posted by vinyl frog on September 1, 2022
How To Remove Sun Baked Vinyl Wrap?
Installing vinyl wrap to your vehicle was a wonderful experience but you got carried away and left it much longer than required. It is all cracked, discolored and weathered, and you want to remove it. Vinyl Frog tells you how to get rid of a sun baked vinyl wrap.
A gleaming vehicle wrapped in a metallic vinyl is a sight for sore eyes. Rushing through the traffic it surely wins accolades and immense praises as everyone turns to look at it. If you want to add new life to your car, there are ample options available in the market for vinyl sheets. You can choose one for your four-wheeler according to your taste and style, transforming it into a new one within a budget.
However, the vinyl can just not be on that automobile forever. Like everything in the world, it has an expiry date too. Due to major or even minor exposure to sunlight during all the years the vinyl is on the vehicle, it experiences degradation in its appearance. It gets sun baked, consequently losing its flashy charm.
A good-looking car is a dream for everyone. Even a vintage model deserves to look presentable with an eye-catching exterior. A decent car is not just your personal desire but is also appreciated by the people around you. A well-maintained vehicle builds the image of its owner. Therefore, if you have opted for vinyl wrapping your car, you must also get it off once it is sundried.
If a sun baked vinyl wrap is left off on the car’s body for too long, it will damage the original exterior of the car too. Also, an automobile with damaged vinyl wrapping loses all its appeal.
Vinyl Frog presents the steps for removing sun baked vinyl wrap and suitable tools required for the process. We have also thrown in some suggestions to make the vinyl last longer than expected, that is, the precautions which will help the vinyl attain more life on that car.
Tools Required to Remove a Sun Baked Vinyl from Your Car
While you can always use your fingers to scrape the vinyl sheet off that body, ideally, appropriate tools will make this process much more stress-free for you. Especially if the vinyl has been on for more than four to five years. Mentioned below are the suitable tools which can come in handy for vinyl removal.
Heat Gun
You may need a heat gun around the edges of the vinyl for it to easily come off from the body of your car.
Plastic Razor Blade
Since the exterior of the car is sensitive and we do not want to scratch it, therefore soft plastic razor blades are preferred for scraping off the vinyl. The sharp ones can cause scratches or severe damage to the automobile’s original surface.
Adhesive Residue Remover/Solvent
Some adhesive residue is always left behind hence we certainly need a remover to get rid of it.
A Clean Piece of Cloth
A microfiber clean cloth to wipe off the car and free it from any remnants.
Steps for Removing the Sun Baked Vinyl
Below are the steps mentioned for removing sun baked vinyl wrapping from your car.
Step 1: Heating The Edges of the Vinyl
For a hassle-free experience, it is always better to heat the vinyl a bit, using a heat gun. The edges of the vinyl should be heated because that is where the root of the whole sheet lies. If the edge comes off easily then the remaining removal should not be much of an issue.
However, the heat gun has to be heated at a moderate temperature, plus the gun should be moved back and forth for equal distribution of the warmth over vinyl.
You can also use any other source of heat for this purpose. Just be sure to keep the temperature moderate and not heat up a similar spot for too long, since this can cause bubbling or burning of the vinyl wrap and consequently damaging the original body of the car.
Step 2. Peeling Off the Vinyl
You must start with peeling off the sheet from your car’s exterior. For that you can use the plastic razor blade. It is always best to start off with the edges.
Make sure the blade is not sharp, rather a soft one so it does not harm the vehicle.
Once the edge comes off, the remaining of the sheet can easily be flayed with your hands. Edges of the vinyl are usually found at the hood, doors, roof and so on. You should also be careful to not wrench the vinyl, since this leaves a major chance of adhesive being left on the car, which can be pretty tough to remove.
Step 3: Wiping Off the Vinyl Fragments or Leftover Adhesive
Once you are done peeling off the vinyl from the vehicle, you must look for any residues. They can either be of the adhesive glue that was holding the vinyl’s body or can also be some bits and pieces of the vinyl itself. Carefully inspect the car and scrap away the offcuts. You can also use a suitable vinyl wrap removing solution over it which will help it come off the surface.
Some Quick Tips for Easy Removal
- Make sure you change your vinyl wrap within a span of two or maximum three years. The longer it is exposed to the sun, greater the chances of it getting severely sun baked. Resulting in tougher detaching from the vehicle’s exterior.
- Take care of the angle while peeling off. Better to pull it at an angle of 45 degrees. If done at 90 degrees, it will most possibly come off in tiny little pieces.
- Do not yank the vinyl sheet. Yanking the wrapping will make the job harder. Steadily pulling off the sheet will get the job done.
- As mentioned earlier too, heating up the vinyl sheet at the edges is going to loosen up the adhesive a bit, consequently making it better for you to scrape off the wrap from the surface of the car.
Precautions to Increase the Lifespan of a Vinyl
While it is absolute that the vinyl wrapping will have to be removed one day, since it eventually loses all its charm, there are certain safety measures that can be observed for it to last a little longer than usual.
Weather Conditions:
Consider the weather conditions around you. If you live in a cold area, the vinyl is expected to maintain its quality. If hot weather dominates your place of living, the life of vinyl is short. Too much exposure to sunlight not only bakes the vinyl sheet but also detaches it from the automobile with time since the adhesive solvents get affected by the heat.
Parking Spot
Make sure that you always find a cool spot to park your car temperature wise. A space that is safe from direct sunlight. Ideally, if the car is parked for a longer period, it should be in a garage. Otherwise, you can always look for a sheltered place to park your car. Protecting the vinyl wrapping from direct exposure to sunshine will result in a longer life span.
Cleaning Methods
Excessive cleaning may make the vinyl lose its shine sooner. Make sure to wash it carefully once in two to three weeks. It is recommended to use a solvent or a detergent that will not harm the vinyl. For a complete guide on how to wash a vinyl wrapped vehicle, refer to our blog. (LINK OF THE BLOG CAN BE ADDED HERE)
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Vinyl wrap is the most affordable and convenient way for a layperson to upgrade their vehicle. However, no matter how much you take care of it, it eventually loses its glory. If you have neglected your vinyl and it has gotten sun baked, it can be and should be removed immediately.
The best way to remove the vinyl wrapping is by peeling it off from the edges, better if the ends are heated up a bit using a heat gun or any other heat emitting device. The residues of the bonding agent between the vinyl wrapping and the car should also be wiped off using the recommended solvent for a smooth finish on the vehicle’s surface. Once the sun baked vinyl wrap is removed, you can always put on a new one, returning the car its gloss and shine.
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