applying vinyl on top ofanother one, will i get bubbles?

[Martin Pearson]

If the customer has roller shutters you could talk them into having the text on the outside of the window and the floodcoat inside, I have persuaded customers to do this and it looks really good.

[Andrew John Sawyer]

Ah yes done it meself – but what about the awkward ones…

[Marekdlux]

I’m sure Dewi will have some answers for you in a minute. He seems to be the resident window expert here lately. 😀
If not, he’ll tell a funny joke.
-Marek

[Iain Gordon]

No Marekdlux…..Dewi will tell a joke that Dewi thinks is funny

😀

[Andy Gorman]

I do something similar for a regular customer all the time – several text based logos overlaid with orange vinyl. I apply the orange wet and so far they have all looked fine. To be honest I think that applying it wet may stretch the vinyl a tiny bit, because when viewed a few days later the overlaid vinyl is absolutely perfect around the logos as if it has shrunk upon drying.

I know Rob sings the praises of dry application and generally it is the best method, but this is a trick I have learned by accident really.

[Jill Marie Welsh]

Could you not stick the first layer on the window,
then mask it off and paint a rectangle over it from behind?
Paint scrapes off just as easily as vinyl.
As far as I can tell, there are no air bubbles in 1-Shot.
You might get a drip tho!
Love….Jill

[Bill Dewison]

Applying a sheet of vinyl onto a window, whether its behind graphics or not, is pretty simple… mostly down to technique.

If you tape up the vinyl to the width you want it (I tend to tape it up directly from the roll, even if the width I need is below 610mm, as you can trim on the window) it makes it a whole lot easier to apply. Once you’re at the window, if you roll back the backing paper by about 10″, then cut off the backing paper with a pair of scissors. Tack the vinyl to the top of the window (or where you want to start applying) and line up in the direction you want to apply (I say this as you can apply vinyl diagonally as well as vertically & horizontally).

When its in the correct position, holding the vinyl away from the window, remove a couple of feet of backing paper. Start with a slicing action with the squeegee (Robert has done an excellent video demo of this) and work your way down the vinyl. It isn’t foolproof, I still get the odd bubble, but with a pin you can careful puncture the bubble at one side and smooth the vinyl towards the hole, expelling all the air.

Its practise more than anything. I spent quite a while applying to the rear windows of my shop, over and over again, practising what I’ve been shown by other signmakers. Temperature makes a difference as if its too cold, the vinyl won’t stick, too hot and the vinyl sticks like **** to a blanket 😕 Broken record time but practise, practise, practise, different temperatures, different types of vinyl. For the cost of a few metres of vinyl, its amazing how quickly you learn how vinyl applies to any surface.

Hope this helps 😀

Cheers, Dewi

[Nicola McIntosh]

nice one dewi!! 😛

could’nt have worded that better myself!! 😀
i do quite a lot of windows too…just the norm text with backgrounds for solicitors windows pretty straight forward stuff !! applied dry too, 😛 but as you rightly say practise is the only way!! 😉

nik

[Nigel Fraser]

Agree with Dewi and Nik on this one – just add one point though. If you use a darker colour to back off with and apply it dry then you will get some “silvering” effect which shows the squeegie marks from where you applied uneven pressure(you still get it with lighter colours but it’s not so noticable). This is unavoidable with reverse applications onto glass and as long as you have no actual bubbles it will settle down fine once it has been left for a day or two. The adhesive on the film will “grab” to the glass in this time and the marks will disappear as if by magic 😉
Fair point to BigG too though, if you’re careful with getting out all the water and you are not using a vinyl with a water based adhesive then is a good way to make fitting a little easier and it can give a slightly better appearance arround the edges of the graphics in the 1st layer.
Just my experiences anyway !

Nigel

[Bill Dewison]

I’ve never been able to describe that Nigel… silvering… its exactly what it is. As you say, it does disappear on its own, but I wish I’d known that when I first started out. I spent hours rubbing vinyl down again and again till my pinkies hurt 😕

Some excellent advice for windows in this thread though. Wet or dry, I still think the key is practise. After saying that, I’d say that applies to any sort of vinyl work, the more you do, the better you’ll become if your technique is right.

Cheers, Dewi

[John Singh]

I do quite a bit of this
Folks down here want the vinyl letters then a frost over the top

I apply the letters dry
but the frost I just spray with water and a dash of fairy
As I used to be a painter and decorator I tend to fold the frost up as a decorator would (making sure to spray both sides)

Works a treat

John

[Andrew John Sawyer]

Thanks people – I have been doing it right! What a relief, especially for my clients. As you say, practice is the key Thanks for the feedback. My mix is meths – 25/30mm in a spray bottle – splash of washing liquid – 2/3 drops – and top up with water.