Getting Paint off trees

[Cars&Classic]

anyone here have any experiance in getting spry paint off trees? I am a realtor and have a pending sale on a very nice home in the 600k range. on the back of the lot someone has painted a lot of obsentites all over the trunks of about 8-10 large trees. cant be cut down, and ruines the look of the area. anyone ever had to deal with removing paint from a tree befor without killing the tree?

 

[383 240z]

I'd say soda blast, but that will just remove the paint, and leave the dirty words, as clean marks on the tree, unless you sprayed the lower part and blended it upwards. Keith

 

[pattenp]

What type of trees? Oak, Beech, Maple? The thickness of the bark is going to determine how aggressive you can get.

 

[bp460]

Perhaps more spray paint to cover things up.

-Brad

 

[mayday0017]

If all else fails take a similar color to the tree and paint it up to say 3ft or so on each tree. If it looks like it was done for a reason it won't look bad, but not the most healthy thing for a tree. Won't kill it but there are mixed opinions on if it hurts it at all or not.

 

[rlitman]

I found some advice to use a wire brush to abrade the paint off.
That's good, if the bark is thick. Any light spots created from this will oxidize and darken in a year or so.

If it is thin bark, you risk abrading through the cambiem, which will harm the tree.

If you're not sure, call your local extension office. They may have better advice for you, and you may even be able to get someone to look at it.

 

[48Classic]

I would call a local abrorist. I located this from one of my diy sites I belong to.

First, the paint *will* weather away with time. You might consider screening or otherwise camoflaging around the tree to obscure the vandalism until it has time to fade away.

If it's too obvious to take that approach, you can try to gently remove a very thin layer of outer bark. I am not familiar with Pecan trees, but if they have thick bark, you should be able to abrade it with a wire brush sufficiently enough to break up and/or remove the paint. But it is important not to go so deeply as to expose the live tissue of the tree.

Another option is to paint over the mark with tree paint, as commonly used to seal pruning wounds. But that paint lasts for a very, very long time and will basically leave a permanent black mark on the tree.

You might consider calling your local University extension and see if they have someone that will come out and take a look at the problem for you - they can be very helpful in unusual situations like this.

Whatever you do, don't try any type of chemical product, even a "natural" or "non-toxic" one.

Hope this helps...good luck.

Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/forum/c...ray-paint-trees-post-moved.html#ixzz2TIgm1wCf

 

[78Bird]

I would think a very gentle sandblast... start REALLY low pressure and ease it up till it'll work the paint off.

probably have to over-do it some or, as noted, you'll just have nice clean swears etched into the tree

wire brush would work too... just get enough off so you can't tell what it says then let it abrade naturally.

 

[Az Scooter]

This is part of my business. You need to call a company called Urban Restoration. They are a graffiti removal product manufacturer. They actually have chemicals that have been specially developed for removing graffiti in this type of situation. I will PM you their phone number, and a little more information.

 

[Highbeam]

Paint over it with a color that matches the bark. Don't spend much money since the punks will come back.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd be hitting it with a wire brush.

 

[spotco2]

I'd just paint over it with latex paint.

Wire brush will likely damage the bark.

 

[buildmyown]

Hand held wire brush dont go nuts and go threw the bark just enough to brake up the lettering. Next would be a power washer again just go easy with it.

 

[joe_padavano]

While I will defer to the graffiti removal professionals, I would think a wire brush would be too aggressive. I'd suggest a walnut shell media blast. You will likely need to feather the blast area into the rest of the bark. It will weather together eventually.

 

[Kels]

googled it and came across the idea of rubbing olive oil on no idea if that would work but would be easy to try.

Also around here at the dollar store is a cleaner called AWESOME..... it actually is very awesome I have used it on lots of surfaces have yet to have it not work for me. If you can get that I would get a scrub brush and use awesome on it I bet that would work.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

Just paint over it with a matching latex. If you want it to look somewhat nicer then dry rub/sponge a darker latex over it which will gave a shadow effect on the bark crevices. Despite what any 'expert' might tell you, atex paint will not harm the tree. Abrading in any fashion will. Harsh chemicals will harm it as well. ...and painting it is going to be your quickest and cheapest option.

 

[rlitman]

You are right, latex paint will not harm the tree. You could always take a small bark chip to HD, and have them color match it. If you want to go crazy, have the color match be a shade lighter, and apply it over the paint. Then get a tube of black paint pigment, and mix it coarsly into a dish of the paint, and apply it with a comb to get a bit of a graining pattern going.

Chemicals certainly do have a risk, as does blasting, as does wire brushing. But it all depends on the tree. If we're talking about an oak with a nice and thick bark, you could brush all day and not cause a problem. If we're talking about a birch, a layer of bark may just peel off and the paint will fall off.

One good point was raised, and that is if you use a brush, you don't have to actually remove the paint. Just break it up, and it will naturally fall off much faster now.

Paint over it with a color that matches the bark. Don't spend much money since the punks will come back.

You're making assumptions. My first thought was the house was being sold after a nasty divorce. That would change everything . . .