---
title: "Anti-graffiti coating"
description: "A clear protective layer applied over a mural or sculpture so tags can be cleaned off without damaging the artwork underneath."
glossary: "https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary"
source: "https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/anti-graffiti-coating"
---

# Anti-graffiti coating

> A clear protective layer applied over a mural or sculpture so tags can be cleaned off without damaging the artwork underneath.

Glossary: https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary  
Source: https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/anti-graffiti-coating

Coatings come in two families. Sacrificial coatings (usually wax-based) come
off with the tag during cleaning and must be reapplied each time. They're
cheap per application but need a budget line for the long run. Permanent coatings
(polyurethanes and newer nano-coatings) survive repeated cleaning but can
subtly shift a mural's color or sheen.

That shift is why the artist should be consulted before anything is applied:
a coating that changes how a work reads can raise the same integrity concerns
as any other alteration. The best time to decide on a coating is in the
commissioning contract, not after the first tag.

Related terms: [Graffiti](https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/graffiti), [Conservation](https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/conservation), [Mural](https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/mural)

## Mentioned in

- [Condition report form](https://www.civiccollection.com/toolkit/condition-report-form)
- [Public art inventory field checklist](https://www.civiccollection.com/toolkit/public-art-inventory-field-checklist)