Graffiti removal · Kelowna, BC
Graffiti Removal and Painting Over in Kelowna
Tags that stay up for weeks tend to attract more of them, and they make a property look neglected to customers and tenants. Pacific Painting Kelowna removes graffiti and paints it out for businesses, strata corporations, property managers and building owners in Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country. We are painters first, with more than 15 years of experience, so the repaired wall matches the rest of the building instead of leaving a blotchy square.
Each job starts with the surface. Unpainted brick, stone, metal and glass often come clean with the right remover and a careful rinse, while painted stucco, siding and block walls usually look best with a colour-matched paint-out. We test before we treat the whole tag, because the wrong chemical or too much pressure can leave a permanent ghost or damage masonry.
We are licensed, insured and covered by WorkSafeBC, and our paint-outs carry a written 1-year labour warranty against peeling. For sites that get hit again and again, we apply sacrificial or permanent anti-graffiti coatings and set up scheduled programs with photo records for owners and insurers. Call us first if a tag is offensive or sits on a storefront, and we will fit you in as soon as a crew is free.
Removal or Paint-Over?
The surface decides the method. This is the decision guide we use on site.
| Surface | Best approach | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Painted stucco, siding or block | Colour-matched paint-out | Removers soften the existing paint and leave a blotch |
| Unpainted brick and stone | Graffiti remover with a low-pressure hot-water rinse | High pressure scars the brick face; porous stone can hold a faint shadow |
| Bare concrete and block | Remover, or a paint-out with a breathable masonry coating | Ghosting if the paint has soaked deep into the pores |
| Metal doors and roll-up doors | Mild solvent on factory finishes, otherwise repaint | Strong solvents can dull or strip the factory coating |
| Glass and windows | Scraper and glass-safe remover | Etched tags cannot be cleaned and need film or new glass |
| Wood fences | Sand and repaint or restain | Pressure washing raises the grain and drives paint deeper |
We always test a small area first. A remover that works on spray paint may do nothing to marker, and some tags need two or three gentle passes rather than one aggressive one.
Colour Matching So Patches Disappear
Patchwork walls are the most common complaint about cheap graffiti cover-ups. Paint straight from the original colour chip rarely matches a wall that has faded in Okanagan sun for five years.
We match the colour to the wall as it looks today, using a clean, sound sample read by a spectrophotometer at the paint store. Sheen matters as much as colour, so we match that too, because a glossier patch shows in low sun even when the colour is right.
Instead of painting a square around the tag, we paint to a natural break such as a corner, control joint, downpipe or trim line. The eye reads the whole section as one surface, and the repair disappears.
We record every matched formula by wall and elevation. The next paint-out on that building is faster and matches first time.
Anti-Graffiti Coatings
A clear protective coating makes the next tag much easier to remove. The two main types suit different walls.
Sacrificial Coatings
A sacrificial coating is a clear, breathable barrier that sits between the wall and the spray paint. When the wall is tagged, hot water removes the coating and the graffiti together.
The coating must be reapplied after each cleaning. It suits brick, stone, heritage masonry and other porous surfaces that need to keep breathing.
Permanent Coatings
A permanent, or non-sacrificial, coating is a tough clear film, often a two-part urethane, that stays on the wall through many cleanings. Graffiti wipes off with a matched remover without damaging the coating.
It can add some sheen and reduce breathability, so it works best on smooth painted walls, metal doors and utility areas rather than old soft brick.
Coatings only go on a clean, dry wall, so we remove or paint out existing tags first. On a large wall, protecting the lower section within easy reach from the ground usually covers most of the risk.
Your Obligations Under Local Bylaws
Graffiti is a crime against the property owner, but cleaning it up is still the owner's job.
The City of Kelowna expects property owners to remove graffiti promptly, and bylaw officers can require it if a tag is left up. West Kelowna and Lake Country have their own rules, so check with your municipality for current timelines.
Before removal, photograph the tag and report it to police on the non-emergency line. Hateful or threatening graffiti should be reported right away, and we will cover or remove it as a priority once police are done.
Tenants should check their lease to see whether the landlord or tenant is responsible. On strata property, common property graffiti is normally handled by the strata through its property manager.
Ongoing Graffiti Programs for Property Managers
Buildings on busy corridors get tagged again and again. A standing program costs less than one-off calls and keeps walls clean.
Site survey
We walk each property, record wall colours and surfaces, and flag the hot spots where tags keep appearing.
Protect the hot spots
Problem walls get an anti-graffiti coating or a stock of matched paint kept on site.
Scheduled checks
We visit on an agreed schedule and remove anything new, so tags rarely stay up long.
Photo log
Every visit is documented with before and after photos, dates and locations for your records and any insurance claim.
Programs can also cover fences, dumpster enclosures, signage and parkade walls and columns. When a building needs more than spot repairs, our exterior commercial painting crews can repaint the whole elevation.
Graffiti Removal Costs
Most typical tags fall between $250 and $600 per visit, including materials. Larger walls that need a full colour-matched repaint are quoted per job.
- Surface and method: brick and stone removal takes longer than a simple paint-out on a smooth wall.
- Size and height: tags above ladder height need a lift.
- Coatings: anti-graffiti coatings are priced by area.
- Programs: scheduled visits are quoted as a recurring rate per property.
Paint-outs carry our 1-year labour warranty against peeling or flaking caused by our work. New graffiti is not covered, which is why repeat sites benefit from a coating or a program. See how these rates compare on our painting costs in Kelowna page.
Graffiti Removal FAQs
How fast can you remove graffiti?
Call us and we will book the earliest visit we have, and small tags are usually handled in one short visit. Offensive or hateful tags are put at the front of the queue. Clients on a scheduled program get removal on their regular visits as well as between them when needed.
Will pressure washing remove graffiti?
Rarely on its own. Spray paint needs a remover to break it down first, and high pressure can etch brick and concrete, leaving a permanent outline of the tag.
Does insurance cover graffiti removal?
It depends on your policy and deductible, and many small tags cost less than the deductible. If you do claim, we provide dated before and after photos and an itemised invoice. Check with your broker for your specific coverage.
Can you remove graffiti from brick without damaging it?
Yes, in most cases. We use a brick-safe remover, low pressure and hot water, and test first. Very porous or old brick can hold a faint shadow, which we can then treat or paint out.
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Urgent tags: call first
Book Graffiti Removal
For a fresh or offensive tag, call 778-946-5725 and we will book the earliest visit we have. For a quote or an ongoing program, send the form below with the address and wall location.
- 15+ years experience
- Licensed & insured
- WCB coverage
- 1-year labour warranty
Mon to Fri 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. · Sat 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. · Sun 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Or call 778-946-5725 or email info@pacificpaintingbc.com.