Here at Garage Girls, we are striding to encourage females to take the reins and gain confidence when working on, or modifying their cars. For those who are new to working on cars, it can be a daunting thought! 

We want to try and take away some of the fear, and answer the most common questions to help you become more independent when working on your car. 

Applying Vinyl Stickers 

Here, we are looking into applying vinyl stickers. This page can be used for our mini stickers, mirror stickers and banners.

Please take the time to read our guidance and don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or queries you have. We are unable to issue replacements for improper installation or errors occurring during application - But please don't let this put you off, give it a go!

What you may need: 

• Masking tape
• Vinyl squeegee 
• Isopropyl alcohol 
• Clean microfibre cloth 
• Soap & water mix 
• Measuring tape 

First, here are some top tips to ensure you have the basic requirements for the best application. 

Weather conditions play a really big part in the longevity and adhesion of your sticker. No vinyl applications should be attempted if the temperature is below 15°C. Bare in mind that the adhesive on vinyl can take between 24-48 hours to fully cure, so cold/damp spells overnight can also affect the adhesion and reduce the life of your decal. 

During this curing time, we also advise to keep the decal dry, and avoid using your rear wiper if the sticker is on your rear windscreen. Once 24 hours has passed, you shouldn't have any issues using your wiper, or getting the decal wet providing the correct installation steps have been followed. Please note that care should always be taken when using high powered hoses or jet washed on/near your decal. 

Below, we will be talking through the stages of a dry sticker install. Wet install will be covered on a different page and is best used for larger decals. 

Our chrome, glitter, reflective & neon vinyls are dry install only.   

So, enough of that... Lets get this decal applied! 

STEP 1 - SURFACE PREPARATION

Undeniably the most important step, prepping the surface that the sticker is being applied to can be the difference between it adhering or not.

The aim of thoroughly cleaning and prepping your surface is to remove any dirt, grease, dust, or product residue. Grease or cleaning product residue can prevent the decal sticking to the surface. Dust and dirt can also prevent adhesion or create lumps and bumps in the face of the vinyl. 

To fully prep your surface, first rinse with a soap & water mix. 1-2 drops of soap in a 400ml spray bottle will be adequate, the more soap in the mix, the more thoroughly it will have to be rinsed. If in any doubt, just use warm water. Use your soapy water with a cloth to wash and wipe the surface. Ensure to fully rinse the surface with clean warm water to remove any soap residue. (This step can be skipped if there is no visible dirt or dust on your surface).

Once you're satisfied that there is no dirt, dust or residue on the surface, it needs to be fully dry before applying your isopropyl. You can use a hair dryer, or heat gun to speed up the drying process. Once dry, use a clean & dry microfibre cloth with your isopropyl to wipe over the surface. You can repeat these steps if you're not happy with the result. 

The surface must be fully prepped & completely dry before moving on. 

STEP 2 - PREPPING YOUR STICKER

This step isn't essential, but will help in getting your decal stuck to the transfer tape. 

Place your sticker down on a flat surface, and use the edge of your squeegee to firmly glide over the transfer tape. This helps to 'sandwich' your decal between the vinyl backing, and the sticky transfer tape. You can also use this to smooth out any air bubbles which may have formed during shipping. 

STEP 3 - DECAL POSITIONING 

This step is largely led by where you're placing your decal. You can do this by eye, but we really recommend taking the time to measure and mark where you're placing your sticker if you want it straight and central.  

The easiest way to do this is to place your decal onto the car with the vinyl backing still on. Find the positioning you want, and then mark the corners with masking tape so you can line the decal back onto the same placement when the backing tape is off. 

STEP 4 - TRANSFER TAPE 

Peel the transfer tape off the vinyl backing paper (the transfer tape is the clear tape on top of the decal). The decal should lift off the backing paper and stick to the transfer tape. If it doesn't, you can either revisit step 2, or gently push on the back of the backing paper to pry the stickers onto the transfer tape. 

It's really important to take your time here to ensure that all elements of the decal stick to the transfer tape, and that you do not rip your vinyl. Make sure the tape doesn't fold back on itself and stick together, as the sticker won't be recoverable from this. 

STEP 5 - PLACEMENT 

If you have masking tape already lined up, then lay the transfer tape into the stencil created by the tape. If not, line up the sticker to your desired location. 

Always be sure to hold the transfer tape taught and tight. This will help prevent creases and air bubbles. Lay the transfer tape onto the surface, only ensuring it contacts the surface when in the desired position. Starting in the centre, work outwards with your squeegee, pressing down firmly over the entire decal. 

For intricate areas, you can also use your finger in a cloth glove, or covered in a microfibre cloth to apply pressure. 

STEP 6 - THE REVEAL 

Slowly peel the transfer tape off, keeping it parallel with the surface. If the decal starts to lift, stop immediately to avoid ripping the vinyl. Repeat step 5 if necessary, and continue with the peel. If the sticker still pulls away from the surface, then there is a high change of a contaminant or product on the surface which is stopping the vinyl from adhering. 

However, all being well, the transfer tape should peel off, leaving the decal on the desired surface!

STEP 7 - SHARE THE LOVE 

Step back, and admire your handy work! 

If this is your first go at applying a decal, then a very well done, and thank you for trusting us to guide you! 

Be sure to share your new addition with us by tagging us in your stories & posts on instagram (@garagegirlsuk). 

 

We can't wait to see you all rocking your self applied decals!

Love, Garage Girls x

 

The Legal Spiel...

For cars with windscreen stickers attached to the front and/or back windows, there are some pointers that you’ll need to keep in mind...

Windscreen obstruction guidelines

If you’re planning on attaching stickers to your windscreen – or already have stickers in place – the first thing to know is that, while there is no official law surrounding them, you do have to abide by windscreen obstruction regulations.

As the highway code states, a driver’s windscreen must be kept clear from obstructions that interfere with vision. This is the same rule for sat navs and window mounts as it is for windscreen stickers.

To be sure that your windscreen stickers don’t leave you paying a fine while you’re out and about, make sure they are installed away from the area directly in front of the driver’s seat. Anything deemed to block the driver’s line of vision will lead to penalties and MOT failure.

Rules for windscreen stickers

As with windscreen damage, windscreen obstruction is measured by zones – A and B. Zone A refers to the area directly in front of the driver; this area cannot contain any obstructions that measure over 10mm in diameter. Zone B refers to the rest of the windscreen. Here, windscreen stickers and other obstructions – including damage from chips and cracks – must not measure more than 40mm.

For rear windscreens, zones do not apply. However, guidelines state the rear window, as with the front windscreen, must be kept clear from obstruction. The driver should be able to see clearly through the back window. Large window stickers, especially opaque windscreen stickers, can easily disrupt this view.

Referenced from: 

https://www.1stcallwindscreensltd.co.uk/news/rules-stickers-windscreens/

Please note that Garage Girls UK will not accept any responsibility for implications if these guidelines are not adhered to.