Vinyl Applications to Smooth Walls...Learn How to Paint and Prep Interior Walls Prior to Applying Printed Wall Graphics.
Applying graphics to a flat, smooth, painted wall is
easy. Still problems can and do occur.
Rarely are these graphics failures the result of application
technique. Instead improper surface
preparation and poor material choices account for most problems. If you follow the few simple rules in this
article, your applications should be trouble-free.
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Auckland
Signs in Australia wrapped the walls of the California Burrito restaurant chain
with Arlon’s DPF 207 Digital Print Film, a 6-mil vinyl film with a removable
adhesive. Photos courtesy of Arlon Graphics in Santa Ana, CA.
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Always Conduct a Site Survey.
Before jumping headlong into a project, thoroughly inspect the job site so you know what you are getting into. That way, if additional work is required, you have covered your costs. In conducting a survey, don’t forget to bring a tape measure, digital camera and notepad.
When inspecting walls in an older establishment, look for
wall damage and the cleanliness of the walls. Holes, nail pops, peeling paint,
cracks and imperfections in the taping of drywall along seams and in corners
must be repaired, primed and painted.
Unrepaired wall damage, such as gouges and nail pops may be visible
after the graphics are applied, especially if a gloss overlaminate is used.
Walls stained from cigarette and cigar smoke or coated
with grease from cooking require thorough cleaning. Walls painted with a matte
finish latex paint must be cleaned and repainted with a semi-gloss or gloss
paint.
When surveying a commercial jobsite, such as a restaurant
or convenience store, also look for walls that back up to cooling systems,
water pipes and overhead windows. These areas are prone to condensation, which
can contribute to edge lifting and adhesion failure.
In addition to photographing any problem areas, also take
pictures of any obstructions, that you will have to deal with in the application,
such as windows, cooler cases, display cases and shelving units.
If the walls are currently decorated with wall graphics,
and the graphics are failing, photograph these failures. These pictures can
come in handy when you make your sales presentation.
New construction.
Graphics applied to newly constructed and painted walls can have problems too. Before priming and painting, the drywall mud must be thoroughly dry. Any trapped moisture in the drywall can result in paint problems, such as peeling, cracking and blistering. And when the paint doesn’t stick, neither will the wall graphics.
Graphics applied to newly constructed and painted walls can have problems too. Before priming and painting, the drywall mud must be thoroughly dry. Any trapped moisture in the drywall can result in paint problems, such as peeling, cracking and blistering. And when the paint doesn’t stick, neither will the wall graphics.
Painting
Recommendations.
After drywall is sanded, wipe the wall down with a lint-free rag, dampened with
50% Isopropyl Alcohol and 50% water. Painting over a dusty wall can prevent the
primer from bonding well to the wall surface.
New drywall must be primed before painting. There are no
exceptions to this rule. Primers are essential for good paint adhesion,
especially if you are painting with a latex paint.
In selecting a primer and paint, make sure that both are
compatible. The general rule of thumb is that you can use either a latex or oil-based
primer with a latex paint; but you must use an oil-based primer with an
oil-based paint.
Many painters prefer oil/alkyd primers because they
penetrate the drywall surface better, providing better anchorage of the
paint. Oil/alkyd primers also form a
moisture barrier, which helps prevent moisture from getting behind the applied
vinyl, degrading the adhesive and causing the graphics to peel. The
disadvantages of oil/alkyd primers are that they take longer to dry and that
they emit Volatile Organic Compounds. VOCs in oil-based paints are said to
contribute 9% to the air pollution that forms smog.
By comparison, latex primers and paints are very low in
VOCs. For either indoor or outdoor work, whether you are priming drywall, bare
wood or masonry walls, Prep & Prime® Gripper® water-based primer sealer
#3210 form ICI Paints is a good choice. It not only dries fast, bonds to
“tough-to-stick-to” surfaces, but it also covers stains well. Right out of the can, without thinning, this
primer provides good coverage in one pass.
After drying for 72 hours, apply two coats of either a
satin, semi-gloss or gloss paint. Matte finish paints are not recommended,
because the matting agents used in the paint can prevent good vinyl adhesion.
To reduce any stippling effect in the paint, use a paint roller with a 3/8”
nap. Avoid any heavily tinted paints, which require longer drying times to
leach or outgas.
After painting, wait at least five days before applying
wall graphics. How long the paint will take to outgas and fully cure depends on
many factors, such as ambient temperature and humidity. If the paint is not
fully cured, don’t be surprised if bubbles form underneath the vinyl.
Also read:
Also read:
Surface Preparation Prior to Vinyl Application.
Even newly painted drywall must be wiped down before vinyl application. Dust and other contaminants collect quickly on a wall and can prevent good adhesion of the graphics panels. In cleaning, wipe the surface down with a rag dampened with 50% Isopropyl Alcohol and 50% water. After wiping down the wall, wait a half an hour for the wall to dry thoroughly before applying graphics.
Even newly painted drywall must be wiped down before vinyl application. Dust and other contaminants collect quickly on a wall and can prevent good adhesion of the graphics panels. In cleaning, wipe the surface down with a rag dampened with 50% Isopropyl Alcohol and 50% water. After wiping down the wall, wait a half an hour for the wall to dry thoroughly before applying graphics.
Older walls contaminated with years of dirt, smoke and
grease must be washed with trisodium phosphate (TSP). (TSP is a very caustic
cleaner. Before using carefully read the directions and the safety precautions
and wear safety glasses and rubber gloves.)
Typically, about ¼ cup of TSP is mixed into a gallon of
very warm water. Using a sponge, apply the cleaner to the wall surface. Drench
a sponge in clean water, wringing it out until it is just damp. Wipe the dirt
and grime from the wall. Finish the job, rinsing with a wet sponge.
Vinyl Film Selection.
There are a variety of choices for decorating smooth painted drywall. Heavier calendered vinyl films with a removable adhesive are generally easier to install and these thicker films can hide imperfections on the wall surface.
Printed graphics should be protected with an
overlaminate. The extra layer of film
not only protects the printed image, but it also makes the graphic more rigid,
so it is easier to handle during installation. When it comes time for new graphics,
the extra thickness also aids removal.
In selecting the surface finish of the overlaminate, take
into consideration the lighting conditions in the room. Painted drywall will always have slight
imperfections that can show up if you use a glossy overlaminate. In many well-lit retail environments, the
best choice is a satin or matte finish, which will mute any reflections from
overhead lighting.
Digital Printing Considerations.
Before going into a production run, you should test and evaluate any vinyl film, overlaminate and application tape that you plan to use. To prevent any adverse ink/vinyl reactions, you should limit your ink density below 250% to 275%. Also avoid printing a bleed (printing edge-to-edge), if you can.
After printing the panels, match the sheets. It is much
better to catch any printing mistakes in the shop than out on the job site.
Check for any color shift and make sure that the points of alignment match up.
Allow the printed panels to fully cure before laminating
and installing the graphics. If printed panels are rolled, roll them loosely to
allow solvents to fully outgas during the drying period.
To prevent scratching of the graphics during application
and aid the installation of the printed panels, use a low tack application
tape, such as RTape 4000. If you are applying plotter cut letters to wall
surfaces, you will need a higher tack application tape, such as RTape 4078RLA.
This new tape will transfer difficult-to-transfer films utilizing
release liners with a tight release. After the graphics are applied, the
application tape releases easily from applied graphics without pulling the
graphics off of the wall surface.
Ritrama’s Ultimate Wall Action print media (shown in the photo above) allows you to
print to the edge. No border is needed to prevent edge peel. there is no need to leave a border when
printing anymore! Our Ultimate Wall Action, The 5.0-mil semi-rigid film
features an ultra low peel microsphere removable adhesive for short-term
applications.
Vinyl Film Application Tips.
Now comes the easy part – the installation of the graphics. The first step in any graphics application is to lay out the job. Unroll all of the panels and tape the graphics in place to make sure that all of the panels needed are there and that everything fits.
To ensure that you keep all of the panels level, stretch
a level line that you can align the top of the graphics sheets to. Never apply
graphics over a snapped chalk line because the chalk dust can contaminate the
adhesive.
Never, under any circumstances, should you use an
application fluid to apply wall graphics. DRY APPLICATION ONLY.
To aid application, remove about eight inches of the
release liner from the top of the graphics panel. Crease the liner with your
thumb, exposing the adhesive of the vinyl. After tacking the panel in place,
start your stroke in the center of the graphic and squeegee horizontally from
side to side. As you are performing the application, remove the release liner
as needed, exposing the adhesive of the vinyl graphics.
After applying the
graphics, remove the application paper, pulling the tape at a 180⁰ angle against
itself. Then, resqueegee the entire marking – especially the edges – to ensure
good adhesion.
After completing the application, the last steps are to
inspect your work, pick up your mess and look for new graphics opportunities,
such as window graphics or vehicle wraps.
Vinyl Graphics Articles
Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer. Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.
Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 150 articles for publications, such as Signs Canada, SignCraft, Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 325 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published.
© 2015 Jim Hingst
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