Public art is one of the best things happening to WA’s streets, parks and public spaces. From large-scale murals to commissioned sculptures, every new piece adds character and turns a blank surface into something that can be enjoyed by the community.
At Graffiti Gone WA, we get to play a small part in that: we protect murals from graffiti in Perth with professional anti-graffiti coatings. This ensures each protected piece stays exactly how the artist intended.
Here’s how it works, and why it’s worth planning from day one.
Why murals need anti-graffiti protection
When spray paint hits an unprotected surface, it doesn’t just sit on top. Surfaces like concrete, brick, limestone and render are porous. This means that the paint soaks in and bonds with the surface itself.
On murals, the surface is the artwork itself. Removing a tag from an unprotected mural means separating the vandal’s paint from the artist’s paint.
This risks stripping the actual mural away.
How anti-graffiti coatings solve the problem
Anti-graffiti coatings solve the problem before it even exists.
This type of coating is a clear protective barrier applied over the finished surface. Spray paint and marker can’t bond to the surface underneath. The graffiti sits on top of the coating instead.
When the mural does get tagged, the tag is removed easily from the coating with a graffiti removal product. The artwork underneath is never touched, meaning there’s no repainting or restoration needed.
Will a coating change how the artwork looks?
This is the first question we get asked, and it’s a completely fair one! The short answer: no, not if the right system is chosen.
Quality anti-graffiti coatings are available in matt or gloss finishes. For murals and painted artwork, a matt finish preserves the original look of the piece. As a bonus, the coatings we use are UV stable, which means they also help protect the artwork against fading in the WA sun.
The finish choice is something we always agree with the artist or commissioner before any coating goes on.
Anti-graffiti coating application in action
Every artwork is different, so every job starts with an assessment. The location, exposure, conditions and surface all determine the right application method and anti-graffiti coating product.
Our usual go-to is EzyCoat Repel, a permanent, water-based anti-graffiti coating available in matt or gloss. It’s part of our range of premium coatings and sealers, and also the coating we applied to the Boorloo Bridge murals.
Here’s what application actually looks like on the job:
Quick questions we get asked
Will the coating damage or alter the artwork? No. The coating is applied over the finished, cured artwork, and a matt finish keeps the original look. We agree on the finish with the artist before applying.
What happens when the piece gets tagged? We remove the graffiti from the coating using the matched removal product. The artwork underneath is never touched.
Can you protect a piece that’s already been tagged? Yes. We remove the existing graffiti first, then apply the coating so it doesn’t happen again.
Do you work with councils and artists across regional WA? Absolutely. We protect and maintain public art across Perth and regional Western Australia.
Commissioning or maintaining public art in WA?
Talk to us before it gets tagged, not after. Contact Graffiti Gone WA at enquiries@graffitigone-wa.com.au or call 0448 272 323 to plan anti-graffiti protection for your mural or public artwork.
