Medium Cost Interventions
6. Protective Coatings on Public Surfaces
Specialised surface treatments applied to public infrastructure with the aim to deter vandilism, graffiti, and physical damage.
These could be:
- Anti-graffiti coatings
- Anti-climb paints
- Scratch/impact-resistant finishes
- Fire-retardant coatings.
They reduce the frequency and impact of vandalism, lead to lower maintenance/repair costs, and improve public perception/safety.
Anti-graffiti coating (per m2): £15-£40
Anti-climb paint (per litre): £35-£45
Full community rollout (e.g 100 surfaces): £20-£60,000 depending on surface type and coating system
Site assessment & planning: 2-4 weeks
Surface preparation: 1-2 days per site
Application: 1-3 days per site
Full rollout: 3-6 months (community wide)
Inspection & touch-ups: £2,000-£5000 pa
Reapplication: £5,000-£10,000
Cleaning supplies & labour: £1,000-£3,000
Annual Maintenance Cost: £8,000-£18,000
Effectiveness
Proven to be effective in reducing criminal damage. Anti-graffiti coatings reduce cleaning time by up to 80%, and graffiti recurrance by 60%.
Anti-climb paint reduces unauthorised access attempts by 70-90% on protected surfaces. In London Underground, vandalism-related maintenance costs dropped by 35% after protective coatings.
Non-sacrificial coatings last 5-10 years, reducing long-term costs and improving infrastructure resilience.