INSTALL
All installation companies are not alike. Ongoing training, skill testing and quality checks by qualified managers help to ensure your installation project will last for years without incident. We install our own vinyl graphics, and those produced by others, at our indoor Des Moines, IA and St. Louis, MO facilities and on-site across the U.S.
Our team of installation professionals have the skills to combine complex graphic elements into a finished package that provide maximum quality, durability and appearance.
From full coverage trailers and complex tractor designs to door signs and unit numbers, we are dedicated to getting the job done right and on time.
All installations conform to the manufacturer's specifications to provide the full warranty.
Schneider Graphics in Des Moines, IA is also a 3M Certified Commercial and Residential Window Film installer. Contact us for your next window film project in the Des Moines, Iowa area.
Schneider Graphics, Inc. is a proud member of the United Application Standards Group (UASG)
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When it comes to establishing standards in professional vinyl installations, the United Application Standard Group is the United States first such organization in existence.
Established in 1999 by leaders in the installation community, the UASG distinguished itself as being the first organization of its kind to require companies to meet a varied criteria to become members. The criteria include a high level of professionalism, a proven track record, and a high level of hands-on installation skill. The screening process, by which companies are evaluated, was developed to give a fair and accurate assessment and eliminate any personal bias that might exist.
When the organization was founded, the installation community lacked representation on a national level. There were few resources for a business owner to turn to when they had a problem or needed a source of information for problems specific to their line of work. The UASG has filled these voids. We have successfully worked to raise the "bar" for decal installers so that the true professionals can identify themselves to the rest of the industry.
Installers with the UASG's mark of approval have invested years of experience and countless hours of practice to prove that they have a "high level of professionalism, a proven track record and a high level of installation skill".
Environmental Conditions to Take into Consideration for Exterior Graphics
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We can install graphics year round in climate controlled facilities, but when it comes to installing outside there are elements to take into consideration.
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Most vinyls have an application range between 60 degrees Fahrenheit minimum and 90 degrees Fahrenheit maximum.
If the temperature is too cold, then the vinyl becomes stiff and will not adhere properly. If it is too hot, the vinyl softens up and becomes difficult to handle. We can't provide a warranty if a customer requests to install in these conditions.
The temperature of the substrate is a factor. If the surface is hot to the touch, then it is probably over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Putting vinyl on substrates that are too hot or too cold will result in the adhesive getting either gummy or brittle.
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Humidity, Dew, Condensation and Rain
There are also challenges associated with applying to surfaces in humid environments or where dew or condensation has set in. Ideal environmental conditions are a relative humidity level between 50 percent and 60 percent.
Experienced installers will also tell you to avoid the morning dew. As the temperature warms up in the morning, the heat of the air in the ground creates condensation. If you have condensation on your adhesive, then it’s not going to stick very well. If you lay vinyl down in the morning dew you will trap moisture under the graphics.
Can we apply vinyl to plastics?
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Sometimes customers will ask if we can wrap certain plastic areas on vehicles. Plastics are challenging because some are friendly for wrapping and some are not. When we encounter a plastic substrate, it's helpful to know its chemical composition and even be able to perform a test application. If we receive a request to apply to plastic, sometimes we aren't able to provide the usual warranty, because we know the vinyl will not adhere throughout the duration of the rest of the wrap.
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Polycarbonates, for example, which are frequently used for equipment housings, exterior automotive components, outdoor lighting fixtures, and non-automotive vehicle windows, contain just enough water to yield bubbles in the film.
Poly (methyl methacrylate), commonly called PMMA, is a clear plastic typically used as shatterproof replacement for glass. Most standard adhesives will adhere readily to PMMA, but, again, you may wind up with bubbles if you try to apply vinyl using the dry installation method, so at times we'll use a wet application
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Polyethylene is the most popular plastic in the world. Plastic bags, shampoo bottles and tarps are made of this material. But applying vinyl to this substrate is not a popular option. Installing vinyl on this type of plastic requires special adhesives, high temperatures and a dry application method to ensure a solid bond.
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Polystyrene is a hard plastic. The housing of computers is typically made from this material. Styrofoam is also made from this material. This is a tricky substrate because it can change adhesive properties and result in the film actually shrinking away from the surface.
Polyvinylchloride (PVC) is adhesion friendly — maybe a little too much so. Applying to rigid PVC could result in vinyl that is difficult if not impossible to remove. Softer PVCs have an almost opposite problem of vinyl shrinking away from the substrate unless special adhesives are used.
Can wraps be installed over paint scratches, dents or rust?
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Wrap film is very thin and flexible to allow it to conform to the contours of your vehicle, but that means it also conforms to any imperfection such as a scratch or dent, and that will show through.
Rust is another matter. Vinyl will stick to the solid surface and finish of an undamaged vehicle, if there is rust present, the film will stick to the rust instead. This will cause the film to fall off when and where the rust does. Before spending the time and money to wrap a damaged or rusted vehicle, we recommend repairing it with auto repair filler and finish with an epoxy primer/sealer, OEM vehicle paint and/or clear coat. The finish on the repairs must be allowed to cure for the period of time specified by the manufacturer before applying film.
Does the wrap film stick to body filler?
No, the film will not adhere to auto repair fillers. An epoxy primer/sealer, OEM vehicle paint and/or clear coat must be applied over the auto repair filler and the finish must be allowed to cure for the period of time specified by the manufacturer before applying film.