Guide to install

First things first

You must decide where you want to stick your wall graphics. The precision and attention to detail is absolutely critical for this first step because you will need to place the decals on an ideal space. When we say ideal, we mean an area where a lot of foot traffic can be encountered so your target market will be the first to see and appreciate your wall graphics.

Ensure you place the decals somewhere for the appropriate audience to see them clearly.

For example, if it is a visual to invite in customers or clients you can place the graphics somewhere where your targets walk by everyday like the front of your store, or inside the lobby or reception.

If it is a visual for employees or staff, like a motivational or inspirational graphic to boost morale and keep everyone motivated daily then you would stick that graphic somewhere in the busy area where all the magic happens, for eg. production area, kitchen, back office, etc.

Remember that there are some places that are not ideal for wall decals specially areas that may have high humidity. These are still considered as stickers so moisture in the air can still seep into walls and interfere with the adhesives.

Getting Started

Once you decide to install DIY wall decals, you should know that this task requires some special tools if you want to get it done correctly and accurately. Don't worry these tools are easy to find and will help finish the job smoothly.

A Level: Ensure that your graphic is balanced evenly and not crooked so it's always pleasing to look at.

A squeegee: Smoothen out your decals after application and flatten out any extra little air bubbles between the vinyl and the wall. This also helps to secure the adhesives to the wall and ensure it sticks firmly.

An X-Acto knife or something similar: You'll need this in case you need to cut your graphics to shape your wall. It's best to always have one ready to keep all he edges nice and clean. You might also need a ruler for this one.

Masking Tape: This will be used to mark where to stick the graphic or to hold the graphic in place as you make the transfer. It's really handy to have, make sure to have it ready.

Sealant: This one will depend on where you will be applying the wall graphic and if the environment requires it but you might need sealant to protect it from water or humidity damage.

Preparing the wall surface

Remember that graphic wall decals are still stickers. In order to apply a sticker accurately and precisely we need to ensure that the surface we are sticking it to is in perfect condition as it will greatly affect the condition of the wall decals.

Not all surfaces or walls are ideal for DIY installation. There are some walls with rough textures like concrete walls, or brick walls, or walls that are outside of the building which probably have a bit of texture due to the outside conditions.

The ideal wall to get the best results out of your DIY graphic decals needs to be smooth and clean. People sometimes underestimate the little dust that settles on the walls, but any dust or debris no matter how little will definitely have an impact on your graphics and may create complications with the adhesives in the near future.

To ensure a clean and smooth surface, wipe down the walls with a microfiber cloth and remove any dust or debris. Make sure to remove any spider webs too!

For freshly painted walls, ensure to wait at least three weeks before sticking the decals on to your newly painted walls to give the paint more time to dry.

How to Install full-wall graphics

When installing large format wall graphics, make sure to align these pieces correctly before hanging them up or sticking them to the surface. It's helpful to add numbers to the back so you know which is the correct order.

Keep in mind that you should also look out for anything you need to cut out from the poster to fit the wall perfectly, like light switches, electrical outlets, etc. Before you install the panels, ensure to create the necessary holes and measure them accurately.

If the mural reaches the bottom from wall to floor you can consider applying a coat of sealant to it's surface to control moisture.

How to keep your wall graphics looking goods?

If you treat your wall graphics right, they could last a pretty long time and look great as time flies. Always remember to be gentle with your decals. It's not necessary to use strong and harsh chemicals for cleaning. Try to stay away from bleach, ammonia, and other harsh chemicals and cleaning liquids on your graphics. These can really do a lot of damage and ultimately cause your decals to fade quickly.

To get the most out of your graphics we recommend you clean your mural once a month using a dry cloth. After wiping you can proceed to wide down with a damp cloth but not too wet. Avoid getting the decals too wet, take note, only damp! You can also use some mild soap or dish soap to clean the surface if there has been any dust or debris build up. Don't forget to dry it up with a dry cloth afterwards!

Remember, be gentle! These are still stickers and you don't want any of the edges to start pulling up because of all the wiping.

Hope these tips and tricks have helped you understand the basics of your DIY project.

Wall graphics not sticking?

In our experience most causes of decals not sticking are because of

• Dirty walls (dust and or oily substance and not visual to the eye)
• not installed correctly with all edges flush to the surface
• was the decal dropped or the adhesive side handled 
• did you have clean hands and with no chemicals (cleaning or other) on your hands 
• what type of paint was used as  some paints contain certain additives that prevent dirt and smudges to stick, but they also prevent VINYL decals to stick:
• was the wall was painted within the last 21-30 days, or 
• were and what cleaning chemicals where used prior.

Just in case it was and for freshly painted walls , while we have many solutions to help there isn’t a standard vinyl-friendly paint in use on interior walls, so there are variables that can affect success of the decals adhering properly.

The two most common interior paints used are enamel and latex. Enamel is best because, like glass and aluminum, it provides a smooth, non-porous surface. Latex is more porous and is not as suitable for vinyl graphic application. 

 The bigger issue with fresh paint is out-gassing. 

 Freshly painted walls emit gaseous solvents until the paint cures. If these gases are trapped under an applied vinyl graphic, they may cause bubbles or react chemically with the adhesive and weaken it leading to failure. As a result most of our substrate suppliers advise that you allow paint to cure for an absolute minimum of 14 days before applying any vinyl graphics but preferably longer if possible.

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