Using vehicle wrap is the surest way of branding your automobile without tampering with its original color. Besides that, it gives you the privilege of trying different custom graphics. The other advantage is that it’s much more affordable than a paint job.
Since installing a vehicle wrap is not a messy affair, you can do it on your own. However, for best results, it’s advisable you get someone to give you a hand. In addition to that, you will need a set of tools that include:
- Squeegee
- Heat gun
- Cleaning solution
- Gloves
- Cutting blade
Table of Contents
Buy vehicle wrap material
The first thing to do is to buy vehicle wrap material. But before you go to the stores, you should measure the width and length of the various surfaces. This will help you in knowing the quantity of wrap material that you will need. Fortunately, there are many stores that trade in car wraps charlotte. In fact, such stores also offer installation services at a fee. But there is no point in paying someone to do something that you can do. You can actually do the job in the evening or over the weekend.
Wash the car
Applying vehicle wrap on a dirty car is a huge mistake. This is because the dust and other debris will contaminate the adhesive that’s on the vinyl wrap and cause it to come off later. You should first give your car a thorough wash using a cleaning solution to eliminate such dirt and stains. Once the car is clean, you should wipe it with a dry piece of cloth. This helps in removing the moisture that’s left behind after cleaning the water.
Unroll the wrap
Since the wrap material is packaged as a roll, you should unroll it. To avoid contaminating the adhesive of the wrap, it’s recommended that you wear gloves. You should then measure the wrap and cut the desired size. For best results, you should ensure that the piece you cut is a little bigger than the surface that you want to wrap.
In fact, the wrap should cover the entire surface. This is much easier than having to fill some patches later. When the entire surface is covered, you can be sure you will get a smooth finish without the edges in the middle. You should also avoid placing the unrolled wrap on the floor as it can attract dust and debris.
Apply vehicle wrap
Once you have cut a piece of the vehicle wrap, you should then put it on the panel that you want to wrap. Although the wrap will stick on the surface, you will still need to heat it to achieve a permanent stick. Since there will be wrinkles and air bubbles beneath the wrap, it’s advisable you pull both edges from the middle.
If the panel is not big, you can pull the wrap on your own. However, if the surface is big, you will need someone to help you in stretching the wrap. You should then use a squeegee to remove the air bubbles. To achieve this, you will need to run the tool from the middle to the edges. When you reach the doors, you should use a cutting blade to remove the vinyl that’s covering the handles.
Heat the wrapper
After the wrapping material has been installed, it’s important you heat it using a gun. This helps in guaranteeing a more firm stick. In fact, you should wait until the gun gets extremely hot before hovering it above the surface of an installed vehicle wrap. When using the heating gun, you should not move it in circles.
To achieve a uniform stick, simply move the heating gun in one direction, the same way you do when sweeping the floor. Excess edges should be tucked or trimmed.
