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:
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Measure and mark the area you wish to apply your custom vinyl decal using a water-soluble pencil. Water-soluble pencils are available on our accessory pages or any hardware store. 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. 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 soapy 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. 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 to 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 is adhered to the surface, squeegee the entire decal again. Then carefully peel the tape off the whole 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, and 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 by themselves as the vinyl breathes and the application fluid evaporates
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