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Mural Best Practices

Commissioning a mural offers more than just an opportunity to showcase your company or brand—it also enriches your employees and the community. To ensure the success of your mural project, consider these strategies.

Timeline

Before embarking on a mural project, it's crucial to establish a clear timeline. Various factors such as design considerations, permits, easements, lift rentals, and payment arrangements can impact the project's schedule. By defining your desired delivery date upfront, we can work together to ensure the project stays on track. As the painting process unfolds, factors like mural size, surface type, detailing, paint types, weather conditions, and project complexity will also influence the timeline. It's worth noting that extreme weather conditions, such as temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit or dropping below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, can result in a price increase of over 25% due to the added challenges they pose.

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Permits & Permission

When planning a mural, it's essential to consider permits and permissions. For indoor murals, obtaining permits might not be necessary, but outdoor murals often require approvals depending on location, design, and materials. For JC, in the case of murals taller than 9 feet, a lift is required, and permission might be needed from adjacent property owners to use the lift on their premises.

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Distinguishing between a mural and a sign is important, as requirements can differ based on this classification. In certain places like Chicago, artists might be allowed to acknowledge sponsors or partners of the art mural within a designated acknowledgment panel, not exceeding two square feet in size and located adjacent to the bottom edge of the mural.

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In scenarios where a mural might obstruct sidewalks, alleys, or streets, a Right of Way Permit might be necessary to manage the potential disruptions caused.

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The responsibility for securing all necessary permits and permissions falls upon the person or business commissioning the mural.

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Preparation

Before initiating the mural painting process, it's essential to evaluate the current condition of the wall surface. Typically, the wall will need to be primed before the mural can be applied. Addressing any necessary repairs should be a priority, and these repairs should be completed before beginning the mural painting process. While JC doesn't handle wall repairs directly, arrangements can be made to have the wall prepared and primed by one of his preferred vendors for an additional cost.

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In Progress

Whether working indoors or outdoors, it's important to establish a reasonable timeline that accounts for drying times. These drying times can vary based on factors such as weather, location, and materials used. JC typically employs layering techniques in his work, so it's important to understand that even for smaller murals, completion might span multiple days.

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Given that weather conditions can impact mural painting, JC might need to adjust the scheduled creation day to accommodate any weather-related delays. Even if the current day is sunny, prior weather disruptions might necessitate a slight postponement.

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Maintenance

To ensure the longevity of your mural, consider applying a protective varnish. This step includes coatings that deter graffiti from adhering and UV protection to prevent fading, particularly for outdoor murals or those exposed to direct sunlight indoors. While these protective coatings are not part of the standard mural project, JC can assist in contracting these services through his preferred vendors for an additional cost.

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By following these guidelines and understanding the intricacies involved in preparing for a new mural, you can set the stage for a successful and visually captivating project.

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