How to Install Wall Vinyl Graphics

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Removable Interior Wall Vinyl Graphic (User’s Guide)

How to install your new Wall Vinyl Graphics?

Why would we need a special users guild for the application of wall graphics?

During applications Interior vinyl wall graphics pose unique challenges. Walls may have a number of different obstacles to over come or understand however, with a better understanding of how to apply them you will have better success in the application method.

Picking the correct vinyl type

To have a successful installation for your new wall vinyl graphics, its important to understand the difference between wall vinyl and sign vinyl.

The two different features from wall vinyl to sign vinyl is that wall vinyl is removable having a different glue adhesive so that these are removable without ruining you wall upon removal. Most often wall vinyl has a matte finish and vehicle or exterior vinyl has a gloss finish.

So you get a better understanding lets first start with what not to put wall graphic on.

Before you install your vinyl Wall application

Wall graphics must be applied to a clean smooth, dry and non-porous interior surface. Freshly applied paint should be allowed to cure for a minimum of four full weeks before installing any wall vinyl graphic applications.

Finished graphics that have been shipped should be removed from shipping packages and stored flat at room temperature for 24 hours before application. Note: Wall graphics do not perform well when applied to low or zero VOC latex paint coatings!

When applying wall graphic it must be told that not all walls are suitable for vinyl decal applications. Wall graphics can only be applied successfully to surfaces that are clean, dry, smooth and a non-porous interior surface.

Any of the following conditions can cause poor adhesion or product failure:

  • Highly textured walls
  • poor initial paint bond
  • poorly painted wall edges
  • patched area that have not been sanded and/or primed before being painted
  • moisture behind drywall
  • high humidity areas including but not limited to (garages, entry ways and bathrooms
  • wall paper or other wall coverings
  • Applied to freshly painted walls while in the curing process

If your wall is to be newly painted or has just been repainted, the goal is to achieve a good bond between the substrate and the primer/paint. When applying the primer, it is important to use a high quality, oil based primer such as Kilz or Zinsser.

Once the primer is dry, apply two coats of a (the preferred paint) high quality semi-gloss enamel or avoid paints with low or no VOC to ensure a cohesive bond. It is important to know that not all paints are equal.

Instructions

30 minutes 30 minutes

How to Install your Wall Vinyl

  1. Step one: Upon Arrival

    Make sure hands are clean and dry! This helps to not dirty your painted wall.

    Your new wall vinyl will arrive packaged in a cardboard mailing tube or a stay flat envelope, depending upon the size of your wall graphic order.

    Whats inside? Note: Your wall graphic comes with a paper substrate as the backing, in the middle the vinyl graphic itself and on top is the transfer tape.
    Contents: Your vinyl material order will have inside

    i. Your order contents

    ii. Installation instructions

    iii. Blue Masking Tape

    iv. extra large craft stick

  2. Step Two: Place Decal flat on hard surface for 24 hours at room temperature

    After opening package if your wall graphic is large and needed to be rolled for shipping, unroll decal immediately and place flat on a level surface in a room temperature environment for 24 hours.

  3. Step Three: Surface Preparation-

    Make sure painted walls or substrates are clean, dust free, paint dry for at least a month and smooth example: (eggshell finish may not work)!

  4. Step Four: Additional materials needed


    – Level
    – Pencil
    – Tape measure
    – Credit card, drivers license and/or debit card (as squeegee)
    – Dentist pick (Helpful but not necessary)

  5. Step Five: Installation process

    After your decal has been flat for 24 hours now your ready to install:

    When installing your wall graphic, always apply the materials using a dry application: under no circumstances should a wet application be used.

    Also be careful using a heat source during installations, this can cause warp-age and materials may not register to walls.

    Lay the graphic image side down, on a flat surface and pull the back corner of the liner out about three inches and sharply crease.

  6. Step Six: Mark your wall for the graphic destination

    i. Mark location center on wall,
    Note: (your wall graphics center has already been marked for you).

    ii. Now flip graphic back over and using the blue tape on top of graphic to temporarily stick the wall graphics to the wall; making sure centers are aligned!

    iii. Check to make sure letters are level with a level. Measuring up to ceiling also helps keep the vinyl graphic the same equal distance from one side of graphic to the other.

  7. Step Seven: Remove wall graphic paper substrate

    Now that your wall graphic is secured to the wall with the blue tape flip the graphic upside down and slowly remove paper back substrate on a 45 degree angle.

    Hint: (if graphic is long as a friend or family member to help)

  8. Step Eight: Securing the Wall graphic to the wall

    Wall graphic is still upside down now slowly bend or roll downward from top to bottom, while slowly using your craft stick, squeegee or credit card working from center to outside.

    Depending on the size of your vinyl graphic; using your squeegee work from the center or the top to the edge. Use overlapping strokes while applying a small portion of graphic at a time.

    Then return and repeat on other side of vinyl graphic.

    Note: Large wall graphics from decals decor n more come with half the paper backing (substrate) sliced in half for easier application.

  9. Step nine: Removal of transfer tape

    Now that Wall Graphic and transfer tape are stuck to wall make sure all air and any creases are worked out using the squeegee from the center. The craft stick helps on the edges.

    To enure edges stick to wall- when the entire vinyl graphic has been completely applied to the wall, reapply pressure with the squeegee around the edges multiple times

  10. Removing the transfer tape

    Removing the transfer tape can be tricky if you do not have good adhesion to wall.

    Slowly from one upper corner peel back transfer tape on a 45 degree angle keeping tape close to wall do not pull outwards. If decal starts to come off the wall push decal back slowly and re-squeegee that area to adhere to wall better.

    NOTE: If small areas keep coming off with transfer tape a dentist pick helps push it back down

  11. Step Ten: Final Step

    Check to make sure all air pockets are removed by rubbing them to the outside edges of the vinyl being careful not to damage wall graphic.

    Clean wall and your done.

    Congratulations!!

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Care and Maintenance for you new wall vinyl graphics

In order to maintain your wall graphics original appearance it is important to adhere to these following guidelines:

  • Inspect graphic regularly
  • When cleaning graphics, use only mild soap and water solution. Do not use products that contain oil or bleach products in them
  • If the graphic is to be cleaned regularly a lamination is required to maintain graphics integrity.
  • Hand clean graphics only. Beginning at the top and work down.
  • To remove difficult items such as lipstick or crayon, use a citrus-based cleaner to remove the stain, then immediately rinse with a mild soap and water solution.
  • If your wall graphic has seems, do not wipe cleaning solution into seam. This will cause the edges to curl up from the wall.
  • Use a lint free micro-fiber cloth to dry after cleaning
  • If wall graphic is in close proximity to a hard floor surface and is cleaned regularly. It is recommended to use a clear silicone on all seams on vinyl graphics near floor surfaces.

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