Choosing the Right Material Matters for Residue-Free Removal
When easy removability is a requirement for your next project installation.
What’s the first step in planning for a short-term graphic installation? You likely start with the most obvious considerations. These will include location, appearance, and cost. Here’s a typical scenario you may encounter.
Location comes first in the planning, and you discover that installing a graphic to a window versus a floor has a different impact. This is where durability comes in. Depending on the graphic’s location, it could be affected by weather or foot traffic, so you’ll want one that holds up over time. But both need to look good. A graphic needs to align with your brand and provide exceptional performance for its duration. After that, you settle on a budget. Ensuring that you get the best value, plus all of the above, is the final consideration.
Here’s a different approach. Focus on removability at the outset, as it will help determine the best film solution for your goal. It will also help reduce extra costs associated with removal, such as labor costs, if the project takes longer to remove than expected due to adhesive residue. If the incorrect film solution was chosen and repairs need to be made to the surface, this will add extra time. It will take more time, cost more, and leaves you frustrated.
Performance is based on understanding your project
Beginning with removability makes your investment stronger. You want a stable product that also looks good, but what happens when you remove the film? That’s why looking for a product with residue-free removal is a good starting point.
While removability is one of the most important aspects of your installation, overall performance is essential. A professional-looking graphic that lasts for the duration of your installation, even for a short-term promotion, will positively affect your brand’s reputation. This is where using the right film backed with an adhesive that’s designed for your project makes all the difference.
Adhesive performance affects the removability of a product. You want an adhesive that lasts for the length of your project, but you don’t want to use one that is overly aggressive and will take longer and cost more to remove. Your goal should be a smooth, damage-free removal when it’s time to change the graphic.
Wherever you apply your graphic, ensure it will last or at least perform well for whatever timeframe you need, whether it is short or long-term. The adhesive needs to wet out properly and keep the graphic in place. Consider that if you are installing a graphic in low temperatures, you need a film with an adhesive engineered to perform under those conditions. Otherwise, wetting out becomes more challenging.
Surfaces determine the right film
The next step is to understand your surface and its needs for efficient removability. Different surfaces require different films, and different films require specific adhesives. These differences will go a long way in helping you decide what product to use for your surface.
For a basketball or volleyball court with a finished hardwood floor, a team logo graphic may need to be a season long solution. But if an arena hosts tournaments or other special events, and changing out the graphics is a regular requirement, it will demand a product suited for that.
Once you better understand your surface needs, the planning process becomes more manageable. Choosing a film that not only looks good and performs well, but also one that is effectively removed, reduces the time and labor between applications.
Another example is high-end stone or granite. You don’t want your initial investment damaged in the process of removal. A graphic that can be removed without residue can eliminate time spent on a possible repair of the delicate surface. A smooth surface, like glass, is a great choice for easy removability. By using a film designed specifically for window graphics, you can achieve this. Both perforated and unperforated window films can remove cleanly, reducing downtime and labor costs. They are best for a retail environment with seasonal promotions and limited campaigns.
Save money with residue-free removal
How do you maximize your budget without sacrificing appearance or quality? Look for products that are residue-free after removal. By choosing the right solution for your specific surface, you avoid additional labor costs spent cleaning the adhesive left behind. It also affects whether you need to budget for the repair costs of your original surface.
Labor costs can quickly add up, depending on the size of your installation. Hiring additional workers to remove the initial film and then the adhesive residue affects your overall project budget. It also impacts your turnaround time.
Another factor to consider is how much of the original surface needs to be repaired after removing the film. Similar to labor costs associated with removing adhesive residue, it can significantly impact the budget. Also, depending on the material, the repair might end up costing you as much as the graphic and its installation. Choosing a product with residue-free removal for your next project will provide a noteworthy cost saving by eliminating extra labor fees.
Select a product with dimensional stability for easier removal
After weighing all of this, why would you not want a product that offers dimensional stability?
A film with dimensional stability is engineered to be stronger and can commonly be removed in a single piece. A film that lacks dimensional stability will tear off in pieces during removal and take longer. You may incur extra labor costs, causing your project to go over budget.
For projects that require a faster removal and a smoother turnaround, choose a film with high dimensional stability. This type of film is good for any window, wall, or floor application, whether inside or outside, such as the above arena example. Finally, by selecting a material with dimensional stability, you won’t have to compromise durability or performance.
Looking at all of these reasons, doesn’t it make sense to prioritize removability as a primary requirement for getting the most value and performance out of your next graphics installation?
Find out why materials matter in your next window, wall, or floor graphic application.
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