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Vinyl Decal Application and Removal

Materials required for application:

Here we go...

  1. Clean the area that the decal is going to be applied to using soapy water, making sure that all dirt, oil or grease is removed.
  2. Rinse the area with non-soapy, clean water and clean cloth.
  3. Dry surface completely with clean dry cloth.
  4. Using two small pieces of masking tape on either side of the decal, position the decal in the desire area.
  5. Using your measuring tape, measure from a straight line on the decal, (i.e.; the bottom of a line of lettering) to a straight line on the application surface, (i.e.; a body molding, top or bottom of a door, etc.)
  6. Now that the decal is square on your application surface, using the masking tape, tape down one side of the decal to create a hindge. This will hold down the one edge of the decal in position on the application surface so that you only have to worry about lining up on side of the decal.
  7. Release the side of the decal that has only the small piece of tape holding it in position and lift the decal away from the application surface. (Now you can see the purpose of taping down one edge to act as a hinge.)
  8. Peel the backing away from the decal making sure that the decal doesn't touch the application surface in the process.
  9. Once the backing is removed, with both hands, one on each of the loose corners, lightly pull the decal taunt so that the pre-masking of the decal is flat. Be careful not to pull to hard or the masking tape hindge will let go or worse, the pre-masking with rip.
  10. Keeping the pre-masking as flat as you can, lower the decal to the application surface.
  11. With your plastic squeegy, press the decal down onto the application surface, working from the center to the top outside edge and then from the center to the bottom outside edge.
  12. Peel the masking tape and the pre-mask off the application surface and your done.

Air Bubbles?

To remove those pesky air bubbles that may get trapped under the decal, use a pin, exacto or razor blade to pop a small hole on the edge of the air bubble and then push the air out towards the hole.

Materials required for removal:

Here we go...again

Caution: When using razor blades, blow dryers or heat guns please take your time and think about safety.
  1. With the hair dryer, warm up the surface of the decal. The purpose of this is to warm the glue on the back side of the decal making it a bit more plyable and easier to remove. If you are using a heat gun be carefull not to heat one spot too long or you may damage the surface underneath the decal not to mention burn your hand. "ouch"
  2. Using the razor scraper (keeping it relatively flat to the surface), lift up up a corner of the decal. Be sure not to hold the razor blade at too sharp an angle to the surface or you could damage (gouge) the surface.
  3. Take hold of the loose corner and slowly pull the decal from the surface. If the decal is rather brittle you may want to follow along the edge of the decal that is still stuck to the surface with the hair dryer or heat gun to soften up the glue some more.
  4. Once the decal is removed you can wash off the glue that remains on the surface with a clean rag and some commercial glue remover*.
  5. When all the glue is removed, wipe the surface clean with Windex cleaner.
  6. You are now ready for new decals. :)

*The commercial glue remover that we use is called, "Right-Off" and can be purchased at most sign supply dealers.

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Norris & Co. Signs
19272 - 94th. Avenue, Surrey
British Columbia, Canada, V4N 4E3
Ph: (604) 888-9209 Fax: (604) 888-1488
Email: info@norrisandco.com
info@norrisandco.com

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