Stone has been a practical choice for most property owners because it produces durable, long-lasting buildings and gives off that classic appearance and feel on any surface.
Maintenance is mostly simple with this material, except when it comes in contact with stubborn stains, such as spray paints.
Since the material is widely used on residential and commercial properties, it is not uncommon to see graffiti on a stone surface.
This article will cover everything you need to know about removing spray paint from stone in order to keep your home or business looking professional.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents - Click to Skip
Hey there, I’m Cody.
A decade of residential and commercial pressure washing led me to start JCS Refresh. Now I can share my knowledge with folks like you.
Reading from Washington State?
Contact our team to learn more about Seattle graffiti removal services.
Quick Answer
Want to jump right into the process?
Here’s how to remove spray paint from stone surfaces in five easy steps:
- Prepare the materials and the surface
- Wear your safety equipment
- Apply your stone graffiti remover
- Rinse the surface with a pressure washer
- Spot-clean any remaining paint stains
Quick questions before starting
Before you begin, here are three things you should know about the graffiti-removing process for stone and masonry surfaces.
How difficult is this to do?
The larger the graffiti and the longer the spray paint sits on the surface, the more difficult it is to remove.
How long does it take?
If the paint is still wet, it can be cleaned in about 30 minutes. However, spray paint that has dried can take several hours to completely remove.
How much do materials cost?
- Stone graffiti remover – $21 for a spray can to $65 for a gallon
- Pressure washer – $150 to $250 for electric gas models, $300 to $500 for gas models
- Rectangular bucket – $15 to $30
- Nylon-bristled brush – $8 to $15
How to get spray paint off stone
Now that you know the basics and what materials you’ll need, we’ll move on to the actual steps.
1. Prepare the materials and the surface
If you’re using a graffiti stone remover that comes in a bucket, pour enough remover into the rectangular bucket to coat the broom’s tip. Then, wet the stone’s surface. If you’re using a spray, simply keep it on the side to prepare for application.
Bucket graffiti removers are suitable for large graffiti, so store some in your home or business for emergencies, whereas spray bottles are ideal for smaller-sized homes and shops to keep in a cabinet in case of overspray here and there.
If you decide to hire graffiti removal services, professionals will bring their own equipment and they are knowledgeable about which products to use on certain materials to avoid damage while removing the graffiti.
2. Wear your safety equipment
The chemicals in the products you will use may irritate your eyes, lungs, and skin. Wear your safety goggles, rubber gloves, and even full-on protective clothing.
This step will include pressure washing, and even accidentally spraying yourself with high-pressure water can cause injury.
3. Apply the stone graffiti remover
Apply the product to the affected surface with a soft nylon-bristle brush, broom, or spray and soak it in for several minutes, according to the label instructions.
There may be dried paint stains that require the product to be left on longer to thoroughly melt the paint.
However, if the product appears to be removing the underlying paint, you can rinse the surface before the recommended time frame.
4. Rinse the surface with a pressure washer
Pressure wash the treated surface at a low-pressure setting. To avoid damaging the surface, test the pressure in a small area first as a precaution.
We recommend a fan-style spray for most stone and masonry at 1000 to 1500 PSI. When rinsing, keep the nozzle further than 6 inches from the surface.
If you don’t know how to hook up a pressure washer, you can read our detailed guide on starting a pressure washer, which covers gas and electric models.
Pressure washers can be costly, but they are a necessary step in tackling the most complex graffiti projects, so most professional services include this in the cost of graffiti removal and could save you money overdoing it yourself.
5. Spot-clean any remaining paint stains
At this point, 90–95% of the stains should be cleaned with the graffiti remover. Scrub any remaining paint with a nylon-bristled brush.
If you don’t have a pressure washer, you can scrub the entire surface with the same brush, but removing the paint will take more time and effort. Rinse the entire area with water, including any areas where the graffiti remover may have dripped.
Conclusion
Whether you’re cleaning up overspray on your stone walls or graffiti off of interior and exterior surfaces, the sooner you start cleaning up while the stain is still fresh off the stone surface, the easier it will be to remove.
If the graffiti has stayed on for a long time, don’t worry; a good graffiti remover combined with a good scrub and pressure washer can do the trick.
Thanks for reading!
