that
plagues U.S. cities and the private industries that populate
them has grown exponentially over the past two decades.
Graffiti costs Americans more than $8 billion
per year in clean up.
To combat it, cities are getting aggressive with
graffiti removal programs since studies have shown that by
removing the graffiti quickly, it creates a deterrent for
vandals, who call their work “Tagging.”
Studies report that removing graffiti within a
48-hour window is key to prevention. Less tagging occurs when
they realize it will not be up for long. With increasing
pressure for cities to also be green, many are using a
non-abrasive cleaning and coating removal method that can be
safely used on almost all surfaces – soda blasting, which
eliminates the need for harsh chemicals and disposal problems.
Graffiti cleaning teams can
also save time because the soda blasting technology can clean up
to 19 square feet per minute. Facility and maintenance managers
are realizing the power of these machines because the
possibilities are not limited to graffiti removal. Soda blasting
does not cause collateral damage to surface areas, so
once-damaged materials or surfaces can be recycled, restored or
even reused.
In cases of fire and mold
damage, building management specialists choose the soda blasting
delivery process because it saves them both time and money by
salvaging and deodorizing assets once deemed total losses. The
process leaves a fresh, clean surface without a hint of the
previous contamination from fire or mold damage. Other blasting
methods require a two-step process as they can’t eliminate the
odor so it requires sealing that odor into the substrate by
using a varnish sealer.
From fire and mold remediation
to the ability to strip a car in less than one day, soda blast
technology has endless applications. It can be done in a
fraction of the time of other processes and offers excellent
surface preparation for application of anti-microbial coatings.
Service contractors are
finding this system has great profit potential by allowing them
to expand their services into graffiti removal, fire
remediation, and more. The ability to offer customers a green
solution that saves time and money makes this a winning
proposition for all. Cities, too, are finding soda blasting is
cost-effective and green. One blaster can now do in less than
four hours what once took three to four workers more than three
entire days to do.
Chicago Cleans Up
The City of Chicago has waged
an all out war on graffiti, and developed an aggressive building
maintenance program that actually includes a free 24/7 hotline
to report the crime or check the status of a clean up request.
In fact, Chicago became one of the nation’s first leading cities
to actually assume the financial burden for removing graffiti
from private property and businesses. Their program is called
Graffiti Busters, and combined with tougher laws and increased
enforcement, they plan to eradicate the windy city of this
plague.
Before this program, removal
of graffiti from privately owned property was left to the
individual owners, many of whom were unable or unwilling to
undertake this task due to the expense or from fear of
retaliation from the vandals. Instead of instituting some form
of punishment for property owners who did not remove the
graffiti, Chicago has earmarked funds to allow removal of
graffiti at no cost to property owners.
The city purchased nineteen
soda blasting machines from SodaBlast Systems, LLC of Houston,
which has been providing the city with the latest in soda
blasting technology.
San Marcos, TX, too, has been
wrought with graffiti and a mounting demand from community
leaders and businesses to eradicate it. As a result, the city
purchased a SodaBlast System a few weeks ago, and the Mayor has
committed to the standard of a 48-hour turnaround for removal of
graffiti, which is the key to discouraging new tags.
This mayor is also considering
a loan program of the SodaBlast equipment for local businesses
so they can get their store fronts cleaned up. City leaders,
facility managers, and even service contractors are choosing
soda blasting because they recognize that it is better for the
environment and for the community. They are able to save time
and money while getting the job done well. The bonus is that
SodaBlast Systems offers the perfect GREEN solution tough enough
to not only tackle graffiti, but also other building challenges
like fire remediation, paint removal, etc. without using harmful
solvents or chemicals.
Blasters appreciate the
lack of exposure to toxic compounds or the need to deal with
hazardous waste afterward.
The growing economic pressure
to save time and money makes soda blasting worth looking into as
it is the kind of investment that can pay for itself quickly.
For more on soda blasting,
call SodaBlast Systems at (800) 216-SODA or go to
www.sodablastsystems.com.
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