst they were unable to assist with our…

Read more

Posted on Google

Kim Barnes

Star Star Star Star Star

11 months ago

From start to finish, booking in with Jess in the office to Mark and Lee turning up for app 5-star service from start to finish..Quick turnaround…

Read more

Posted on Google

Mark Treasure

Star Star Star Star Star

11 months ago

We recently used ICE Cleaning to assist with the cleaning of communal areas and flats following a fire in a service riser. I initially spoke with…

Read more

Posted on Google

Martin Haw

Star Star Star Star Star

11 months ago

Very prompt, polite and professional service

Read more

Posted on Google

George C

Star Star Star Star

11 months ago

Very professional and the sales team are very helpful and easy to deal with. The job was carried out quickly and professionally and the site team…

Read more

Posted on Google

Derik Matheus

Star Star Star Star Star

11 months ago

ICE Cleaning is a great company to work with! They have been cleaning our office for two years, and we are thrilled to have them as part of our team.

Read more

Posted on Google

Dannil Sourez

Star Star Star Star Star

11 months ago

ICE Cleaning Solutions is a serious and responsible company that takes pride in their work.

Read more

Posted on Google

Sam Hart

Star Star Star Star Star

11 months ago

Very impressed with ICE cleaning, really efficient and had good service. Dealt with my mould issue in my gym really well and couldn’t be…

Read more

Posted on Google

Luke Stockwell

Star Star Star Star Star

1 year ago

We used ICE Cleaning at BT Sport for a Cage Warriors event in our studios. In previous years this event had caused multiple problems due to the risk…

Read more

Posted on Google

Danielle Baycanli

Star Star Star Star Star

1 year ago

ICE cleaning cleaned the floors and carpets of our school to a very high standard. The team was friendly and efficient and we were very happy with…

Read more

Posted on Google

Emma Bryan

Star Star Star Star Star

1 year ago

ICE cleaning completed a commercial clean for us. They were very professional, prompt, responsive and they event went back the next day to finish…

Read more

Posted on Google

Stuart Goodson

Star Star Star Star Star

1 year ago

Zoe as the first point of contact was extremely helpful and efficient. The decontamination of toxic mercury from my mother’s garage was…

Read more

Posted on Google

Nick Barringer

Star Star Star Star Star

1 year ago

I was dealt with very professionally from first contact through to completion. The people are pleasant and knowledgeable, the work was carried out…

Read more

Posted on Google

Jason Etherington

Star Star Star Star Star

1 year ago

Fantastic service, the technician was very understanding and talked us through the process and was happy to answer any questions. Work was completed…

Read more

Posted on Google

Alison Bailey

Star Star Star Star Star

1 year ago

On calling ICE following a spillage, I first came into contact with Zoe. At all times Zoe was courteous, calm and professional. I asked her to call…

Read more

Posted on Google

Elisabeth Underdown

Star Star Star Star Star

1 year ago

We came back from holiday to see a massive mould problem in 2 of our rooms. We checked around but found this company to be best priced, most…

Read more

Posted on Google
Why choose us

Why choose us?

  • Cater to a wide variety of cleaning situations
  • Nationwide coverage, available 24/7
  • Cater to commercial and domestic clients
  • Free survey provided prior to quotation 
  • Emergency response team
  • Offer a bespoke service designed to suit all your needs 
  • All technicians hold professional health and safety qualifications, including BICSc, IOSH, Dewpoint Professional & Safe Contractor 

We’re fully accredited

We place best practise, professional expertise and health and safety at the core of our business. We’re fully compliant with all legal obligations. You can view a list of our accreditations below, or visit our Health & Safety page for more information.

CSCS
BICSc
IOSH
SafeContractor
Dewpoint® Professional Corporate Membership
IPAF
NACSC
0208 066 0360Open 24/7
Close

We use cookies

If you continue without changing your settings we'll assume you're happy to receive our cookies.
If you'd like to change this just update your browser settings. Find out more.

Okay. I got it.