TNT (Tips n’ Tricks)
graphic. There is a delicate balance to keep when gauging tack, bond, film type, and so on, and every wall is going to have its own story. Create habits where you ask good questions, create a checklist for site visits, and test and practice with the various material options and tools.
Paint Types The paint sheen used helps set the tone for the space but also adds a variable to the mix when paired with an adhesive wall vinyl. Flat paint offers a low-sheen, non-reflective surface, but also creates a lower surface energy contact point for your adhesive. This microtexture presents a challenge for adhesive bonding that is made worse by the introduction of low and zero-VOC paints which have a tendency to outgas their curing agents over a longer period of time. Flat paint can require a higher initial tack adhesive to allow the material to grip and hold as the bond grows over time. Eggshell or Semi-Gloss paints inherently have a little more shine, and that smoother, harder surface finish makes an ideal application surface for wall graphics. I would also add that it is critical for clean removal to make sure that the wall has been primed before painting, in a separate step. This seals the drywall paper and any loose particulate or joint compound and creates a platform for optimal paint adhesion. Failure to prime the wall will lead to failures when it’s time to remove the graphic.
Stucco/Textured Walls
Stucco or textured walls introduce 30 l WrapFam Unleashed l February 2024
irregularities, requiring materials with extra conformability and adhesives that are designed to hold on intricate surface variations. A cast vinyl or ultra-conformable calendered material is going to be best, but don’t go running for your standard wrap material as a slideable permanent adhesive might not be the best option here. Stickers applied to these surfaces have to navigate the peaks and valleys, so yes, cast vinyl is great, but these walls typically require something more high-tack to stick and hold in those nooks and crannies.
Sealed Concrete/Cinder Block These surfaces essentially have their pores sealed, ideally with a semi-gloss or better paint, and provide a smoother, hard surface for applying graphics. Adhesives designed for these substrates still need to have high tack and strong bonding characteristics, and the films should have excellent flexibility and conformability to adhere to the variable surface.
Adjusting for Environment The materials we use can be standardized a bit, incorporating what we know about films and adhesives to identify a few go-to solutions. Let’s take our opening install: it turned out that not only was the wall not actually smooth, but the textured surface had been quickly repainted with large defects and drips that messed up the contact between the adhesive and the wall. We know that when walls have a texture to them, either our film, adhesive or both are
