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ANOKA COUNTY, MN
Graffiti removal in Ham Lake, MN
The surface underneath matters as much as the paint on top.
Graffiti on fences, garage doors, retaining walls and business signs in Ham Lake comes off best when the chemistry is matched to the surface underneath, rather than forced off with pressure. Glass House tests a small spot first and works gently, so the surface is not damaged in the process.
Carson Brenny, the owner, sees the surface and the paint before quoting and does every removal himself, with no crews or subcontractors, so the person who tests the product is the person who finishes the job.
OUR STAIN POLICY
Every stain job begins with a spot test, and we charge only for work we can complete.
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Insured to $2M
Owner-operated
Based in Ham Lake
HAM LAKE SPECIFICS
What graffiti removal means in Ham Lake
The local conditions that shape how Glass House approaches graffiti removal in Ham Lake, and the standards it holds to on every visit.
HOMES
A median home built in 1994
The median Ham Lake home was built in 1994, and about 45% of homes date from the 1990s and 2000s. After about three decades of sunlight, the surface of vinyl siding, painted trim and gutters breaks down into a chalky film, a process called oxidation. Rain running over the chalk leaves streaks, and the roughened surface gives dirt and algae a better grip. Surfaces on homes here range from older painted wood to newer brick and masonry.
OUR HOME BASE
Owner-operated from Ham Lake
Glass House is owner-operated and based in Ham Lake, and Ham Lake homes are the shortest drive on our route. The person who quotes a Ham Lake home is the person who does the work, so every detail discussed at the quote is carried out by the same person, with no crew or subcontractor in between. Every removal includes before and after photos, a useful record for an HOA or property manager.
STORMWATER
No pollutants in storm drains
Ham Lake City Code prohibits discharging pollutants or polluted water into the city storm drain system or into any watercourse. Water hosed off a driveway runs toward the street, and anything it carries, from motor oil to degreaser, can enter a storm drain and reach the watercourses the code protects.
LIMITS
Paint, not damage
Removal lifts spray paint and marker from stucco, brick, stone, painted signage, metal and siding. Anything scratched or etched into the surface is damage rather than paint, so it is pointed out at the walk-around, before work begins, rather than discovered afterward. Glass House cleans and improves surfaces; it is not a painting or repair service, so repairs and repainting go to the right trade.
Sources: Point2Homes, Ham Lake demographics (U.S. Census ACS 2019-2023); Ham Lake City Code, Section 11-1900.31.
HOW WE REMOVE GRAFFITI
Matched, tested and applied gently
No single graffiti remover is right for every surface. The product is matched to what the tag is on, and the chemistry does the work instead of pressure.
WHY WE DO NOT BLAST IT
High pressure can etch brick, concrete and stone and leave a permanent outline of the tag cut into the surface. Once a surface is etched, no cleaner can undo it.
01
Walk it and identify
Every job begins with a walk-around. We look at the surface and its finish, identify what the tag was made with and note anything nearby that needs protecting, such as plantings, windows or a neighboring wall.
02
Test a hidden spot
The chosen product goes on an inconspicuous spot first, so we can see how the paint and the surface respond before the whole tag is treated. If the test shows it is not a job we can complete, you do not pay for it.
03
Apply it and work it gently
The remover matched to your surface is applied with a low-pressure pump, worked lightly with soft bristles and left to dwell 5 to 15 minutes without being allowed to dry. You can often watch the tag fade as the chemistry works.
04
Rinse it away gently
Once the paint has released, it is rinsed off with our soft wash system, which runs at low pressure. Force would damage the very surface we are there to save, especially stucco, brick and stone, so nothing is blasted.
05
Photos when it is done
Before and after photos come with every service we provide, attached to your receipt. They give you a clear record of the work for a board, a property manager or your own files.
FOR HAM LAKE HOMES
What to know before your visit
FIRST
Take photos
Photograph it close up and from a few steps back, for your own records and so Carson can see the surface and the paint before he quotes.
SURFACE
Note the surface and paint
Tell us whether it is on brick, stucco, stone, wood, siding, metal or a sign, and whether it is spray paint or marker. Those two answers decide which product is tested.
WINDOWS
Tags on glass
Graffiti on windows is a different job. Glass is cleaned with a razor held at a specific angle, under construction cleaning, rather than with graffiti chemistry.
AFTER
Keep clear for 3 hours
Keep people and pets away from the treated area for at least 3 hours after the removal, so the surface can dry and settle.
HOW PRICING WORKS
Quoted after we see the surface
YOUR GRAFFITI JOB, AT A GLANCE
QUOTE FIRST
Spot test on your surface
Always first
Tested in an inconspicuous spot before any work starts
Graffiti removal at home
Quoted
Fences, garage doors, sheds, walls and more
Business, HOA or commercial
In person
Always quoted in person by Carson
If the graffiti will not lift
No charge
If the spot test shows we cannot complete the job, you do not pay for it
Builders and commercial sites
In person
Quoted in person by Carson
Every surface is different
Test first
Graffiti removal is quoted after Carson sees the surface and the paint, and commercial work is always quoted in person. Every job begins with a walk-around, and every stain job begins with a spot test.
THE OWNER
The person who quotes your home does the work
Glass House is owned and run by Carson Brenny, with no crews, subcontractors or handoffs. He grew up in Ham Lake, went to Blaine High School and has worked full-time in exterior cleaning for six years. The person who quotes your home is the person who arrives, does the work and walks it with you at the end.
Every job receives the gentlest method that will do the work, because too much force or too strong a mix can cause damage that no cleaning undoes. Every homeowner receives a clear explanation of what is on the house, why the method was chosen and what cleaning can and cannot fix, before any money is spent.
IN CARSON'S WORDS
“It's my neighbors' homes: their biggest investment, one of the places they spend the most time, and where the people they care about most live. It's something everyone should enjoy, and I believe that.”
Carson Brenny, owner
WHAT IS INCLUDED
What graffiti removal includes and excludes
Surface-specific chemistry does the work instead of pressure, and if the graffiti does not lift, you do not pay.
INCLUDED
In every graffiti job
• A walk-around to identify the surface and the paint
• A test on a hidden spot first
• Surface-specific chemistry, never blasting
• Plants and nearby surfaces wet down throughout
• Before and after photos with your receipt
• No charge if the graffiti does not lift
NOT INCLUDED
Outside graffiti removal
• Anything etched or scratched into the surface
• Graffiti on glass, handled as construction cleaning
• A guaranteed like-new surface on stucco, brick or stone
• Repainting, when a shadow remains
EQUIPMENT AND METHODS
Surface-matched chemistry, applied gently
Rubber gloves, a respirator and safety glasses go on first. The remover is matched to the surface, applied with a low-pressure pump, worked lightly with soft bristles and left 5 to 15 minutes without drying, then rinsed gently with our soft wash system. The products themselves are not named; they remain a trade secret.
HAM LAKE QUESTIONS
Graffiti Removal in Ham Lake: FAQ
Do you remove graffiti for Ham Lake businesses?
Yes. Signs, walls and shared structures on commercial and HOA properties are always quoted in person by Carson after he sees the site, and homes are quoted once we have seen the surface. The process is the same either way, and so is the standard: the surface underneath comes first.
Do you serve all of Ham Lake?
Yes, every neighborhood. Glass House is based in Ham Lake, so homes here are the shortest drive on the route and there is never a trip fee. Carson often works within a few miles of where he grew up, and he quotes, cleans and walks every job himself.
Can all graffiti be removed?
Not always completely. Most graffiti improves significantly, but porous brick, concrete and stone can keep a faint shadow, because some paints leave a trace once lifted. Every job begins with a spot test, which shows what is realistic for your surface before any work starts, and if the graffiti does not lift, there is no charge.
Why not pressure wash it off?
High pressure can etch brick, concrete and stone and leave a permanent outline of the tag cut into the surface, and once a surface is etched, no cleaner can undo it. Glass House uses surface-specific chemistry instead, applied gently, left to dwell and rinsed at low pressure with a soft wash system.
Will it damage my paint or siding?
The goal is to lift the graffiti and keep the finish underneath. The product is tested in a hidden spot first and applied gently, without pressure. If the original finish is aged or failing, Carson will say so before any work begins and may ask you to sign a damage waiver, so the risk is clear to everyone in advance.
How soon should I call?
As soon as you can. The best time to treat graffiti is soon after it appears, before the paint has had time to soak into porous surfaces and weather in place. Send clear photos of the tag and the surface it is on, and Carson can plan the right approach before he arrives.
