Graffiti removal: SOS Nettoyage erases tags from your walls
A tag on the facade of your building. Graffiti on the wall of your shop. Spray-painted inscriptions on your company gate. This visual vandalism is far more than an aesthetic nuisance — it depreciates your property, degrades your neighbourhood’s image and, if left untreated, attracts more. A tagged wall left as is sends the signal that nobody is watching, and graffiti artists know this perfectly well.
At SOS Nettoyage, we are the graffiti removal specialist in French-speaking Switzerland. We work on all surfaces — concrete, natural stone, brick, metal, glass, wood, plastic — using techniques adapted to each material to eliminate graffiti without damaging the substrate. We also offer anti-graffiti protection treatments to prevent repeat offences.
Request your free, no-obligation quote. We respond quickly, often within 24 to 72 hours, throughout French-speaking Switzerland.
Why act quickly against graffiti?
The “broken window” effect
Criminology is well acquainted with the “broken window” theory: a visible sign of degradation in a neighbourhood encourages further acts of vandalism. An uncleaned tagged wall inevitably attracts new graffiti. The longer you wait, the worse the problem gets. Conversely, quick and systematic cleaning discourages graffiti artists who see their “works” disappear within days.
Chemical degradation of the substrate
The aerosol spray paints and industrial markers used by graffiti artists contain aggressive solvents that penetrate the pores of materials. The longer graffiti remains on the surface, the deeper the paint becomes embedded. On porous limestone or render, graffiti only a few days old is much easier to remove than graffiti that has been there for months. Time works against you.
Property depreciation
In Switzerland, the appearance of a building directly affects its value. A building covered in graffiti loses attractiveness for potential tenants, shop customers or company visitors. For co-ownerships and property management firms, graffiti cleaning is a matter of property value preservation.
Professional graffiti removal techniques
The choice of technique depends on three factors: the type of surface, the type of paint used by the graffiti artist and how long ago the graffiti was done. At SOS Nettoyage, we master all available professional methods and systematically adapt our approach to each situation.
Chemical cleaning (specific solvents)
This is the most common and often the most effective technique. We use professional stripping solvents specially formulated to dissolve spray paint without attacking the substrate.
How it works: application of solvent to the graffiti, dwell time (a few minutes to a few hours depending on penetration depth), then high-pressure rinsing or wiping.
Advantages:
- Highly effective on the majority of surfaces
- Low aggression to the substrate when the right product is chosen
- No dust projection
- Suitable for sensitive areas (city centres, proximity to vegetation)
Compatible surfaces: concrete, stone, brick, painted or bare metal, glass, plastic, treated wood.
Precautions: certain solvents can alter existing paints or varnishes. Our technicians systematically carry out a test on a discreet area before treating the entire surface.
Sandblasting (air-blasting)
Sandblasting — or more precisely air-blasting — involves projecting a fine abrasive (glass microparticles, calcium carbonate, garnet, etc.) at low pressure onto the surface to “erase” the graffiti.
How it works: a compressor propels the air/abrasive mix through an adjustable nozzle. The fineness of the abrasive and pressure are adjusted according to the hardness of the substrate.
Advantages:
- Effective on rough and porous surfaces
- No chemical product
- Removes deeply embedded graffiti
Compatible surfaces: bare concrete, hard natural stone (granite, sandstone), brick, bare metal.
Precautions: technique to avoid on polished, fragile or painted surfaces (risk of scratching and erosion). Generates dust — requires containment and protective equipment.
Hydro-blasting
Hydro-blasting is a gentler variant of sandblasting where the abrasive is mixed with water. Adding water considerably reduces dust and softens the mechanical action.
How it works: a fine water/abrasive mix is projected at low pressure onto the surface. Water temperature can be adjusted to improve effectiveness.
Advantages:
- Gentler than dry sandblasting
- Virtually no dust
- Excellent abrasion control
- Respectful of old and heritage materials
Compatible surfaces: natural stone (including limestone and marble), brick, render, wood, concrete. This is the reference technique for cleaning historic and protected buildings in Switzerland.
Precautions: requires management of rinse water (collection, filtration) to comply with Swiss environmental standards.
CO2 cryogenics (cryogenic cleaning)
Cryogenic cleaning uses dry ice pellets (solid CO2 at -78°C) projected at high speed onto the graffiti.
How it works: the CO2 pellets cause a thermal shock that contracts and weakens the paint layer, which then separates from the substrate. The pellets sublimate instantly (transition from solid to gas), leaving no residue whatsoever.
Advantages:
- No secondary residue (no water, no abrasive, no solvent)
- Non-abrasive — does not scratch the substrate
- Suitable for fragile surfaces and sensitive environments
- Ideal for food-processing, industrial and electronic premises
Compatible surfaces: metal, glass, plastic, painted surfaces (where existing paint must be preserved), brick, smooth concrete.
Precautions: a more expensive technique. Requires adequate ventilation (high CO2 concentration can reduce oxygen levels in a confined space).
High-pressure cleaning
High-pressure cleaning with hot or cold water is used alongside other techniques, particularly for rinsing after solvent application.
How it works: water projected at high pressure (100 to 300 bar) to strip paint. Hot water (up to 90°C) improves effectiveness on stubborn paints.
Advantages:
- Quick and effective in combination with a solvent
- Cost-effective
- Covers large surface areas
Compatible surfaces: concrete, hard stone, metal, brick. Use with caution on render and soft stone.
Precautions: high pressure alone is generally not enough to remove graffiti — it is mainly effective as a rinse after chemical treatment. Excessive pressure can damage joints and fragile surfaces.
Surfaces treated by SOS Nettoyage
Concrete
Concrete is the most frequently graffitied surface in Switzerland: retaining walls, car park pillars, underpasses, building facades. Its porosity makes removal more complex as paint penetrates into the material’s capillaries. We primarily use the solvent + high-pressure combination, with air-blasting as backup if necessary. An anti-graffiti treatment is strongly recommended after cleaning.
Natural stone
Natural stone (limestone, sandstone, granite, molasse, tufa) is ubiquitous in Swiss architecture. Each stone has different hardness, porosity and chemical sensitivity. Granite tolerates more aggressive treatments than molasse or limestone. We favour hydro-blasting for soft stones and historic buildings, and fine sandblasting for hard stones.
Molasse, that yellow-green stone typical of the Lake Geneva region (Lausanne cathedral, Fribourg old town), requires particularly delicate treatment due to its high porosity and fragility.
Brick
Exposed brick is common in industrial buildings, warehouses and some residential buildings. Its rough and porous texture promotes paint adhesion. Hydro-blasting or low-pressure air-blasting are the most suitable techniques. A chemical solvent can be used as a pre-treatment to soften the paint before blasting.
Metal
Gates, metal shutters, letterboxes, road signs, street furniture — metal is a frequent target for graffiti artists. On bare metal (steel, aluminium, stainless steel), chemical solvent is very effective as the surface is non-porous. On painted metal, a selective solvent must be chosen that dissolves the graffiti paint without attacking the original paintwork. CO2 cryogenics is particularly well suited in this case.
Glass
Graffiti on glass (shop windows, windows, windscreens) is common in urban areas. If the paint is on the surface, a suitable solvent or a professional scraper is sufficient. However, beware of acid-etching markers that chemically attack the glass — in such cases, polishing may be necessary, or even glass replacement. For cleaning large glazed surfaces, our window cleaning service is complementary.
Wood
Exterior woodwork (cladding, gates, fences, chalets) can fall victim to graffiti. Since wood is porous and sensitive, chemical cleaning must be carried out with gentle solvents and limited rinsing. Very low-pressure hydro-blasting is often the best solution. After cleaning, a treatment (stain, varnish, oil) is recommended to restore the wood’s protection.
Plastic and composite surfaces
Advertising boards, bus shelters, garden furniture, composite facade cladding — plastic and composites are delicate surfaces because some solvents can attack them (discolouration, softening). We use tested compatible solvents and, if necessary, CO2 cryogenics which is perfectly suited to plastics.
Anti-graffiti protection: prevention is better than cure
Cleaning graffiti is good. Preventing the next one is better. SOS Nettoyage offers the application of anti-graffiti protective coatings that considerably facilitate the cleaning of future tags and reduce maintenance costs.
Sacrificial coatings
A sacrificial coating is an invisible protective film applied to the surface. When graffiti is applied over it, simply cleaning the surface with a mild solvent or high-pressure cleaner is enough: the graffiti paint comes off along with the protective film. The coating must then be reapplied.
Advantages:
- Moderate initial cost
- Effective on most surfaces
- Quick and easy graffiti cleaning
Disadvantages:
- Must be reapplied after each cleaning
- Higher cumulative cost in the long term if repeat offences are frequent
Recommended for: surfaces in moderate-risk areas, heritage buildings (the coating does not alter the appearance of stone), limited budgets.
Permanent (semi-permanent) coatings
The permanent coating — or more precisely semi-permanent — is a deep treatment that seals the pores of the material and creates a durable barrier. Graffiti only adheres superficially and can be easily cleaned with solvent or hot pressurised water, without destroying the coating.
Advantages:
- Durable protection (5 to 10 years depending on the product and exposure)
- No need to reapply after each cleaning
- Cost-effective in the long term for areas with frequent repeat offences
Disadvantages:
- Higher initial cost
- May slightly alter the surface appearance (saturation effect, slight gloss)
- More technical application
Recommended for: buildings in high-recurrence areas (railway stations, underpasses, busy urban zones), industrial surfaces, metal gates.
Anti-graffiti protection cost
| Protection type | Indicative price (CHF/m²) | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|
| Sacrificial coating | 15 – 30 | 1 cleaning (must be renewed) |
| Permanent coating | 30 – 60 | 5 to 10 years |
Investing in anti-graffiti protection is particularly worthwhile for owners of buildings in dense urban areas, where repeat offences are virtually certain.
The legal framework for graffiti in Switzerland
Vandalism under the Swiss Criminal Code
In Switzerland, graffiti carried out without authorisation constitutes damage to property under Article 144 of the Swiss Criminal Code (CP). The offender faces a custodial sentence of up to 3 years or a monetary penalty. If the damage is of minor significance, a monetary penalty of up to 30 daily penalty units applies (Art. 144 para. 2 CP).
In practice, graffiti artists are rarely identified and prosecuted. However, filing a criminal complaint is important: it is often required by insurers for coverage of cleaning costs, and it feeds the statistics that justify municipal prevention programmes.
Owner’s responsibility
In Switzerland, the owner is responsible for maintaining their building. In many municipalities, municipal regulations require owners to keep facades in good condition. Some cities — such as Genève, Lausanne or Berne — can order an owner to clean a graffiti-degraded facade if it harms the aesthetics of the neighbourhood.
For co-owned properties (PPE), cleaning graffiti on common areas is the responsibility of the co-ownership. Costs are shared among co-owners according to their ownership shares.
Municipal anti-graffiti programmes
Several Swiss cities have implemented graffiti cleaning programmes:
- Genève: the City’s Propreté et Nature service cleans graffiti on public buildings free of charge and can intervene on private facades visible from public areas.
- Lausanne: free cleaning programme for private owners under certain conditions.
- Berne: municipal cleaning service for public spaces.
- Zurich: “Graffiti-frei” programme with free cleaning for owners who commit to maintaining cleanliness.
Contact your municipality: you may be eligible for financial or logistical support for cleaning your building. And for the cleaning itself, trust SOS Nettoyage.
Graffiti cleaning prices in Switzerland
The cost of graffiti removal depends on several factors: the surface area to be treated (in m²), the type of substrate, the technique required, accessibility (height, need for a cherry picker) and how old the graffiti is.
Here are the price ranges charged by SOS Nettoyage in 2026:
| Service | Indicative price (CHF) |
|---|---|
| Small graffiti (< 2 m²) on concrete | 200 – 500 |
| Medium graffiti (2-5 m²) on concrete | 400 – 800 |
| Large graffiti (5-15 m²) on concrete | 700 – 1,500 |
| Graffiti on natural stone (hydro-blasting) | 300 – 1,200 |
| Graffiti on metal (gate, shutter) | 200 – 600 |
| Graffiti on glass (shop window) | 150 – 400 |
| Graffiti on wood | 250 – 700 |
| CO2 cryogenics (technical surcharge) | +30 to 50% |
| Cherry picker / height access | +200 – 500 CHF |
| Anti-graffiti protection application | 15 – 60 CHF/m² |
Surcharge factors:
- Age of the graffiti (> 6 months: deep penetration = longer cleaning)
- Multi-layered (graffiti on top of graffiti)
- Accessibility (height, need for cherry picker or scaffolding)
- Urgency (intervention within 24 hours)
Every situation is unique. Contact SOS Nettoyage for a free, no-obligation quote tailored to your specific case.
Our intervention process
1. On-site or photo assessment
Contact us by phone or via our form. For simple cases, a photo of the graffiti (with an indication of the surface type and approximate dimensions) allows us to provide an initial remote quote. For more complex cases (fragile surfaces, historic buildings, large areas), we visit for a free assessment.
2. Technique selection and quote
Based on the assessment, we select the most suitable technique and provide a clear, detailed quote. No surprises: the price quoted is the price invoiced.
3. Rapid intervention
Our goal: to intervene within 24 to 72 hours of your approval. For emergencies (insulting, hateful or threatening graffiti), we endeavour to intervene the same day.
4. Cleaning and inspection
Our technicians carry out the cleaning with the appropriate professional equipment. A quality check is performed on site: if residual traces remain, a second pass is carried out.
5. Protection (optional)
After cleaning, we offer the application of an anti-graffiti coating to facilitate future cleaning. It is a smart investment, especially if your building is in a risk-prone area.
Graffiti and facade cleaning: a complementary service
Graffiti removal is often an opportunity to carry out a complete facade clean. Indeed, the cleaned graffiti area often appears cleaner than the rest of the facade, creating an unsightly contrast (a “ghost” of the graffiti). For a uniform aesthetic result, we recommend combining graffiti removal with a facade clean across the entire surface.
Similarly, if the graffiti is on a terrace (retaining wall, boundary wall), we can incorporate the terrace cleaning into our intervention.
For industrial buildings, we treat graffiti on large surfaces (warehouses, storage facilities, perimeter walls) with equipment suited to the industrial scale.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Can all types of graffiti be removed?
In the vast majority of cases, yes. Graffiti done with aerosol spray, markers, felt-tip pens or paint can be removed with the professional techniques we use. The only difficult cases are engravings (graffiti carved into stone or glass) and acid attacks (acid-etching on glass), which require polishing or material replacement.
2. Will the cleaning damage my facade?
No, if the work is entrusted to a professional. At SOS Nettoyage, we systematically adapt the technique to the substrate. We carry out a preliminary test on a discreet area to verify compatibility. Our goal is to remove the graffiti without altering the original material.
3. How long does it take to remove graffiti?
For standard graffiti on concrete, allow 1 to 3 hours of work. On natural stone with hydro-blasting, it can take half a day. Very large graffiti or multiple surfaces may require a full day. We inform you of the estimated duration in our quote.
4. Does my insurance cover graffiti cleaning?
Potentially, yes. Building insurance often covers damage caused by vandalism, including graffiti, provided a criminal complaint is filed. Check the conditions of your policy. Some insurers require an excess. We provide a detailed quote to facilitate your claim with the insurer.
5. How can I prevent graffiti from coming back?
Applying an anti-graffiti coating (sacrificial or permanent) is the most effective measure. Additionally, adequate lighting, CCTV and systematic, rapid cleaning of each new tag (within 24-48 hours) discourage repeat graffiti artists.
6. Do you work with municipalities and property management firms?
Yes, it is a significant part of our business. We work with municipalities, property management firms, PPE co-ownerships and companies throughout French-speaking Switzerland. We can set up maintenance contracts with regular interventions and preferential rates.
7. What is the difference between air-blasting and hydro-blasting?
Air-blasting projects a fine abrasive dry (no water). It is effective but generates dust. Hydro-blasting mixes the abrasive with water, which eliminates dust and softens the mechanical action. Hydro-blasting is preferred for delicate surfaces (natural stone, heritage buildings) and interventions in urban environments.
8. Can I clean graffiti myself?
This is strongly advised against. Products sold in DIY stores are often ineffective or, worse, aggressive to the substrate. A poorly carried out clean can fix the paint even deeper, scratch the surface or cause irreversible staining. Moreover, certain techniques (sandblasting, poorly adjusted high pressure) can seriously damage a facade. Entrust the work to SOS Nettoyage for a guaranteed result with no collateral damage.