Let’s Talk Shop

By: Charity Jackson

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

I live in a household full of Dallas Cowboys fans, so I hear a lot about game plans and strategy. While I can’t compare the act of removing vinyl graphics to a professional football game, both do require a game plan and the right strategy.

Tool Kit

There are a few things you will need to do a wrap removal. Having a well-stocked tool kit on hand will make the process much more efficient. Here’s what you’ll need:

Heat—A heat gun and extension cord or a propane torch with an on/off trigger ignition. I personally prefer a torch for portability without the worry of needing an extension cord or access to an electrical outlet. We use a BernzOMatic heat shrink torch attached to a propane cylinder.

Scrapers—Typically, scrapers are used to start lifting the graphics. I use my fingernails most of the time, but the Lil Chisler or orange plastic scraper tools are handy to use as well.

Orange scrapers, plastic squeegees and plastic razor blades are helpful when lifting the corner of the graphic for peeling, and to scrape up sticky adhesive.

Chemicals—These are used post-peeling if there is left over adhesive. Rapid Remover, Goo Gone, 3M Citrus Base Cleaner, Windex or Zep glass cleaner and Denatured Alcohol are a few of the cleaners we keep on hand.

Also include—Paper towels or cloth rags for applying and wiping up the cleaners. We also keep economy squeegees in stock to scrape up the gooey adhesive after it starts to gum up from the Rapid Remover.

Elbow Grease

There’s no substitute for good old elbow grease. I’m sorry, but there is no magic chemical or secret technique that will simply cause the graphics to fall off with little effort. I’ve removed plenty of wraps over the years, and I see only a varying degree of difficulty, depending on the material that was used on the wrap I’m removing, and the condition of the vehicle’s paint.

The game plan, or approach, to a wrap removal should always include heat and a bit of patience. If you’re removing the graphics in the summer or on a warm day, park the car out in the sun for a while before starting your removal. Use a good heat gun or propane torch and heat only a small area at a time.

Work with different cleaners to find the one you like best for each stage of adhesive removal and clean-up.

Work one section at a time. Heat a section and peel the vinyl by gripping it close to the vehicle and then pulling it down flat. Keep the heat going as you peel, sweeping it from side to side. You want enough heat to make the vehicle quite warm, but avoid burning or melting the vinyl.

The Stripper Pole

One of the newest tools on the market for vinyl graphics removal is called, interestingly, The Stripper Pole. The concept is fairly simple, peel up about four inches or so of the graphics and attach to the pole in a 48" wide panel. The graphics are removed horizontally. As the material rolls onto the pole, start ratcheting the pole using a built-in ratcheting mechanism, rolling the material onto the pole. Heating as you go can help with easier removal. Check out videos and more information on www.thestripperpole.net.

On a past install we didn’t have one of these poles, but were facing a particularly headache-inducing removal job. My husband wanted to try a similar concept, albeit with a bit more muscle needed.

My husband and one of our employees teamed up on this one, working vertically instead of horizontally. They used the cardboard tube from one of our media rolls, peeling back and attaching a few inches of graphics from the top of the 4’ wide wrap panel.

They heated a couple feet by the width of the panel and then working together, rolled the cardboard tube down the truck, pulling and rolling the vinyl as they went. Your fingers stick and pull against the adhesive back of the vinyl and they found that they were starting to get blisters so they put on thick gloves.

Is this more effective than just peeling down? I think it depends on your muscles and technique. In the case of this box truck, it helped get some particularly stubborn graphics off in larger pieces.

Residue

On newer paint jobs the vehicle wrap may come of fairly easy using only heat, and leaving behind very little residue.

If you’re particularly lucky you’ll remove all the graphics and have no adhesive left behind. Unfortunately, I do not have this kind of luck. Sometimes there is just a small amount of adhesive—and sometimes there are huge patches.

I’ve found that the condition of the vehicle’s paint job is directly related to how much adhesive is left behind. An older, chalkier finish to the paint is not only more of a pain to clean before applying graphics, it’s also harder to remove adhesive.

Smooth, glossy, factory paint jobs appear to have the best removal results. Plenty of heat and peeling the graphics off in large panels also seems to help. Lots of starts and stops and peeling small sections seem to leave behind more adhesive than removing larger patches.

There are a lot of adhesive removers on the market. I always encourage that people try different products to see what works best for their company. We’ve found the best results with Rapid Remover, followed by a wipe down with Zep glass cleaner and a final wipe down with denatured alcohol (not watered down).

Adhesive Removal

Once we’ve removed all the graphics, we spray down the leftover adhesive with a fair amount of Rapid Remover. I find it best to swipe a paper towel along the bottom of the vehicle or along areas where I don’t want the cleaner to drip onto body panels, bumpers or other plastic pieces.

After the adhesive remover has been on a few minutes, grab a plastic squeegee and start scrapping the adhesive to loosen it up. You’ll literally have a gooey mess on your hands. You can spritz on a little more adhesive remover for stubborn areas and then wipe it down with paper towels, pinching up the sticky mess.

Sometimes it takes a few passes to get the majority of the adhesive off. We follow this initial removal by another light spray of Rapid Remover and lightly scrub with a paper towel to loosen and remove any patches of adhesive.

We will usually spritz down a whole side at a time and start removing the adhesive before spraying down the next side. I like to have the adhesive remover sit for a few minutes before starting to scrape, but not long enough for it to dry on the vehicle.

Residue Removal

After the adhesive has been removed there will be an oily residue left on the vehicle. It’s important to remove all the oily residues before applying new graphics.

If you’re set up with an area to wash the vehicle down with soapy water and a hose, this might be a more efficient way to remove this residue. Use a soap that removes grease or oily films and scrub down the vehicle paying close attention to crevices, like gas tank areas, bumpers or around moldings, and any areas where the adhesive remover may have dripped.

If the removal sections are smaller, or if you’re not set up to wash the vehicle down, you can also use Windex, Zep or another glass cleaner. We spray down a side at a time and follow up with paper towels to wipe it all down. These are fairly mild cleaners that cut through the oily film. Again, pay close attention to the crevices removing any oily residue.

If we are going to be reinstalling new graphics we try to do the removal of old graphics and cleaning the day before installation to allow the vehicle to completely dry overnight. Just before installation of the new graphics we do one more wipe down with denatured alcohol.

Some people prefer isopropyl alcohol, some prefer an isopropyl and water mixture. We prefer straight denatured alcohol. Use whatever works best for you, as long as it leaves no residue or spotting behind. Once the adhesive and cleanser residues have been removed the vehicle should be ready for the new graphics.

Due Diligence

Prior to starting any removal job, be sure that you’ve inspected the vehicle and talked over any liability issues with the customer. Look for flaking or bubbling paint, areas with missing paint, chalky finishes or other spots that raise any concerns.

Either use a vehicle template, draw a rough template or print out a photo of the vehicle and circle and note on the template what the concern is. Documentation of problems is critical; be sure to specifically point these areas out to the customer as well.

Whether the vehicle has any obvious areas of potential failure or not, let the customer know—prior to removal—that you cannot be held liable for any paint that may come off during removal of the graphics.

Generally, factory paint jobs on newer vehicles do not have any issues, but you cannot guarantee the paint, especially on older vehicles, since you did not paint the vehicle. If you also did not do the original wrap that you’re removing, you cannot be liable for any cut marks or prior damage done by another company during the initial install.

The chances of major issues are slim on most installs or are at least understood by the customer when explained. Be sure to get the customer’s signature on the invoice or template documenting that you’ve explained the possibility of damage and they understand. A stamp or printed waiver with a signature will go a long way in covering you in case a problem does arise.  

Popular Ideas for Your Truck Wraps

You know that you want to be innovative in your marketing attempts and the usage of truck wraps is the perfect opportunity. Designing the best wraps, however, may be a lot more challenging that it actually sounds in theory.
Several little tips and creative approaches will help you design the optimal truck wraps that will get noticed and that will help you attract new customers for your products and services. Do you know how to design the best vehicle wraps for your corporate needs? Here are several effective techniques
Focus on a Person
Most truck wraps are presenting a specific product. People are getting used to those and although the medium is still interesting and fresh, it may be losing some of the originality. You can use a little trick to keep your marketing campaign different.
Instead of focusing on a product, focus on a person. Present the people that are working in your company. Combined with the right slogan, a photograph of an individual can be highly effective. The person has to look friendly, yet professional enough. A good photographer will know what it takes.
Presenting the people behind the corporate identity is a truly great way to establish a relationship with potential clients. Still, you have to connect the design of the truck wraps to the activities and the niche that your company is operating in.
Your Company’s Logo
A strong corporate identity will be determining for the success of truck wrap designs. Before you think about anything else, you should have a memorable logo developed.
People do notice logos, although many company representatives believe that the corporate identity elements are simple supposed to be there without affecting the decisions that consumers make.
On the contrary! A clever, funny and witty logo will get noticed. Think outside the box and make sure that the logo speaks of professionalism and establishes a connection to your professional niche.
Attractive Product Presentation
Some businesses need product presentations. Truck wraps are the perfect medium for such ads because they are very large. A high quality product photograph will look even more impressive whenever placed on a large piece of vinyl.
Photographing products, especially the ones that have a simplistic and unattractive appearance, can be a problem. You need the assistance of a professional photographer. The quality of the equipment and the editing that the image undergoes before getting printed will be important for success.
A good product photo has to be very bright and very bold. Still, it is important to refrain from misleading the potential customers. Such unrealistic presentations can make the marketing campaign backfire.
Come Up with a Catchy Slogan
Truck wraps need catchy slogans in order to get noticed. The slogan can speak a lot, especially if you decide to puzzle the audience and to adopt an approach that is far from direct.
Work on the catchy slogan. It has to be brief, it has to be original and it has to be different from everything else that the average consumer has ever seen. You will find out how difficult it is to create the perfect slogan once you begin working on it.
Using your sense of humor is perfectly acceptable. Some of the best slogans are humorous, naughty and bold. Try to focus the statement you are willing to make in three or four words. The shorter it is, the easier it will be to remember and to connect to your company.
Truck wraps can help you achieve all of your marketing goals. You have a very big canvas to work with and you can be eccentric or innovative in your promotional approach. Making the wraps different and unique is the only way to get noticed. Consult a professional designer and you will get some great ideas for the execution of your creative truck wrap concept.

Vehicle Prep for Wrapping

By: Lowen Certified

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

How to properly clean a vehicle’s surface

Before you begin a wrap project, the most important thing to remember is to properly prep the vehicle. Without this step, the film simply won’t stick. Dust, dirt or even oils from your hand can cause the film to pull away from the surface if it’s not sanitized beforehand. Here are some tips to keep in mind when a customer brings the vehicle in. 

 

First, standard prep includes washing the vehicle with soap and water–no wax—about 24 hours in advance. Touchless auto wash is OK, but be sure to blast out the wheel wells and undercarriage manually. That is where most of the tar and road grime accumulates. 

 

The next day, take your 610 tape and squeegee five-inch long strips around various, inconspicuous parts of the vehicle. Once you’ve done that, let them sit about 15 minutes and one-by-one rip them away from the vehicle to check for clear coat or body color. 

 

You’ll want to make sure that the paint is intact, because the film will stick to loose paint rather than the vehicle, which will produce patches upon removal. 

 

If you’re ready to go after this, apply an isopropyl alcohol solution all over the vehicle body. 

There might be some areas that are difficult to clean where bugs, adhesive or tar contaminants might still be. In this case, you can use a solution like xylene. Be aware of using xylene though; if it is left on the vehicle paint too long, it will cause damage. Always test before use. 

 

Next, apply prep-sol to the entire area that you are getting ready to wrap and alcohol again. Once the body is dry, you are ready to apply the material. 

 

Finally, saturate the vehicle again with isopropyl alcohol, and remember to do smaller scale alcohol wipe downs as you go panel by panel and that the area is completely dry before applying the graphic.

 

If you follow these steps prior to wrapping a client’s vehicle, you are insuring the material life of the product as well as making sure that removal will go smoothly when it comes time to re-wrap. 

Profitable Wraps

By: Charity Jackson

Thursday, December 1, 2011

How to make money selling wraps

Pricing vehicle wraps is generally broken down by the cost of the graphics, installation and design. There may be a number of different ways that you arrived at your pricing model, but when is the last time that you checked to see if you actually are making any money?

 

JUST TO OPEN THE DOORS

To know if you’re making money selling vehicle wraps, or any signs for that matter, you must also know what your shop overhead is. This is an important step you cannot afford to skip. If you determined your overhead a few years ago, it’s probably time to do it again. 

 

This is often easier said than done and to fully explain the process would be an article all unto itself. I suggest doing a little research to see what resources (checklists, forms, etc.) are already available. 

 

Figure out your business expenses and production hours to determine your hourly labor rate.

There are also a number of computer programs developed specifically for the sign industry. These programs will often walk you through a step-by-step process to help you determine your costs.

 

In a nutshell, you need to determine how much your rent, utilities, employees, insurance, advertising and other expenses cost you. You also need to know your costs on materials and production supplies. Then you need to figure out how many actual production hours your shop actually works. Not just the time you open the doors, but the time that is actually spent creating a product that is making you money. The hours worked, coupled with expenses, will help you determine where to set your hourly rate to be profitable.

 

GRAPHICS

Wraps are time consuming. Even when you get really good at them, they will typically take longer to produce, from start to finish, than most printed signs. You can make money at them, but you need to know your costs at each stage of the pricing structure. Figuring out your overhead helps you determine your hourly labor rate. Next, you need to look at material costs.

 

Take the time to compare material costs among reliable suppliers to be sure you are paying the best possible price. Take time at the front counter to review the customer’s budget and expectations, and walk the vehicle, pointing out obstacles and artwork placement.

Most sign companies I’ve talked to charge for the graphics on a wrap by the square foot or square meter. Determining what your price per square foot or meter needs to be cannot be solely based upon what the competition is charging. 

 

Take the example of cheating off your schoolmate’s test; how do you know that they are right? Your competition may be undercutting both the industry and themselves and will be out of business in six months, do you want to join them?

 

Make a chart of all the vinyls and laminates you use on vehicle wraps—cast materials, calendared materials, perforated window film and optically clear laminate. What is your cost per square foot on these materials? If it’s 54" material, do you realistically print the full 54" or do you average 48"? Take that into consideration.

 

Once you have your list, check with at least two of your suppliers and find out what they charge for the materials. Are the materials generally in stock? Does the company have a delivery truck or will you have to pay shipping? Many suppliers are willing to offer a price cut on a material to be competitive—often you just need to ask. 

 

Be aware of your competition and what they are charging, but base your wrap pricing on your shop overhead as well as current market pricing.

Here’s where the competition can come into play; do a little detective work to see what a handful of the local competitors are charging per square foot. Toss out the obvious under-cutters and use the information to see if you are charging enough or too much. This should be strictly used as a checks-and-balance for your company.

 

Once you have your costs, you will know what you need to charge to make a profit. Once you know what the competition is charging, you know what you need to charge to be competitive. 

 

Make sure you don’t price yourself out of the ballpark, but more importantly don’t undercut the competition for the sake of trying to get every job. You’ll end up doing more work for less money and will miss out on the true profits. Not to mention, you’ll annoy the competition and likely put yourself out of business.

 

INSTALLATION

There are many factors that come into play when quoting the installation of graphics. This is one reason we don’t quote wraps over the phone. 

 

It’s important for customers to understand the level of skill that is necessary to do a high-quality job wrapping their vehicle. Educating the customer on the process of wrapping a vehicle, and physically walking around the vehicle with them, is an effective way to explain your skill and expertise and to develop a working relationship.

 

Selling a vehicle wrap goes beyond just the costs of materials. You are also selling your experience. With this experience comes quality and durability.

 

As you walk around the vehicle, point out obstacles to the customer and let them know how you typically tackle them. Will emblems be removed? Can you remove mirrors, lights or other obstacles to get a better install? Point out rubber window seals and moldings and explain how graphics are typically trimmed around them.

 

Some companies I have talked to price their installations by the square foot, while others price a flat fee. Typically both approaches also take into account vehicle obstacles, concave and convex areas and other time-consuming factors.

 

We’ve wrapped enough vehicles that I can generally estimate the number of hours it will take to do a wrap based upon the vehicle type and amount of coverage. This takes into account the obstacles, so we charge a flat rate based on the total number of hours.

 

To determine the cost-effectiveness of offering wraps, you need to also ask yourself a few questions. Does my company do enough wraps to be efficient installers? In the amount of time we spent wrapping a vehicle, could we have made more money doing other jobs? Do we foresee the wraps portion of our business growing, which eventually will make us more efficient and profitable? Would further educating our installers in a wraps course be justified?

 

Your design pricing should be based on how much artwork is provided, how much you will need to create custom as well as the complexity of the vehicle.

Box trucks are relatively easy to design and install and are a great type of wrap to pursue as you build up your wrap installation skills.

DESIGN

The amount of time spent designing vehicle wraps can vary. How much artwork is the customer providing that is useable? How much has to be recreated or purchased? Does the customer have a clear idea of the design direction or are they completely “open”? 

 

Some sign companies choose to include design as “part” of the wrap without breaking it out. Other companies, like ours, have a flat starting rate to create and fit artwork to the customer’s vehicle.

 

However you determine your pricing, you need to make sure you’re taking into consideration your hourly shop rate and you are accurately charging for design. Customers need to pay for your expertise. 

 

Be sure you quote a rate and explain how many revisions that includes. If you go beyond the included revisions, be sure the customer is clear on how much the extra design time will cost. 

 

Like installation, this is a good time to show the customer why design costs extra. Provide samples of your work, including other wraps. Explain to them the basics to effective design and specifically how you plan to make their design effective.

 

The design process is also a great time to build a relationship with the customer. People love to talk about themselves and business owners love to talk about their companies. Get your customer talking.

 

Building a relationship is often more important than price. If the customer trusts you and realizes that you understand their budget and goals, then they are more likely to pay more for your services.

 

Cost-cutting strategies can help your business be profitable with wraps and all types of signs. If you offer wraps, be sure you’re making money doing them. Don’t offer them just because everyone else is. 

 

Look for ways to be better, faster and more efficient with your labor. Couple this with competitive material costs and you are well on your way to being a profitable wrapper. 

Wraps Maintenance

By: Charity Jackson

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Tips to prolong the life of the wrap

Customers spend a lot of money to have their vehicles wrapped. Helping them maintain the appearance and increase the longevity of the wrap can be done with a simple care and maintenance instruction sheet. 

 

The care and maintenance guideline should go beyond just recommendations of regular hand washing and the avoidance of abrasive chemicals and brushes. Additional information on power washing, waxing and when it’s best to bring it back in for a professional go-over, should also be covered.

 

Helping your clients maintain the appearance and longevity of the wrap you sold them will make for happier clients in the long-term.

Car Wash

Usually one of the first post-wrap questions I get is, “Can I take it through the car wash?” The short answer is “yes,” but they probably shouldn’t. Hand washing is a much better choice. The customer just spent hundreds or thousands of dollars on their wrap; it’s in their best interest to protect that investment.

 

I reviewed the graphics instruction bulletins for 3M, Avery and Oracal to get an idea of what some manufacturers recommend. The instructions for hand washing were generally the same from all three.

 

• Customers should be instructed to wash their vehicle using a non-abrasive cleaner without strong solvents. Plenty of water should be used, washing the vehicle from the top down to wash any debris off the vehicle.

 

• Try to avoid brushes—whether in an automatic car wash or brushing by hand—as they can dull the finish of the laminate and can cause scratching. Brushes can also lift loose edges. Use a soft sponge or rag instead of a brush, and avoid excessive scrubbing. Take extra care on matte or textured finishes.

 

• Rinse off any residue thoroughly with clean water. Allow the vehicle to air dry or use a microfiber cloth to dry.

 

Manufacturer instructional bulletins provide great information on care and maintenance for specific brands of media.

Power Washing

We’ve wrapped a fleet of delivery box trucks a few times over the last 15 years or so. These trucks are pressure-washed every Thursday. For the company this is the most efficient way to keep their trucks clean.

 

While the finish to the graphics does dull a little over the years, pressure washing can be used, when hand washing isn’t an option. There are a few tips that your customers should keep in mind if pressure washing their vehicle.

 

• Avoid excessive pressure that can cause damage to the graphics. Excessive pressure on damaged graphics can allow water to get underneath the graphic causing lifting and curling. 

 

• Do not direct the spray at a sharp angle to the graphics.

 

• Avoid spraying directly on wrap seams.

 

• Trim back all lifted edges, and seal with an edge sealer or replace the section of graphics if necessary. (Lifted edges can tear further when the vehicle is driven).

 

The 3M, Avery and Oracal instruction bulletins each offered specific instructions on pressure washing. While there are some differences in the specifics, the information can be used as a general guideline. Consult the manufacturer bulletin for the particular material you are using.

 

• Water pressure—maximum 800 psi to 2000 psi

• Water temperature—maximum 72 to 180 degrees

• Spray nozzle spray pattern of 40 degrees

• Minimum distance of nozzle to the graphic—12 to 18 inches

• Spray angle—45 degrees, sweeping spray

• Never use a Turbo pressure nozzle

 

Top manufacturers agree that hand washing with plenty of water and a mild detergent is the best way to keep graphics clean.

Waxing or Polishing

I have had customers ask about polishing or waxing their vehicle wrap to help protect against airborne pollutants. This question took a little extra research on my part as I didn’t fully understand the difference between wax and polish. 

 

Both Oracal and Avery recommend avoiding Carnauba-based waxes, while silicone or Teflon-based polishes that are designed for vehicle graphics are fine. So what’s the difference?

 

• Carnauba-based waxes are popular on vehicles without graphics because they can be buffed to a high shine. This buffing process needs to be rigorous though and can cause damage to graphics.

 

• Waxes are also heat sensitive and can melt in the sun. The greasy results attract dirt and can cause black streaks. Heat also releases the stain in the wax, which can stain the graphics.

 

• The Teflon or silicone-based polish used should be specifically designed for use on vehicle wraps. Avery recommends CrystalTek’s Wrap Polish, which does not contain any wax. The polish is designed to protect new wraps against harsh elements and pollution. CrystalTek states the polish will not chip or turn yellow and is safe for use on many different finishes.

 

Visit their website (www.crystaltek.us.com) for more information on this product.

 

3M recommends not using any waxes or polishes on matte, textured or other unique finishes. Also, these films are harder to repair if they become scratched, so be aware of parking near shrubs, trees or other items that may scratch the finish.

 

Graphics can be polished using a polish intended for use specifically with vehicle graphics. Check product information; this wax notes that it is not compatible with use over decals. Graphics that are lifting need to be repaired or replaced for long-term durability. If pressure washing, be sure to avoid lifting graphics and seams.

Gunk Happens

You may be very diligent about washing your vehicle regularly, but gunk is bound to end up on your vehicle at some point. It’s important to remove the offending residue as soon as possible to avoid staining and other damage to your vehicle. 

 

• Whatever type of cleaner you use; be sure to test it in an inconspicuous place first. 

 

• For a gas spill be sure to wash off the residue as soon as possible with soapy water. 

 

• An isopropyl alcohol wipe down followed by a cleaning with a citrus-based cleaner will help remove oil, tar or asphalt that may build up on the graphics. Citrus-based cleaners are also effective in removing waxy marks on the graphics. 

 

• Check the manufacturer bulletin for the specific media you are using for additional chemical recommendations for cleaning. 

 

• Follow any chemical cleanings with a regular washing with water and a mild cleanser. 

 

• Rinse with clean water and dry with a lint-free or microfiber cloth.

 

Initial Maintenance

In addition to regular washings by the customer, I also recommend that the customer simply keeps an eye on their wrap—especially the first few days and weeks. Wrap maintenance starts with proper installation, but due to weather conditions or wrap installation obstacles on the vehicle there may be some bubbles or lifting that occurs within the first week or so.

 

This is the best time to catch these small problems—before they become big issues. If the customer does experience any issues, have them bring the vehicle by for a quick go-over. Add additional heat to any bubbles, removing them and following up with a good post-heat.

 

If graphics are lifting, be sure to trim them and apply an edge sealer. If they have already become dirty, take the time and effort to replace any failing sections. You want the customer to be happy long-term.

 

Be sure customers are aware of warranties on the graphics, typically three years on cast vinyl graphics and one year on perforated window films. Reviewing these when the vehicle is initially wrapped will help ease confusion in years to come.  

Let’s Talk Shop

By: Charity Jackson

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Better fleet design

We are bombarded by “brands” every day. The good ones grab our attention and become memorable. When a customer first comes to us for logo design, we often recommend they walk the aisles of their local grocery store and simply pay attention to logos, packaging colors and fonts. 

 

Doing this helps them form opinions about what they like and don’t like. It also helps them understand what works and what doesn’t.

 

The customer’s original logo was given an updated look, while still incorporating his original windmill design. The design elements can be modified as needed for his new trucks, while still maintaining a consistent overall brand.

So what does this have to do with fleet graphics? Everything. Fleet graphics are a company’s best form of advertising. Multiple vehicles, on the road, exposing their brand to thousands of people.

 

Whether a customer has a fleet of vehicles ready to letter, plans to continually add to their fleet or even wants to make their one vehicle look like it belongs to a fleet, good design starts from the beginning. The design should easily translate to multiple types of vehicle and background colors.

 

Branding should also clearly convey the company’s product or service. It should be relevant to their industry and it should be easy to read on a moving vehicle.

 

This fleet of vehicles incorporates three different companies into one related design. An updated logo and consistent design elements tie the fleet together.

Coverage

Fleet graphics can range from simple door lettering to full wraps, and everything in between. Every customer will have some idea of what they’re willing to spend on their graphics. Often it takes presenting a few size vs. price options to find the coverage that will meet their budget.

 

If a particular vehicle within their fleet is on the road more often or visits heavily populated areas, then larger graphics may be considered for that vehicle, while smaller spot graphics are used on other vehicles in the fleet. Review the list of vehicles in the customer’s fleet, find out if they plan to do them all at once, determine a budget and then work with the customer to determine coverage.

 

Consistency

A fleet that we are currently working on involves many different types of vehicles and three separate but related companies. This customer wanted to update his previous company logo, freshen up the colors and incorporate a uniform look.

 

We’ve installed partial wraps on sales pickups, utility trucks, a crane utility truck, a semi-truck tanker and we’re currently working on replacing the graphics on his fleet of small tanker trucks. The core logo needed to be maintained on all the vehicles.

 

One of three full wraps, the bright green background on these trucks definitely grabs attention. The orange and black on the logo and minimal text pops against the background making for an effective and bold design.

The tanker trucks were originally painted with a gold metallic stripe. The first vehicles did not have any pre-existing gold on them so we were able to incorporate a gray wave design in the background. When we got to the tankers we simply dropped the gray background and worked with the gold stripe, still maintaining the colors and design of the logo.

 

The larger windmill, clean color scheme and larger “Propane” on the new design gave the company logo a fresher feel. Consistent placement of the logo elements and use of a background design tied together all three different companies, within one basic overall design.

 

Big & Bold

One of our first customers was a fleet account for a local winery. These box trucks have been wrapped and re-wrapped a few times over the years. Sometimes we’re given artwork or some ideas of what the customer wants, but we’ve also been simply given a wine that they want to feature and we get to come up with the design. 

 

This customer understands the importance of bright, bold images and maximum coverage on their rolling billboards. We try to capture the spirit of the wine by incorporating the design elements used on the wine label and other advertising. 

 

Two color, cut vinyl lettering has been the way we’ve lettered many vehicles over the years for a local carpet cleaning company. For their newest van we offered them a new design option, incorporating the same basic design as the rest of their fleet, but with a bigger background element and a little more color.

Another company that went big and bold now has three vehicles in his fleet and plans to add another vehicle with each new employee. These vehicles have a bold “gator” background with a bright, simple logo. The artwork is busy and bright, but it is hard to miss and achieves the look the customer was after. We can also easily incorporate this design on all future vehicles.

 

Grow With The Customer

Years ago we created a simple logo for a local carpet cleaning business. Before we bought our first large-format printer, everything was designed to be cut in vinyl. This wasn’t always a bad thing.

 

Full color printing is a great tool for any sign company, but don’t be afraid to stick with bold, single colors when it works. For our carpet cleaning customer, we continued with his simple scheme, but added a little more color to the design, went a little bigger with the logo and added a large background design.

 

The newest van incorporates all the same elements as the original van graphics we did, but the increased size makes a bigger impact. As this customer continues to grow his business, we’ve shown him that we can grow alongside him to continue to meet his needs in even more creative and effective ways.

 

Simple vector artwork, printed and contour cut, can be scaled to work on multiple vehicle types. These graphics are easy to read and convey the customer’s service clearly.

Another customer with box trucks has had us wrap three different trucks, one each year. For him it was important that we incorporate a photo of one of his salespeople surrounded by the furniture he sells. 

 

The first year it was the salesperson and her dog, the next year it was her and her son and the latest truck featured the son. The background design grew with the company, achieving the “family” feel he desired. The company logo, colors and contact information remained prominent in the design as well, creating an overall effective design.

 

A few years ago we created a simple full color design for a local plumber. The contour cut graphics, clean layout and concise content have translated well to multiple vans and pickups as the customer has grown his business. These spot graphics are all vector based and can be scaled to any size.

 

The owners of the propane company also own a portable toilet business. This company also had a pre-existing logo that needed some updating. We chose a bold, edgier design while maintaining his existing colors. 

 

The graphics were printed and contour cut and sized to fit the large doors of his truck. The next vehicle he’s bringing in has completely different doors, but by designing the graphics with this in mind, we’re able to easily move elements around to fit, while still maintaining the overall look of his new logo. 

Wrapping the Rough Stuff

By: Dave King

Friday, June 1, 2012

Practical tips for rough-surface wraps

A number of years ago a few companies wanted to bring out a solution for applying graphics to streets. I tested a number of products in the beginning, starting with MACtac StreetRap. Since that time, a number of companies, including 3M, Arlon and Oracal (to name a few), have begun offering rough surface wrap products. I have used a few of the products on many jobs and they work well. I think the biggest issue is the customer expectations for durability and the installation.

 

Arlon offers both DPF 6700 and DPF 8000 for rough surface applications. DPF 8000, shown here, features a special adhesive system designed to stick to low-energy surfaces such as concrete and brick.

The main thing that makes this product different from other adhesive-backed vinyl films is the volume of adhesive on the film; typically this film has much more adhesive on it then other films. For most adhesive-backed vinyl installations, you must clean the surface very well with alcohol and install the graphics with a squeegee. But when it comes to rough surfaces such as outdoor concrete patio flooring, in most cases you have little to no control over the condition of the surface before you arrive. Was food spilled on it? Does it have dirt ground into it? Is it dusty or greasy? You must assume that the rough surface is not ready for your vinyl install and plan on making a thorough surface prep. 

 

It is important to note here that installing vinyl graphics onto a rough or highly irregular surface takes much longer than conventional applications. If you are doing this type of job, be sure to charge accordingly for your time. The challenge is to balance the time-driven success of the graphic against the cost and time to prep and install. 

 

Applying vinyl to a rough vertical surface is a bit different than working on a horizontal surface, so I will review each separately.

 

Installing graphic films onto a rough or unfinished wall can be quite time consuming due to the amount of time needed to work the vinyl into the irregularities of the surface. Be sure to charge accordingly. (Image courtesy Lowen Certified Installers)

Horizontal Rough Surfaces

Cleaning a horizontal surface can be more work than a vertical surface because of the issues caused by foot and vehicle traffic. When you introduce adhesive to a surface—like a sidewalk or a street (asphalt or concrete), a tile floor with wide grout, brick or cobble stones, etc.—you must understand that the adhesive will only adhere well to a solid surface and must not have anything loose in the way. 

 

For example, in a concrete park area, dirt and sand will inevitably collect on the surface, and when you apply the adhesive to the surface, most of the adhesive will grab the loose particles. The result is that there is not enough solid surface for the adhesive to grab, and the vinyl will fail because it just cannot stand up against the traffic. 

 

The huge benefit to the horizontal surface is gravity—the vinyl automatically wants to lay flat on the surface; and each person or vehicle that moves over the image applies more pressure to it, causing the adhesive below to grab harder to the surface. Other items that contribute to failure include gum, grease, food, water, etc. All of these items will likely cause the vinyl to lift in areas. Bottom line: Prep the surface well. 

 

I installed this 24’x16’ outdoor concrete floor graphic in front of the stage for an outdoor concert event.

Here are some practical tips to consider:

 

• It’s a good idea to first pressure wash the areas for the graphic on the day before the install. Then on the install day—assuming the ground is dry and still clean—use a leaf blower and blow away all the fine dust, dirt and sand particles.

 

• Do not use a wire brush, screwdriver or other sharp implement to scrape the surface because any damage caused to the pavement will remain after the graphic is removed and the owners will be upset with you. 

 

• Using a torch or good heat gun, tack down the all edges. When the vinyl is still hot, use a small foam paint roller to roll down the vinyl into the rough surface. Heat is very important as this causes the adhesive to flow and become more aggressive. Plus, the heat causes the vinyl to become very soft and conformable. 

 

• If you choose to use a squeegee to apply the vinyl, be careful: when the squeegee encounters small rocks and rough spots, it can cause the vinyl to rip. Use the squeegee at a very sharp angle (almost flat to the surface) so as not to catch sharp parts. Follow up with the foam roller.

 

• Once all the edges are tacked down you can begin to work on the rest of the image. Yes, this takes time, but you must do it to insure a successful installation. 

 

• During removal of the graphic, adhesive residue can be an issue. If you can, try to remove the vinyl with some heat, 140 degrees is perfect heat to remove vinyl. In some cases you may still find some adhesive residue left behind. Use Xylene to remove it.

 

TPM Graphics in Greenville, S.C. installed these impressive stadium graphics for the University of Southern Carolina in 2008 using then newly developed 3M Textured Wall Film. (Images courtesy of TPM Graphics)

• If the surface is a brick walkway, be careful when removing the vinyl because sometimes the adhesive sticks so well that the bricks want to be lifted out of the ground with the vinyl.

 

• When removing graphics from an asphalt surface you might find that the graphics stuck too well. I have done a few on hot summer days and a month later I had a very difficult time getting the graphics off the asphalt. I found that the tar and the adhesive worked together to make a very strong bond.

 

Vertical Rough Surfaces

In my opinion rough wall surfaces are more difficult to install than rough horizontal surfaces, partly because you have to fight gravity, and also because you don’t have the added compression of foot traffic to help press it down. In any case, wall prep is very important. 

 

I find that many brick walls can be quite dusty, and it takes a lot of work to get the dust off the surface; especially if the grout has a 1/4" groove in which dust has collected. 

 

Here are some practical tips to consider:

 

• If the wall is outdoors, you can use a gas powered pressure washer or leaf blower to clean the surface. I find that I must do most of these jobs at night as the noise from these tools is too much for customers to deal with. 

 

• For interior walls I like to start cleaning with a stiff brush, then use a compressor (a high-recovery one like the builders use) with a vacuum. I blow the wall toward the vacuum end to keep the dust down. 

 

• If the interior wall must be further cleaned, use isopropanol alcohol on a terrycloth rag. Brick, cinder block, and many other common interior surfaces are quite porous so you don’t want to use industrial chemicals to clean on the wall. 

 

• When installing I like to attach the vinyl to the whole wall first by tacking down the edges using heat and foam rollers. 

 

This is a temporary outdoor concrete stair wrap that was done for an NHRA drag racing event at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo.

• Press the vinyl into the all the cracks and around the different bricks/blocks. 

 

• Be careful not to overheat and burn the vinyl. 

 

• You can expect some tenting of the vinyl, and there will be small areas where the vinyl is not adhering to anything. But if you push the vinyl too far you will have failure attaching to the surface.

 

• Be patient. This is going to take you a while. When I install normal adhesive-backed vinyl on a flat 10' x 20' wall, it takes me about two hours. But if I am installing the same size graphic to a brick or cinderblock wall, it will take me between six to eight hours. 

 

If you are using outside installers you can expect to pay a lot more per square foot for the job. If you do the install yourself, be ready; this is a difficult job.

 

Impressive Results

In the end you will be impressed with the job and your customers should love it. Customers today are looking for something different in their business, bars, restaurants, and retail stores are embracing this street/wall wrap solution. Go and sell them on this; the money to be made is great. 

 

Okay then; good luck, and be smart with your money, and I will see you on the show floor!