Sometimes people condone graffiti, describing it as a healthy expression of youthful exuberance, or even celebrating it as “street art”. Would these same people be so tolerant if they found their neighborhoods or homes defaced by graffiti that marked a gang’s territory, or conveyed offensive political messages? The bottom line is that all graffiti is vandalism. Abatement programs and initiatives like the Graffiti Habitual Offender Suppression Team (GHOST) have led to significant improvements in many New York neighborhoods, but the problem has not been completely eliminated; city authorities still spend about $3 million each year on these programs, while homeowners and New York home insurance companies often bear the cost of acts of vandalism to private property.

Graffiti must be removed quickly because, like other forms of vandalism such as littering and property damage, it tends to encourage other antisocial acts. Another good reason for cleaning up graffiti quickly is that fresh graffiti is easier to remove; sunlight tends to bake the marks into the surface. Professional graffiti removal contractors have equipment, materials and techniques to remove graffiti to restore the original appearance of a surface.

<p>A home that has been the target of graffiti is at risk of repeated attacks, and a graffiti removal professional is the best person to ask about anti-graffiti coatings to protect surfaces. Anti-graffiti coatings, combined with New York home insurance to provide financial protection in the event of vandalism, can help to safeguard your finances from vandals! With Schmutter, Strull, Fleisch, Inc., you can get the coverage you need for your home. Contact us today for more information!