Teran Marsell | Published on June 8th, 2019
Regardless of what they tell you on TV, doing specific jobs yourself is not always wise or a saver of money. This is especially true when they end in disaster, and you have to spend even more money to have a professional fix the job. Try to avoid these four DIY vinyl wrap disasters that professionals always fix.
Of all the projects you may try to do on your own, perhaps the previous statement applies most notably to installing a vinyl vehicle wrap on your car or truck. Calling the professionals to repair what you flubbed will cost you far more money, time, and frustration than what you tried to save by attempting to do it yourself.
The simple fact is that applying a vinyl vehicle wrap is not easy, and it’s not something you can just “figure out” over a weekend with your buddies and get great results. Let’s take a moment to look at just a few of the many things that can go wrong when you attempt this project yourself.
DIY Vinyl Car Wrap Disasters
What problems may vehicle owners encounter when applying their vinyl wrap and not using professional services? We go into some of the worst vinyl wrapping problems.
Choosing To Use Substandard Vinyl Material
Buying low-quality vinyl is the first, most common, and most substantial mistake of a do-it-yourself job. Wrapping vinyl is available in various thicknesses, including lighter weight, which is suitable for simple graphics such as logos, and heavier weight material, which is intended for durable, whole car wrapping. A novice will often try to save money by buying the lighter wrap material, only to find midway into the project that it is tearing, bubbling, or not stretching properly.
It’s also important to know that improper vinyl weight can cause sagging. The lighter-weight materials are not intended to stretch much, so they may not recover fully after application. If the material does not recover to its original form, it will hang and give a poor appearance.
This sagging is also a significant cause of peeling and sloping off the vehicle’s body. Suppose this soughing-off happens while the vehicle is in motion, especially at highway speeds. In that case, it can be a significant risk to the safety of the vehicle and its occupants or, worse yet, the safety of other vehicles traveling behind.
Another consideration is that cheap vinyl is usually not pliable enough for large surfaces and will not stretch evenly. Uneven stretching can result in the edges pulling back. This can lead to the wrap exposing the paint and not providing the protection that you need or want, or worse, the possibility that the wrap material pulls back and takes the paint with it.
Incomplete Prep Work
The first and most important step in a vinyl wrap is the prep work done on the car before the application. First-timers know that the vehicle needs to be cleaned. Washing the car’s surface is fine, but it is only part of the job.
Wheel wells have to be cleaned and free of oil, dirt, tar, and road grime, such as salt. The doors, hood, trunk, or hatch need to be opened, and all edges cleaned. The reason for all the detail work is the wrap’s edges. These edges are tucked around the edges to cover the paint and help keep proper tension.
Any error will cause the wrap to fail, prompting that ever expensive phone call to the professional to have the job redone properly. Of course, you could save yourself all this trouble and extra expense by letting the pros handle the job in the first place. Then you can sit back and relax, enjoying the peace of mind knowing that your vehicle is being properly handled and will look great for months after your new vinyl wrap installation.
Improper Sizing Of Vinyl Panels
A DIY no-no is cutting the vinyl to size. Never cut the exact size and shape of the panel being wrapped. Err on the side of caution, cut more considerable, and then trim any excess.
Tension helps the wrap adhere to the vehicle and enhances the quality. If not sized correctly, it will cause shrinkage, tearing, and peeling away from the edges. When this happens, it is tough to fix it alone
Inherent Flaws From Lack Of Experience
Almost all do-it-yourself wraps will have flaws, some of that can be catastrophic if not corrected by professionals. Air bubbles trapped under the vinyl are unsightly and will tear and expose the paint to the elements. Gathering or bunching around tight angles is another mistake that will cause damage and peeling.
These bubbles and bunches are not only unsightly, but they can create heat pockets and moisture cells that can age the paint underneath and lead to damage. A professional wrap job will create a surface that is so perfectly matched to the underlying body of the vehicle that there is no chance for a heat or moisture pocket to form.
Why Do-It-Yourself Vehicle Wrap Projects Never Come Out As Planned
Why would you hire someone to do a job you can do yourself? When it comes to vinyl vehicle wraps, you can save much money wrapping a vehicle yourself. You probably won’t have a problem finding inexpensive vinyl, and you won’t have to pay a technician to design, cut, and install the vinyl in your car.
You must pay the person if you hire a professional to install vinyl to your car. But you’re also employing a person whose profession is designing, cutting, and installing vinyl vehicle wraps. This is why you should consider hiring a professional to install the vinyl vehicle wrap instead of attempting the job yourself. How often do you do it?
Inexpensive Vinyl Isn’t Always The Best Vinyl
You find an unbeatable price for vinyl on the Internet. How can you resist purchasing it? Before you buy vinyl anywhere, you need to make sure that the vinyl is high quality. Otherwise, the vinyl might not adhere properly to your car, which might peel prematurely. Or it might stick a little too well, and you might have trouble getting it off.
When hiring a professional, you can learn more about the kind of vinyl they use and why. Chances are they know a lot about what vinyl brands are excellent and which ones are not so great. Also, professionals typically offer warranties, so if you have problems with the vinyl on your car, you can call the professional.
The Vehicle Isn’t Prepared Properly
The first step in installing a vinyl vehicle wrap is the prep work. The vehicle must be cleaned, but what defines “clean”?
Team Acme, Inc. asks our customers to clean their vehicles before coming into our shop for a vinyl vehicle wrap, but we still clean it again ourselves. The doors, hoods, and trunks on cars need to be opened. Make sure to clean every edge. The wheel wells must be clean and free of oil, dirt, tar, and road grime, like salt.
Vinyl wraps are tucked around the edges of vehicles to cover the paint, providing proper tension. Failing to clean a vehicle properly can result in vinyl wrap failure.
The Wrong Size Vinyl
Never cut the vinyl into the exact shape of a panel being wrapped. The vinyl should be cut more significantly than the panel and trimmed after installation.
The tension after settling helps vinyl wraps adhere to the vehicle; if the vinyl is not the right size, this can cause shrinkage, tearing, and peeling. If any of this happens, you’ll need to have the wrap fixed, and you might need to call a professional for help.
Contact Team Acme About Protecting Your Wrap Design
Located in Henderson, Nevada, just north of Las Vegas, Team Acme is there skilled, ready, and willing to look at the issues with your vinyl vehicle wrap and help you fix it. Before you try a vehicle wrap project on your own, consider the costs. In addition to your investment in the vinyl and tools, mistakes will cost additionally to repair.
So, with this in mind, why not just use our online contact form. Let the best team in Henderson Nevada give your vehicle the wrap of your dreams. We get it right the first time.
