Anti-Graffiti Coatings are Essential for Protecting Public Art

Drive through just about any town in America, and you’re likely to spot graffiti on the sides of buildings, railcars, retaining walls, bridges and the like. While it can be considered an artistic medium or a form of artistic expression, it can also be quite a nuisance depending on what is written or where something was tagged. Cities are frequently trying to combat and clean these tags, but thankfully there is a line of anti-graffiti coatings on the market to help with the challenge.

Osiris Rain is no stranger to the struggle of unwanted graffiti tags. He is an artist, educator and muralist based out of Charlotte, N.C., and has been working in public art for the last two decades. His work can be seen throughout North America, Europe and Asia in areas like railroad bridges, abandoned buildings and city centers. These types of locations also happen to be places where you’re likely to see graffiti, and often time, a lot of it. His high-visibility locations are often treated with anti-graffiti coatings to deter vandalism and make cleanup easier.

“I’m drawn to big walls, bold color, layered textures, and making things that people feel a connection to – whether that’s local residents, abstract patterns, or references to neighborhood history,” Rain says. “I’m always thinking about longevity. When a mural’s out in the open, it’s not just about making it look good. It’s about making sure it lasts.”

And, for muralists like Rain, the use of graffiti resistant materials can help ensure that his public art maintains its impact over time.

The Cost of Public Art and the Role of Protection

Rain says he’s had his murals hit by tags – sometimes just hours after completion.

“I understand that’s part of painting in public space and part of the culture of street art, but it can be tough when a mural carries deeper meaning for the people around it,” he says.

Now he has begun to use anti-graffiti coatings like VandlGuard to help protect his art. These anti-graffiti coatings have become an essential tool for artists who work in exposed urban spaces.

VandlGuard is a lineup of graffiti protection products offered by RainGuardPro. Originally launched in 2001, the VandlGuard series now includes twelve different products, all aimed at protecting against graffiti or cleaning graffiti.

“Over time we’ve basically made every graffiti protection product that’s chemically possible,” says Garrett Florent, Architectural and Technical Manager at RainGuard.

Understanding the VandlGuard Product Line

VandlGuard comes in different chemical variations – including polymers, polyurethanes, silicones and one-part or two-part formulas. While they all work basically the same, often times architectural specs can dictate which specific product is chosen. Beyond that, Florent explains that anti-graffiti coatings come in two basic categories: sacrificial and non-sacrificial. Which type you choose will likely depend on the location of what you’re trying to protect.

“Sacrificial has a low cost, and is kind of an entry level coating for those who don’t think they’ll get tagged but want to apply something just in case,” says Florent. If the surface does get tagged, it would need to have the anti-graffiti coating reapplied after cleaning. However, some building owners opt for anti-graffiti coating as a preventative measure, even if the risk of vandalism is perceived as low.

Non-Sacrificial Solutions for Long-Term Protection

For surfaces in higher-traffic areas, many opt for the non-sacrificial category.

“You can remove graffiti repeatedly, and your protection will remain on the surface,” Florent says. “It’s more durable and often more cost-effective long-term.”

Depending on which formula you select, VandlGuard is easily installed with an airless sprayer or brush and roller. Their ease of application is a big selling point for Rain.

“What I appreciate about VandlGuard products is that they’re pretty straightforward. It goes on easily whether I’m using an airless or paint roller. At the end of the day, I’m not trying to overthink this layer of protection. These products have done that without being overly technical or fussy.”

Invisible, Yet Effective – A Muralist’s Perspective

Rain also noted that the VandlGuard products produce a matte finish. This is perfect because it doesn’t alter any of the colors on his art.

“It just kind of disappears,” he says, “which is exactly what I want.”

For artists, using this type of anti-graffiti coating doesn’t interfere with color or finish and is crucial for preserving artistic integrity.

In addition to its graffiti protection, VandlGuard offers a few other benefits. The coating’s durability helps prevent scratches, and also offers UV protection. This means that murals like Rain’s won’t quickly fade from the sun.

Florent noted that while there are other anti-graffiti coatings on the market, VandlGuard comes with a warranty and is the most robust line-up of products.

“We’re more of a one-stop shop,” he says.

Dealing with the Inevitable: When Tags Still Happen

Inevitably though, despite whatever type of anti-graffiti coating is applied, eventually a graffiti artist is likely to come along and tag a mural or wall. As part of their graffiti protection line up, RainGuardPro offers VandlClean to help remove and clean any unwanted graffiti.

“VandlClean is approved for all of our graffiti coatings and for most, it’s the only cleaner we would reliably recommend. Many off the shelf cleaners are either too weak and don’t loosen the graffiti. Others are too strong and destroy the coating itself,” Florent says. Therefore, combining a quality anti-graffiti coating with a compatible cleaning solution is the best way to manage recurring vandalism.

“Adding a product line like VandlGuard isn’t going to make your mural invincible. It does, however, give you a fighting chance to respond without destroying the original work,” Rain added. “That’s a big deal, especially when a mural is someone’s story on the wall.”

For Rain, he says he now includes an anti-graffiti coating on nearly all of his projects. These coatings are now becoming a standard layer in public art projects.

“Since using products like VandlGuard, I’ve noticed a real difference,” Rain says. “It’s not the flashiest part of the project, but it’s probably one of the smartest long-term moves you can make. This is true especially if your work is about building something lasting in a community space.”

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