Graffiti Removal in Denver, CO
Wash on Wheels has been serving the Denver Metro with reliable, timely graffiti removal services since 1985. We're experienced in removing graffiti for both residential and commercial properties without damaging the wall or surface. Whether the tag is on brick, stucco, metal, or glass, we're equipped to handle it.
Since 1985
BBB A+
PWNA Member
CAI Member
Quality Guaranteed
Fully Insured
Professional Graffiti Removal Services Done Right and Done On Time
When done correctly, graffiti removal is a low-pressure job. The skill lies in choosing the correct remover for the surface, applying it properly and giving it enough dwell time (the minutes a remover needs to sit on the paint and loosen it) before the rinse.
Wash on Wheels has been providing graffiti removal services for over 40 years and we have this process nailed down. When you work with us, you can have peace of mind knowing you've got a team that's done this before, the right way.
We understand graffiti jobs are urgent and treat them as a priority. Give us a call today and we'll drive by as soon as we can and tell you exactly what removal will involve.
Why Property Managers and Public Agencies Call Wash On Wheels
Commercial buyers vet a vendor before they compare prices. Here is what they find when they vet us.
Public agencies already put us on their lists
Wash On Wheels has done a lot of work for government agencies. Those agencies require extremely high levels of insurance, reputation and years in business before a company makes their vendor list, and that's why they trust Wash on Wheels. Our public clients include the City of Longmont, where we cleaned a large warehouse, park shelters and downtown sidewalks, and the Denver Police Department.
Four decades of knowing when to ease off the pressure
Wash On Wheels has been in business since 1985, and that history has taught us that more pressure is usually the wrong answer. Old brick is much softer than new brick, and the two can't be treated the same way without permanent damage. Crews who crank the machine up to save time often etch the outline of the tag into the wall, leaving a scar no product can fix.
Insured to commercial standards
In Colorado, anyone can buy a pressure washer and call themselves a pressure washing company. We hold auto, general liability and workers' compensation insurance, so we're prepared to handle large commercial projects.
Our own removers, bought by the drum
Over the years we've developed our own soaps and degreasers, and we buy them in 55-gallon drums instead of 5-gallon cans. That gives our crews more options for spray paint, marker and the shadow a tag leaves behind, at a lower cost per job. Our commercial hot water machines are built to run all day, and we service them in-house.
Quick turnaround when the city is waiting
Graffiti deadlines are short, so we keep the quoting step short too. Our drive-by quote means you don't need to schedule a site meeting to learn what removal involves.
Wash water handled carefully
Denver does not allow wash water to flow into storm drains, and it must be captured for proper disposal. We operate EPA water recovery equipment for jobs where runoff has to be collected.
Denver's Free Graffiti Removal vs. a Private Contractor
Denver offers free graffiti removal for business and residential property inside the City and County of Denver. You sign a graffiti removal authorization form, and city crews remove the tag by painting over it, cleaning it by hand or power washing it. If that option fits your property, use it. We have always told clients when a cheaper way to get a job done exists, even when someone else ends up doing the work.
The authorization form also states that the city does not guarantee the structural or aesthetic soundness of the surface after removal, and that you release the city from liability. A private contractor makes sense when:
- The wall is unpainted brick or stone, and a painted-over patch would stand out more than the tag did.
- The building's appearance affects leasing, a sale or tenant complaints.
- The tag is on storefront glass, coated metal or another surface that needs a specific remover.
- You would rather not sign a liability release for work on your property.
- The property sits outside Denver in a city that does not cover commercial buildings. Aurora's graffiti unit, for example, cleans homes, fences and residential garages, but not commercial buildings.
Being Aware of Notice Deadlines
If you've been issued a graffiti enforcement letter, the notice sets the deadline for removal. The deadline is determined by local ordinances, which vary by city. Check the date on it, or call us and we'll go over it with you.
Graffiti Removal by Surface
Removing paint from metal is different from removing ink from cement. Each surface calls for its own remover, its own application method and its own dwell time before the rinse. Using the wrong solution for a certain surface can make it impossible to remove the graffiti and correct the mistake in the future. Wash on Wheels has been removing graffiti for decades and we know what material and process to use based on the surface we're working with.
Brick
Spray paint soaks into the pores of brick, and old brick is softer than new, so pressure alone does more harm than good. Oftentimes, graffiti comes off but leaves a shadow. This is sometimes called ghosting, which is a faint outline of the paint left in the surface, sometimes clear enough to read. Removing the shadow takes a second material.
Calls that come after someone else's attempt are harder. We've been called out after a property owner used solvent to strip paint from brick. The solvent partly dissolved the paint and let it soak deeper into the brick, which made complete removal impossible. Decide how much the wall matters before you try a hardware-store product or hire whoever quotes lowest, because it isn't always possible to fix someone else's mistake.
Graffiti on brick, before removal
The same wall after removal
Stucco
Stucco is porous and textured, so paint settles into every ridge and pocket. High pressure breaks the finish before it reaches the paint. We work stucco at low pressure with a remover chosen for the paint type.
Metal
Doors, roll-up gates, utility boxes, railings, signs and dumpsters are common graffiti targets. Factory finishes and powder coating can soften under the wrong solvent, so on metal the choice of remover matters more than pressure. We test the remover against the finish before treating the whole tag.
Glass
Paint and marker sit on top of glass and usually come off clean. Scratched or acid-etched tags are cut into the glass itself. That is physical damage, and no cleaning product will remove it. We'll tell you which kind you have when we look at the job.
Concrete and Block
Sidewalks, retaining walls and parking garage columns absorb ink and paint much the way brick does. The same approach applies: the right material, enough dwell time and only as much pressure as the surface can take.
We Handle High-Rise and Hard-to-Reach Walls
Wash on Wheels is equipped to safely and efficiently handle graffiti removal jobs on walls and areas of buildings that are hard to reach. We removed two large tags from the 9th and 10th floors of a building at 100 Grant Street in downtown Denver. The removed paint didn't run down the wall, and none of the landscaping or surrounding trees were damaged. Watch how the process went in our high-rise graffiti removal video.
How Our Graffiti Removal Process Works
1
Tell us where the graffiti is. Call or email with the address, the location of the tag on the building, the surface and the deadline on your notice.
2
We drive by and quote it. Graffiti removal is too unpredictable to bid sight unseen, so we look at the graffiti before we price it. The quote is free.
3
We match the remover to the surface. Low pressure, the right material and the right dwell time for brick, stucco, metal, glass or concrete.
4
We go after the shadow. When ghosting remains, a second material removes it.
5
You compare before and after. When the job is done right, you shouldn't be able to tell graffiti was ever there.
What We'll Tell You Up Front
If a cheaper method will solve your problem, including Denver's free program, we'll say so, even when it means someone else does the work. If an earlier removal attempt has driven paint too deep to come out completely, we'll tell you that before you pay for anything. Our clients keep calling us back year after year because we do the job right the first time.
Graffiti Jobs We've Done
Four decades of graffiti work across Denver, Littleton, Lakewood and the rest of the metro area. A few examples:
Graffiti Removal FAQs
How much does graffiti removal cost in Denver?
Every tag is priced individually. The cost depends on the surface, the size of the tag, the type of paint or ink, how long it has been on the wall and how hard it is to reach. Graffiti removal is too unpredictable to bid in advance, so we drive by and give you a free quote.
Who is responsible for removing graffiti on my property?
The property owner or the party responsible for the property, even though you are the victim of the vandalism. In Denver you can authorize free city removal or handle it yourself within the deadline on your notice.
How long do I have to remove graffiti after I get a notice?
In Denver, 48 hours for non-residential property and 72 hours for residential property after notification, if you decline city removal. Surrounding cities range from 3 to 10 days. Your notice shows your exact date.
Should I use Denver's free program or hire a contractor?
Use the city program if a painted-over patch is acceptable and you are comfortable signing the liability release. Hire a contractor when the finish matters, the surface is unpainted masonry, glass or coated metal, or the property is outside Denver.
How do I report graffiti in Denver?
Report it through Denver 311. Photograph the tag before anyone cleans it, in case you need the photo for a police report.
Will WD-40 or a hardware-store remover take graffiti off?
Sometimes, on a small marker tag on smooth metal or glass. On brick, stucco or concrete, solvents often thin the paint and pull it deeper into the surface. We've seen that turn a removable tag into a permanent one.
Will graffiti removal damage my brick or leave a shadow?
Not when it's done at low pressure with the right material. A shadow is common after the first pass, and a second material removes it. Old brick needs extra care because it is softer than new brick.
Can you remove graffiti from glass?
Paint and marker on glass usually come off clean. Scratched or etched graffiti is cut into the glass and can't be cleaned away.
Graffiti Removal Across the Denver Metro
Denver · Aurora · Lakewood · Littleton · Centennial · Englewood · Highlands Ranch · Arvada · Westminster · Northglenn · Broomfield · Longmont · Boulder · Golden · Wheat Ridge · Commerce City · Parker · Lone Tree · Castle Rock · Evergreen · Morrison
Got a Fresh Tag or a Notice on the Door?
Call (303) 937-7181 or email info@washonwheels.net with the address and the location of the tag. We'll drive by and tell you what it takes to remove it.
Wash On Wheels, 3340 S. Quivas St., Englewood, CO 80110
