perforated window vinyl first time use

[Peter Johnson]

You should always laminate perforated window vinyl.

The main reason being that if you don’t, the holes will fill with water when it rains and you will lose all visibility, defeating the object of fitting windowperf in the first place.

Even if applying indoors (and I mean in a shopping centre etc, not inside a window :), over time the holes will start to fill with accumulated dirt and so on and you’ll end up with the same result.

It’s also important what laminate you use as well. If applying to a vehicle window, you should use an optically clear laminate. In my honest opinion, it wouldn’t really make sense applying anything other than optically clear laminate to windowperf as anything that detracts from visibility also defeats the object of fitting this vinyl in the first place.

[danny mccarthy]

Thanks Peter.

[A.Kordowski]

I’ve printed and fitted a lot of contravision and never laminated it, never had any issues with water. I can think of one job that was a very large shop front which is subject to lots of rain etc and still looks as good as the day i fitted it. Also if you allow for an overlaminate it could make the job too expensive…..

[danny mccarthy]

Thanks Andy, the job is only 1.2 metre squared, so I will laminate just to be safe.

But thanks and I take what said on board for future jobs and maybe give the customer a choice.

Thanks again

[Chris Wilson]

We are talking about one way vision film here yea? I was under the impression you couldn’t laminate it, or least that’s what I was told when asked and none of our competitors up here do as you see every rear window that’s ever been fitted has the the good old wiper mark.

I’ll maybe give it a shot [emoji848]

[Peter Johnson]

I just did a quick experiment. I cut off a piece of windowperf from a roll I have and then stuck it down onto a piece of clear perspex. I then poured a cup of water down the centre of it, gave it a shake to remove the excess and then took pictures through it looking outside and a couple inside the unit.

You can clearly see (no pun intended) that the visibility is good through the dry part, but you can’t see jack where the water is. This is what happens when it rains on unlaminated windowperf.

And on the inside photos, I took the wet picture first and then gave it a quick once over with some blue paper towel for the ‘dry-ish’ photo.

I’ve also added a photo of a shopfront I did with windowperf laminated with optically clear. image shows inside and out.

EDIT: Forgot to say that once the water dries/evaporates, the vision clears up again. It’s only when the water is there that you have the problem.

[Chris Wilson]

quote Peter Johnson:

I just did a quick experiment. I cut off a piece of windowperf from a roll I have and then stuck it down onto a piece of clear perspex. I then poured a cup of water down the centre of it, gave it a shake to remove the excess and then took pictures through it looking outside and a couple inside the unit.

You can clearly see (no pun intended) that the visibility is good through the dry part, but you can’t see jack where the water is. This is what happens when it rains on unlaminated windowperf.

And on the inside photos, I took the wet picture first and then gave it a quick once over with some blue paper towel for the ‘dry-ish’ photo.

I’ve also added a photo of a shopfront I did with windowperf laminated with optically clear. image shows inside and out.

EDIT: Forgot to say that once the water dries/evaporates, the vision clears up again. It’s only when the water is there that you have the problem.

Always happy to learn something new. Up till now I’ve been selling it as a pro/con material and explain the advantages over disadvantages.

Who’s laminate and vinyl are you using?

[Shawn Bentley]

The only thing I would add is if laminating then make sure your using the correct over laminate for the contra as I’ve seen laminated contravision that’s been laminated with vinyl laminate and u can see the glue where the holes are and no further.

[Martin Pearson]

Also if you allow for an overlaminate it could make the job too expensive…..

Sorry Andy, don’t want to be controversial but I just think that is wrong.

Customer looks to you as the expert so give them the pro’s & con’s of both non laminated & laminated film & a price for each & then let them decide if it is to expensive with a laminate applied 😆 😆

[Chris Tennant]

Curious to know what laminate has been used?
We were told and have found out on several occasions that you are unable to laminate as it looks hazy and blurred.

We were also supplied an “optically clear” lam which would apparently work with contra-vision but to no surprise didnt.