Street Art Protection

How mural protection works

A mural protective coating goes over finished murals and street art as a tough, clear topcoat. If the piece is tagged, the tag sits on the varnish rather than in the paint, so it can be removed without harming the design underneath. The varnish is the easy-on Protective Clear Glaze, a two-component anti-graffiti varnish that cures to a clear gloss with no tint, so colour and detail stay visible.

Art Varnish, our clear mural varnish, and Anti-Graffiti Coating are the same product in the same sizes: 420 ml, 2.25 litres and 4.5 litres, from £65.99 incl. VAT. Art Varnish is supplied for artists, councils and community projects, and Anti-Graffiti Coating for buildings and street furniture. Order whichever name suits your project.

Where it works

It is designed for indoor and outdoor murals and resists UV, weathering and pollution, so it works as an outdoor mural protective coating in subways, under bridges, at skate parks, in shopping centres and along art trails. Use it over aerosol and acrylic paint on brick, stone, concrete, masonry and render, and on artwork painted on sealed timber, prepared metal and powder-coated surfaces, including painted street furniture.

When and how to apply it

• Wait until the artwork is fully dry. Do not coat paint that is still wet or curing, or paint that is flaking or damaged: repair defects first.
• Make sure the surface is free of dust, grease and loose material, with the wall below 6% moisture. Mask edges and adjacent materials.
• Apply at 5°C or above, with relative humidity above 40% and the surface at least 3°C above dew point.
• Pour the whole cure tin into the resin tin and stir. Do not dilute it, and use it within about 4 hours at 20°C.
• Apply one thin, even coat by brush, small roller or spray. On porous areas, add a second light coat 3–4 hours later.
• Protect the work from dust and rain. It is graffiti-resistant in about 4 hours at 20°C, and the full chemical cure takes 7 days.

Read the safety data sheet before use. The curing agent is hazardous, so wear gloves, eye protection and protective clothing, and keep the area well ventilated.

Patch-test the gloss finish

The varnish is clear, but it is a gloss, so it adds shine. Test a small patch to see how it looks on your artwork, particularly on very textured or absorbent areas, where it can give a wet look.

How much varnish you need

Practical coverage is 9–33 m² per litre, depending on the wall’s surface, porosity and texture. As a guide, 420 ml covers about 4–14 m², 2.25 litres about 20–74 m² and 4.5 litres about 40–148 m². Measure the mural and use the coverage calculator on the Art Varnish page to choose packs.

Maintenance and cleaning

If the mural is tagged, remove the mark with compatible graffiti wipes or a remover from our graffiti removal range; it lifts from the varnish without damaging the design. Wait 7 days after coating before using any chemical cleaner, and test on a small corner first. Do not use Strong Graffiti Remover or Graffiti Stain Remover on artwork: both are for masonry only and will damage paint.

For everyday dirt, mild detergent and water is enough. Avoid abrasive pads, which can dull the gloss over time. The varnish withstands hundreds of graffiti removals; inspect it routinely and recoat if the sheen or beading diminishes.

Murals we have protected

See the clear glaze on real public art, including the Doncaster Market mural, the Mexborough Library mural and the River Lea Art Trail benches, in our case studies. Not sure which product fits your project? Help me choose

Frequently asked questions