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.
LA CAR WRAP
hollywood fans films bus wrap
Monday, December 17, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Vehicle Prep for Wrapping
Vehicle Prep for Wrapping
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
Profitable Wraps
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.
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Figure out your business expenses and production hours to determine your hourly labor rate.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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
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.
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Helping your clients
maintain the appearance and longevity of the wrap you sold them will
make for happier clients in the long-term.
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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.
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Manufacturer instructional bulletins provide great information on care and maintenance for specific brands of media.
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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
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Top manufacturers agree that hand washing with plenty of water and a mild detergent is the best way to keep graphics clean.
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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.
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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.
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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
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.
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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.
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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.
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This fleet of vehicles
incorporates three different companies into one related design. An
updated logo and consistent design elements tie the fleet together.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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.
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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.
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I installed this 24’x16’ outdoor concrete floor graphic in front of the stage for an outdoor concert event.
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• 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.
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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)
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• 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.
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This is a temporary outdoor
concrete stair wrap that was done for an NHRA drag racing event at
Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo.
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• 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!
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