Whether you live in the city in a renovated loft or in the leafy suburbs, everyone with a wall is at risk of getting hit by a graffiti artist.
Hopefully you will never wake up to find a cartoon-style signature—sometimes called a “tagged”—painted in the middle of your garage door. It’s upsetting. To most homeowners, it’s an unwanted aggression.
Granted, you could use a company specialized in this type of work, but why not attempt to do it by yourself? There are many cleaning products on the market sold by specialized retailers. Here are some tips if you want to take the DIY approach.
All spray paint isn’t created equal
What kind of spray paint did the artist/vandal use? That’s the first question that needs to be answered. Some spray paints are water based and others oil based. Street artists, as they are sometimes referred to, often use low‑priced paints which have the unintended advantage of being consequently easier to remove. If the artist used a marking pen, with permanent ink, the graffiti will be almost impossible to remove and you should consider repainting the whole garage door yourself.
What type of paint is underneath?
If your garage door was manufactured with a baked‑on paint (perhaps polyester based), it is a bit more resistant. If your garage door was repainted in a paint shop, ask them what type of paint they used and how it was applied. If, on the other hand, you painted it yourself a few years ago, try to remember what type of paint you used. Tip: look in the shed for the old can of paint!
The age of your door is another factor. Even if the exterior skin of your garage door has a baked‑on paint, it won’t last forever. Baked‑on paint isn’t immune to weather, time and Mother Nature. Its shine and resistance lessens as the door ages.
Don’t panic
Before you pull out the big guns and blast the graffiti with the most toxic cleaner you can find, start more gently with liquid (not powder) cleaning products you already have around the house. Make a test on a small area of the graffiti and see how it works. Don’t resort to steel wool, a wire brush or any similar nylon scouring pad just yet.
If the spray paint doesn’t come up with liquid soap, then try something stronger—cleaning cleaning products with abrasive agents, often powdered.
Now, the heavy guns
So, up to this point, if you haven’t been satisfied with the results, it’s time for a stronger product. At a paint dealer you should be able to buy a paint remover that takes between 25 and 30 minutes to work. It’s the same kind of professional product that many public works departments use to remove graffiti left on city signs. This type of product is also used by companies who specialize in removing graffiti.
In all of these cases, you run the considerable risk of damaging the base coat of paint on your garage door. That means the possibility of repainting your entire door.
And if repainting your garage door seems the best solution?
If your garage door is getting old and a makeover would contribute y to the overall appeal of your home, consider repainting your garage door—therefore eliminating the need to remove the graffiti? Just like any paint job, prep is key: start by cleaning of the door to get rid of any grease or dust, then apply a primer.
If your door is from Garaga or is a door with a similar surface, then refer to our website for the instructions you’ll need to repaint it.
In the event you decide to do this, take advantage of this opportunity to coordinate your garage door with your front door. Go to the websites of major paint manufacturers because most of them have a visualizer tool for exterior paints. Select from the home models that are suggested, try out different combinations and find the colors that are to your liking.
A rule of thumb for garage doors – if you have a double door, for example 16' x 7', use a lighter color, and is you have one or two single doors, often 9' x 7', you can use darker colors. You don’t have to choose the same color for your front door and garage door… quite the contrary. Your front door can be much flashier and reflect your artistic flair.
Does my home insurance cover this type of vandalism?
The best way to know for sure is to contact your insurance company. Take a look at your insurance policy and well as the deductible that is shown. If it is high, it may be that it isn’t worth submitting in a claim, especially if your garage door is very old.
Have you considered just changing your garage door?
This could be the nudge you’ve needed to change your garage door, so why not do it right away? If you live near Mount Pearl, NL, contact us now at 709-368-7222.
We can provide you with a no‑obligation quotations by email.
Use our Design Centre to pick out the style of door that suits you to a T. Searching for ideas? Then take a look at our image gallery for inspiration.
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