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Continental Grafix Cold Weather Film Buyer’s Guide

Adverse weather conditions pose significant challenges to flexible, adhesive backed graphics.

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The transition to the colder temperatures of fall and winter means freezing temperatures, snow, ice and moisture are on the way. These adverse weather conditions pose significant challenges to the performance and durability of flexible, adhesive backed graphic materials, impacting every stage of the process from printing to the final installation. Proper planning with the right materials is essential so you can avoid shortened graphic lifespan, degraded aesthetics and costly rework.

The Challenges of Colder Temperature and Winter Weather Conditions

Brittle Material in Cold Temperatures, Snow, Ice and Other Winter Conditions

For many printers and graphics installers, winter weather limits or eliminates exterior installations in freezing weather. Cold temperatures can make adhesive backed graphic material brittle, increasing the risks of cracks and tears during handling and installation. Selecting the appropriate product for your application is critical for ensuring durability and ease of use in colder conditions.

Adhesion and Curing Time

Many adhesives require a minimum installation temperature of +50°F/ +10°C to function effectively. Attempting installation at temperatures below the recommended threshold can result in decreased performance, including poor adhesion, edge curling and lifting or premature graphics failure. Costly interventions like tenting off areas to artificially raise the temperature become necessary.

For applications like perforated window film on fleet or an retail window and sidewalk/ ground graphics, optimal adhesion is vital for safety. It’s also critical for aesthetics, which can be compromised when adhesion curing is inhibited in temperatures below what’s recommended. To address these challenges, opt for materials specially engineered for reliable adhesion and stability in low temperatures.

Moisture and Condensation

External mounted window graphic film must withstand moisture and condensation that accumulates in cold and adverse weather, especially in freeze-thaw cycles. Condensation can be found year-round in inside applications like freezer doors and beer caves. Humidity resistant print films resist the effects of moisture and give optimal performance in cold applications.

In addition to moisture and humidity, salt and other chemicals used on winter roads can lead to faster degradation of graphic materials found in transit and exterior ground installations. Additional protection can be used like liquid or cast laminate with applications in these environments.

Continental Grafix has Window, Wall and Floor Film to Meet the Demanding Requirements of Cold Weather

From retail to transit film applications, Continental Grafix USA offers innovative material solutions designed to meet the demands of cold weather installations. You can plan your projects with confidence, knowing you’re equipped with solutions ensuring durability, aesthetics and performance in the harshest conditions.

Download our Cold Weather Film Buyer’s Guide!

Avoid the cold with interior mount perforated window films! Perfect for retail windows and transit window applications.

panoRama Film8020

Boost your holiday promotion with panoRama Film 8020. This non-adhesive, interior mount perforated window film is easy to self-install with optically clear, double sided, repositionable panoRama Tape. This saves you time and money by eliminating professional installation costs. Ideal for cold weather, graffiti-prone areas or where landlord or municipal regulations restrict exterior mount signage. Avoid the cold with this interior mount, self-install window film.

panoRama Clear7030 and panoRama Clear8020

If city ordinances, tenant agreements or inclement weather prevent an external mount film, panoRama Clear7030 and panoRama Clear8020 are a solution. Face coated with a clear adhesive for mounting to interior glass, install out of the inclement weather without costly installation equipment. Reverse print, 4-color material, layer with white then black in to create vibrant graphics designed to last. panoRama Clear7030 has a film/ open ratio of 70/30 and panoRama Clear 8020 has a film/ open ratio of 80/20.

Specialized external mount films for installation in temperatures from +25°F to +5°F.

iTac Clear, iTac Clear Plus & iTac White

Cold temperatures on windows and smooth surfaces are challenging for adhesives, potentially limiting your message from those who need to see it. iTac Clear and iTac White are easy to install on smooth surfaces like glass windows, stainless steel and more. They’re PVC free and recyclable, both backed with our proprietary adhesive, allowing for installation in temperatures as low as to +25°F (-4°C).

iTac Clear offers incredibly optical clarity and clean removal even after long term installation, up to 3 years. No need to grapple with leftover adhesive residue, even after years of installation! Can be used as an alternative to window clings, iTac Clear allows your brand to shine without the challenges of bubbles and peeling commonly found in traditional cling applications.

iTac White offers the same long term, clean removal benefits with a white background. Allow your messages to be bold and luminous! Flexible installation with wet or dry application allows for bubble free results.

Walk&Wall®

Simply install and walk! Walk&Wall® is a textured, non-slip vinyl floor and wall graphic solution that’s repositionable and easy to install in temperatures down to +25°F. Whether you’re installing inside or outside, Walk&Wall® has dimensional stability and meets non-skid foot traffic safety requirements without the need for lamination. Interior durability for up to 3 months on the floor and 3 years on the wall for applications like store entrance ways and aisle way markings. Exterior durability for up to 3 months on the ground and 1 year on the wall, Walk&Wall® braves the elements for sidewalk and exterior wall graphics.

panoRama Innova Ice

Installing perforated window films in extreme temperatures can be a challenge, but panoRama Innova Ice breaks the rules! Designed for cold weather applications, it can be installed in temperatures as low as to +5°F (-15°C) without requiring curing time. Ideal for transit and fleet graphics, retail displays, event signage, and more. panoRama Innova Ice ensures reliability even in harsh conditions.

With a 60/40 film ratio and specialty adhesive is formulated for cold temperatures. panoRama Innova Ice delivers exceptional performance. For added protection and durability, laminate with panoRama Cast or panoRama Protect making it the go-to choice for demanding cold weather installations.

X-Treme

X-Treme is a high performance, smooth, white vinyl designed for the most demanding applications and extreme conditions. Featuring a proprietary high tack, proprietary adhesive, it adheres securely to low energy surfaces like plastics and textured substrates, making it ideal for installations where other material may fail. X-Treme is engineered to be installed in temperatures as low as +5°F (-15°C). It’s perfect for outdoor signage, labeling and packaging environments with wide temperature fluctuations. X-Treme has a durable, calendared construction that ensures long-lasting performance with an outdoor lifespan up to 5 years.

No matter your challenge, X-Treme is the ultimate solution for challenging installations and projects requiring maximum durability and adhesion. X-Treme provides exceptional results even in the harshest conditions.