GUARD AGAINST GRAFFITI

A complicated case is currently underway in the West of England, with a Bristol boys’ club trying to claim ownership of a mural by the famous graffiti artist “Banksy” that was placed on a wall outside the club gates. The artwork, valued at over £1,000,000 has been taken to Bristol museum for safe keeping whilst ownership of the piece is settled. 

With artwork from the mysterious Banksy becoming increasingly valuable, this is a rare case of graffiti being desirable. In virtually all other cases it is an unwelcome and potentially costly act of vandalism. An application of specialist anti-graffiti film from The Window Film Company can help.

Retail outlets rely on their shop-fronts to attract customers with advertising or branding, or simply by providing a welcoming view inside. These expanses of glass can be a prime target for graffiti, with spray paint, permanent markers acid etching and scouring all being used to leave unsightly markings on glass. Anti-graffiti film provides a virtually invisible layer of protection.

In the event of spray paint or pen being used, the coating of the film makes graffiti a much easier process, with most ink removed using nothing stronger than household cleaning products.  This negates the need for lengthy clean-up operations that can be both costly and time consuming, potentially causing unwanted disruption.

In the event of acid, scouring or etching being used, the film serves as a sacrificial barrier, protecting the glass underneath from damage. In these instances the film is simply removed and replaced, with the glass remaining undamaged underneath. This means that if these aggressive graffiti techniques are employed, there is no need for expensive glass replacement– just the film, allowing normal business to be resumed quickly and efficiently.

The Flight Centre in Leeds were quick to see the benefits of anti-graffiti film and had it installed by one of The Window Film Company’s teams of expert installers in April. The film was fitted to 8 large panes of glass, which once installed provided instant and virtually undetectable graffiti mitigation.

Glass can also be a target for intruders and vandals, with windows seen as a potential weak point for unlawful entry or target for criminal damage. The Window Film Company also offers a range of security films, that will hold the glass together in the frame in the event of breakage, as well as making glass more resistant to breakage. Safety Film is available in a range of grades, thicknesses and finishes, and The Flight Centre took this opportunity to have a clear safety film applied to the internal surface of the glass.

The finished result was protection against graffiti along with increased security, all achieved without altering the appearance of the glass and with the minimum of disruption to the daily operations of a busy retail outlet.

For more information on anti-graffiti film and the safety and security options that The Window Film Company can provide, please contact a member of the team on 01494 794477 .