As professional signwriters, we’re often asked about how to safely remove vehicle signage. If you too are attempting to do this yourself, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll discuss the most common mistakes newbie DIYers make when removing vehicle signage themselves, the issues these may cause and where to go when you need assistance from the professionals.
Is Removing Vehicle Signage or Decals Easy?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the mistakes we’ve seen people make when attempting to remove vehicle signage themselves, it’s important to acknowledge that it is actually a fairly simple process if you know what you’re doing.
With the right advice and guidance from professionals like us, you can easily remove your own signage, as long as you’re confident enough to do so.
Common Vehicle Signage Removal Mistakes
While removing vehicle signage yourself is an easy process, it doesn’t mean it’s without its pitfalls. Over the years we’ve seen many customers come to grief over simple mistakes that could have been avoided with the right instruction.
That’s why we’ve compiled some of the most common errors we’ve encountered and how you can avoid them when removing your own vehicle signage.
Removing Graphics From a Dirty Vehicle
Attempting to remove vehicle graphics without first cleaning your car is a huge no-no. Just as your car needs to be spick and span for the application process, the same is true when it comes time for removal.
Failing to clean your car before removing signage will just make the job more difficult. And what’s worse is that you could accidentally end up damaging your paintwork, which wastes even more time and may cost you.
Leaving the Graphics on Too Long
Vehicle signage is so popular because it’s long lasting and durable. But that doesn’t mean it’s infallible. Over time, your signage will fade or start to peel, which is a sign it’s coming to the end of its lifespan.
Be sure to look out for these signs and replace or remove your vehicle graphics before they show too much wear and become difficult to remove.
Starting Cold
One of the best ways to remove vehicle signage is to use heat. Apply a heat gun (or, in a pinch, a hair dryer) to the surface of your existing signage to warm it up. This will loosen the adhesive and make removing the signage much smoother.
Using the Wrong Tools
The truth is, you don’t really need too many tools to remove vehicle signage yourself. Most signage graphics will peel away from your car without much intervention. Sometimes, however, you can use a blunt scraper or credit card to speed up the process.
One thing you will want to avoid is using sharp objects around the signage, as doing so may penetrate it and damage your vehicle.
Not Removing Residue
Almost all vehicle graphics and wraps will leave behind a glue residue when removed. You cannot leave this on your vehicle. You must remove it carefully by washing and waxing the area carefully if you want a seamless finish.
Being Too Hasty
Even if you’re a professional like those we have on our staff at Wolf Signs, vehicle signage removal is a delicate and time consuming process. One of the biggest mistakes we see people make when attempting to remove their own graphics or decals is care and time. You need to be patient, to take the care and time required to do the job if you’re going to do it right.
Not being careful and taking the warranted amount of time it takes to properly remove your graphics could not only damage your car, it could also impact on how good your car looks when you’re finished.
Not Finishing The Job
When removing vehicle signage, no job is complete until the car has been washed and detailed. This gives you an opportunity to check your work and take care of any residue you may have missed when removing the signage.
Failing to Recognise Your Limits
Removing vehicle signage is easy to do, but it’s not for everyone. There’s no shame in asking for help with your signage removal requirements. In fact, it’s something we at Wolf Signs encourage – especially if you know it’s beyond your capabilities.
Need help removing your vehicle signage? Contact the experts at Wolf Signs today.