Protecting applications from winter weather conditions
If a sign shop installs and removes the wrap properly, the vehicle’s paint job should not be affected.
With the harsh weather of the winter months approaching, many signmakers and their customers wonder if their vehicle wraps will be able to survive the season. The answer is a question of not only effective installation, but also ongoing care.
Given the growing popularity of vehicle wraps, what was once a summer-focused marketing technique has now become a year-round business across Canada. Proper wrapping techniques can help prepare graphics to withstand colder temperatures, but in particular, if a wrap will be applied during the winter, it is important to ensure the installation bay is kept warm enough—at least 10 to 16 C (50 to 60 F).
Then, to care for the wrap correctly, typical maintenance will include a weekly wash, keeping the vehicle sheltered whenever feasible and fixing any small tears, breaks, or holes in the vinyl as soon as possible.
Rock salt and de-icing chemicals, which are commonly used in the winter to help keep roads clear of snow and ice, can certainly present an issue for wrapped vehicles, as they can begin to eat away at the vinyl and ruin its appearance. To combat this problem, wrapped vehicles driven on public roadways during the winter may need to be washed more frequently than usual.
Shielding wraps from summer heat
Vehicle wraps create brand awareness with repetitive exposure, but in the summer heat, the graphics may fade or peel, leading to a poor representation of the promoted business. It is important to ensure the proper care is taken to maintain the appearance of a wrap.
With this in mind, the following are four tips for protecting vehicle wraps against the potentially detrimental effects of prolonged exposure to sunshine:
- Install graphics vertically, not horizontally
When vehicle wraps’ graphic panels are applied horizontally, the configuration of the seams leaves them more susceptible to the effects of heat damage and exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Graphics should always be applied vertically, such that they can better withstand the damaging rays of a summer sun.
- Use wrap-safe car waxes
A car wax is key to maintaining and enhancing a vehicle’s bright appearance, but any regular wax containing petroleum distillates will damage a graphic wrap. It is important instead to invest in a wrap-safe wax for use after every wash. Some brands offer UV protection for additional prevention of fading in sunlight.
- Apply protective sprays
In addition to choosing the right car wax, UV protective sprays should be kept at hand. It is a good idea to get into the habit of applying them regularly for an extra coating of protection, particularly in extreme heat.
- Keep out of the sun whenever possible
Whenever possible, a wrapped vehicle should be parked inside a garage—or at least in the shade—to limit its exposure to sunlight. In open lots and other scenarios where parking in the shade is not possible, the vehicle’s direction should be changed each time it is moved, so as to ‘distribute’ sun exposure as evenly as possible.
Safely removing wraps
Sign shops and other companies equipped to install vehicle wraps also need to be prepared to eventually remove the graphics at the end of their useful life. This requires a combination of the right skills and the right tools.
Isopropyl alcohol or a degreaser may be used to clean the vehicle before and/or after graphic removal. It is important to wear gloves when handling any chemicals and solutions to protect the skin from any possible contact damage.
To start the removal process, a heat gun should be used to warm up the edges of the graphic panels. With exposure to steady, high levels of heat, the vinyl should begin to lift up, without any damage to the vehicle’s paint job—but it is important to avoid overheating any plastic parts of the car that could melt, such as the headlights and taillights.
Once the graphic edges begin to lift, they can be slowly pulled away from the vehicle by hand. Gloves should still be worn throughout the process to protect hands from the heat.
The graphics should be lifted at an approximate 15-degree angle and no sharper than a 90-degree angle, so as to avoid leaving any adhesive or residue behind. Again, this work needs to be done slowly. Trying to ‘rip’ the graphics off quickly like a bandage tends to leave behind broken fragments that will then take even longer to remove.
For any residue that is left behind, a razor blade or plastic scraper should prove useful in removing the final bits.
With files from JMR Graphics. For more information, visit www.jmrgraphics.com.
