Vehicle Graphic Maintenance
Sign Maintenance
Vehicle Graphic Maintenance
- Vehicle graphics will last for several years when a few simple maintenance procedures are followed:
- Keep clean with soap and water.
- Do not use ammoniated cleaners, chlorinated solvents, abrasives,or silicone containing cleaners or polishes.
- SignChef recommends periodic (3 times a year is good) polishing of vehicle and graphics. Meguiars #20 or Simonize Polysealant are good products to use.
- Avoid wax build-up along edge of graphics by buffing the edges with your finger wrapped in a terry cloth towel.
- Wax build-up can be simply removed by brushing with a soft detail brush, such as a chopped off paint brush, or a tooth brush.
- Vehicle graphics can be safely removed by a professional without damage to the automotive surface. It is very important to keep the vehicle surface well maintained in order to minimize environmental effects on the paint which may be made noticeable when the graphics have been removed. Properly prepped, installed, and removed graphics cannot hurt a properly painted vehicle surface.
- Allow 24-48 hours before pressure washing newly installed graphics.
- Fresh paint needs to be fully cured before applying graphics. This period of time is determined by the paint, paint method, and environmental conditions. Seven to ten days is a good rule of thumb. If the paint no longer smells like paint, it is probably safe to install the graphics.
- Small ”acne-like” bubbles present in vinyl graphics immediately after installation usually indicate static conditions. They will dissipate within a few days.
- Bubbles that appear days or weeks after installation indicate outgassing of solvents from the paint and must be dealt with by a professional.