For proper adherence, all surfaces should be considered as dirty and
should therefore be cleaned prior to any vinyl application. Household
surface cleaners, such as Windex, are acceptable; however, we recommend
a 2-to-1 mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol. After thorough
washing, wipe the surface dry with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth.
Air and surface temperature must be above 55 degrees Fahrenheit for the
application of the vinyl. Apply the vinyl using the following steps:
(Note: It is recommended that a novice installer have a helper
present on the following steps. It is not a requirement however it will
help insure a quality installation.)
- Measure and mark the area you wish to apply your vinyl
using a water-soluble pencil. Water soluble pencils are available on
our accessory pages. Precision marking will help assure a level
application. Once you have the overall area defined and marked, you
should have a good idea as to where the upper right and left corners of
the decal should be placed. At this time, take your decal (paper and
all) and tape the right upper corner of it to your predetermined area.
Have your assistant hold the upper left corner of the decal in place
while you stand back a few feet and look at it. If you like it's
placement, move on to step 2.
- Tape the left corner in place
and put a piece of tape down the center of the decal. At this time,
using your water-soluble pencil, place a mark on the right and left
side of the decal. Make sure you mark both the tape and the surface you
are mounting the decal to. You will be aligning these two marks later,
so be sure you can see them clearly.
- On the Left side of
the decal, hold the paper and peel off the tape until you reach the
center of the decal. (The decal should stay stuck to the application
tape at this time) Cut the paper as close to the center as you can,
without scratching your surface.
- Spray the surface on the left side with water or application fluid (we recommend the application fluid) Note: do not spray water or application fluid when using reflective vinyl. Reflective vinyl should be applied on a dry surface. Place the left side of the decal down on the surface, taking care to
line up the lines you drew in step 2. With the application tape still
intact, squeegee the decal to the surface by applying pressure with
smooth even strokes. Start at the middle of the decal and work your way
out to the left. Note: Before you squeegee, make sure there are no
wrinkles in the decal or application tape.
- Lift up the
right hand side of the decal and remove the remainder of the backing
paper. (It is ok to lift up the piece of center tape at this time).
Apply application fluid to the right hand surface. Place the right hand
decal taking care to align your marks on the right hand side. Again,
start at the middle and squeegee toward the right hand side of the
decal. Note: Before you squeegee make sure there are no wrinkles in the
decal or application tape.
- It is a good Idea to wait just a
couple of minutes before you remove the application tape. This allows
the application fluid to begin drying and will prevent the decal from
trying to come up. Once it is adhered to the surface, squeegee the
entire decal a second time. Then carefully peel the tape off the entire
decal.
- It is common for there to be some small bubbles
throughout the decal. These bubbles will leave by themselves within a
few weeks. If you have any major, bubbles you can eliminate them by
carefully heating the area with a hair dryer or heat gun, then
puncturing them with a needle and applying pressure with your thumb.
Note: You can do more damage than good by chasing the smaller bubbles.
They will leave themselves as the vinyl breathes and the application
fluid evaporates.