Vehicle wraps are one of the most effective ways to customize your police vehicle. You can also use vehicle wraps as a protective sheet, preventing your car from having scratches and dust penetrating.
Police vehicles are used to all weather conditions from summer to winter. One of their problems includes wearing out of their police vehicle graphics designs, making their car look so unprofessional.
With this short guide, we will give you an in-depth overview of why temperature affects the installation of vehicle wraps and what are the things you can do to prevent it from happening.
Table of Contents
Cold Weather vs Vehicle Wraps: What goes behind the scene?
We all know that vehicle wraps are effective in protecting your car but how can they do their purpose if these wraps were not properly installed because of the cold temperatures.
Like one of the TVpopular series says “Winter is Coming.” Vinyl wrap installers are now shaking because the season with the coldest temperatures is coming to challenge their business. Experts say vinyl wraps and colder weather are not likely to bond together. It’s like oil and water.
But why is it happening? Well, most vehicle wraps are made of vinyl. This type of material gets stiff and brittle as the temperature decreases due to the plasticizers in the film losing their elasticity.
Because the wrap becomes brittle, it is harder for the installer to mold them to the curves and edges of the car. The cold temperatures will also lose their stickiness, making it very tacky and won’t bond properly and securely to the car’s surface.
How can we overcome the effects of cold temperatures on your vehicle wraps?
- Maintain the Installation Environment’s Temperature
Ideally, to make the installation of vehicle wraps more effective, you need to maintain a certain level of humidity to make sure every element works well and bonds well. Expert installers recommend keeping the temperature or the installation workspace within the 59F – 95F (15C – 36C) range.
With maintained temperature, the “frozen” vinyl wraps will get back their elasticity. The same goes for the substrate used for bonding. Warmer temperatures prevent condensation, which is the primary reason why adhesive bonds in the wrap are damaged.
- Warm up the Vinyl, Adhesive, and Substrate
As discussed earlier, warmed-up vinyl makes it easier for the installers to manipulate the material around the curves and recesses of the vehicle. In the same case, the adhesive will wet out effectively, making the vinyl adhere perfectly to the surface of the car.
Substrate, too, works effectively in higher temperatures, further improving the bond between vinyl and adhesive. Substrate prevents the adhesive from hardening and losing its tack.
- Leave the hard work to professionals
It takes a long time for someone to master one skill, therefore calling someone with a wealth of experience in installing vehicle wraps will be your best choice. You rest assured that your vehicle is in good hands.
Make Your Police Vehicle Wrap Winter Ready
We’ve mentioned that cold temperatures and vinyl wrapping don’t exactly come hand-in-hand. But if the police vehicle graphics designs are correctly installed by an experienced installer, then you should not have to worry about it anymore. Surely your vehicle wrap can withstand the winter, strong and proud.