Employing signage on the side of your vehicles can be a great way to leverage a form of non-stop, mobile advertising which gets your name out there and raises brand awareness. If you use a reputable vehicle branding service, it’s likely that the signage will be affixed to the body or windows of the vehicle with such strength that it’ll last years of daily use.
However, there are many circumstances in which you might need to remove vehicle signage before its lifespan is up. Perhaps you’re rebranding your business or doing away with an old promotion, or maybe you just want to give the signage a revamp. Whatever the reason, stripping advertising vinyl from a vehicle can be an arduous job that really and truly is better left up to the professionals.
However, if you are determined to try your hand at stripping the old signage away yourself, here are a handful of pointers on how best to approach the task.
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Heat the surface
Heating the surface upon which the signage is fixed will soften the adhesive and allow you to remove the vinyl more easily. Ideally, this job should be performed using a heat gun, though a hair dryer can act as a makeshift stand-in if you don’t have access to one. Be wary of using a gas torch or something similar, as the intense heat given off may damage the bodywork of the car or van.
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Peel away
The fastest way to remove a sign is to peel it all off in one go – but that’s depending upon the vinyl to play ball. In most cases, it’s impossible to simply peel it all off, as the vinyl will likely splinter and snap into many smaller pieces. To minimise the chances of this happening, keep moving your hands closer to the join between the vinyl and the vehicle as it comes away and proceed slowly.
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Scrape off the stubborn
Unless you’re very lucky, it’s likely that you’ll be left with many smaller pieces of vinyl stuck to the vehicle’s surface after the initial peel. Using a non-damaging implement, such as a plastic razor blade, scrape off any pieces that are left behind. Be warned: this may require no small amount of elbow grease.
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Get rid of the adhesive
Even after all the vinyl has been stripped away, you’re likely to find a stubborn film of adhesive goop remains behind. For this, you’ll need to purchase a quality adhesive removal agent and spray it directly onto the surface. This will become absorbed by the adhesive, causing it to swell in size. Then it’s a case of digging out your plastic razor blade again and scraping away the remaining residue.
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Clean it completely
It’s almost time for you to apply the new signage – but before you do, it’s important to make sure the surface is immaculate to prevent bobbling, unevenness or poor adhesion on the new vinyl. This can be done with any window cleaner or soapy agent and plenty of hot, clean water. And voila! You’re ready to reapply the signage all over again.
If you would like a free quote on a custom sign, you can easily request an estimate by filling in our on-line form.