Vinyl Installation Instructions
Vinyl decals look very professional when installed. If you don't feel professional enough to make this happen, keep reading.
Decide where you want to install it
Look for a wall that has great visibility.
Try to place the decal as close to eye level as possible.
Make sure the image has plenty of space around it.
Prepare the decal
Trim the ends off the decal. The transfer tape is wrapped around the backing paper to keep the decal from separating before you are ready to apply it. You'll want to trim the ends off to make it easier to get the transfer paper (with decal) off of the backing paper (view the picture above).
Place two pieces of masking tape on the decal to hold it on the wall.
Place the decal
Use tape to hold the decal on the wall.
Use a tape measure and/or a level to get the decal positioned correctly on the wall. You may want to use a straight edge and draw a line along the baseline of the letters to measure from.
Stand back and make sure you like where the decal is located.
Choose your application method
Method 1: The Hinge Method
This is the safest and easiest method to install a decal. Use this if you are new at this and/or your decal is larger.
Once you have your decal positioned on the wall where you want it, place a piece of masking tape across the top of the decal (as in the picture).
Lift the decal on the tape "hinge" and peel off the backing paper. Be careful not to let the decal fall and stick where it's not wanted...
(HELP! The backing is peeling off too!)
Pull the decal down (while holding it taut) and then burnish the decal to the wall with the squeegee. Burnish down and up from the middle working your way outward (toward each end). This helps even the decal out as you burnish it down.
If your wall is very textured, you may want to warm up the decal with a hair dryer and then rub over the vinyl lettering with your thumb before you move on to the next step. This may help the vinyl "stick" in the crevices better when you remove the transfer tape.
Skip to "Remove Transfer Tape".
Method 2: The Tick-Mark Method
This is the quick way to put on smaller decals. If you have a large decal, you will want to use the safer and easier (albeit slower) Hinge Method described above.
Once you are sure you like it's location, use a pencil to mark the decal and the wall (see picture). Mark at each end. Just a small mark that marks the decal and then a small mark on the wall. You will use this later to line up the decal when you put it on the wall.
Now pull the decal off the wall and slowly peel the backing paper off of the transfer tape (with decal attached to it).
(HELP! The backing is peeling off too.)
Hold the transfer tape taut and line up the marks on the transfer tape with the marks on the wall (from the step above). Once positioned, rub both ends with your thumb to hold it in position.
Start in the middle and burnish down with your squeegee. Now you can pull up the side of your decal and while holding it tight, burnish up and down working toward your hand (see picture). Once that side is done, do the reverse on the other side in the same way.
This method assures you don't get wrinkles in your vinyl because you were holding the decal tight while burnishing (It's quick too).
If your wall texture is pretty rough, you may want to warm up the decal with a hair dryer and rub the letters with your thumb.
Remove Transfer Tape
Lift a top corner of the transfer tape and carefully pull down at a 45 degree angle (see picture). As you pull, letters may want to lift up, just push the letter back down, rub it down with your finger and carefully continue.
(HELP! A letter didn't transfer to the wall.)
Rub the letters with your thumb to push the vinyl into the crevices of your wall texture. Use a hair dryer to soften the vinyl if your texture is really rough.
Be sure to erase your tick marks.
Stand back and enjoy your work!
Finished!
Here are some photos installing a two color overlay using the tick-mark application process:
Troubleshooting
Below are some common problems and solutions that occur during installation.
Backing paper is peeling with decal
If the backing paper peels and sticks to the letters (see picture), continue removing the backing paper and then carefully peel pieces of backing paper off the letters with your fingernail or a hobby knife. This sometimes happens if the plotter knife cut a little too deep around the letter. It won't compromise your decal and no one will know it happened once it's on your wall.
A letter didn't transfer to the wall
Sometimes while your peeling off the backing paper, you miss a letter (usually the dot in an "i") and you've already crumpled up the transfer tape. Simply unfold the transfer tape and look for the missing piece. Line up the piece on the wall and burnish it down. Peel the backing tape off VERY carefully.
