All surfaces must be considered dirty and must be cleaned prior to the application of vinyl. Cleaners such as Windex are acceptable, however, we recommend a 2 to 1 mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol. 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:
- Measure and mark the area you wish to apply your vinyl using a water-soluble pencil. Blue water-soluble pencils are available on our accessory pages. We also have white soluble marking pencils available for dark substrates. Precision marking will ensure 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. Stand back and make sure it is straight and looks good where you have it. Adjust as necessary and move on to step 2.
- Spray the surface under the decal with water or application fluid (we recommend using a decal application fluid) Note: Do not spray water or application fluid when using reflective vinyl. Reflective vinyl should be applied on a dry surface. While the decal is attached to the surface by your tape, carefully peel off the backing paper. The decal should stay stuck to the application tape at this time. 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 and then the right. 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 dry some and will prevent the decal from trying to come up. Once it has adhered to the surface, squeegee the entire decal a second time. Then carefully peel the tape off the entire decal.
- It is common for some small bubbles to appear throughout the decal. These bubbles will disappear on their own 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, carefully 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 disappear on their own as the vinyl breathes and the application fluid evaporates.