How to Remove Adhesive Vinyl Graphics Without Damaging Your Vehicle

How to remove adhesive vinyl graphics without damaging your vehicle is important to know. Although removing vinyl graphics from the surface of a vehicle is tedious work, it’s often a simple straight-forward task. Removing undamaged decals is a step-by-step process. It’s important to take your time and not skip any step. Hurrying this process usually leads to bigger problems up to and including surface damage to the vehicle. Damaging the substrate of a car or truck during vinyl graphics removal can be expensive. The marring of the surface can be so severe that it requires paint. A new paint job can cost thousands of dollars. That’s why it’s so important to know how to remove adhesive vinyl graphics the right way.

How to Remove Adhesive Vinyl Graphics

Test it first

The first time I saw a snap test was while traveling with an experienced TKO salesperson. He inspected an old bus a client wanted wrapped. The salesperson applied a piece of adhesive vinyl behind the license plate and then pulled it off. Paint came with it. He informed the customer that vinyl would not adhere to the bus.

Vehicles aren’t all steel. They’re made of plastic, fiberglass, aluminum, and glass, and each surface may react differently to adhesive vinyl. The condition of the surface and paint should also be considered. If there are doubts about their condition, a snap test is recommended. According to 3M, “This test can be used to help determine if a substrate appears to have sufficient integrity to remain intact during eventual graphic removal.”

If you’d like to learn more and avoid the cost of damaging your fleet read on. Here are the basics of how to remove adhesive vinyl graphics the right way.

Step by Step — How to Remove Adhesive Vinyl Graphics

Use a hand torch to heat the surface
Move the torch back and forth. Don’t stay on one area
For the best results heat the surface to 160°
Use a plastic poker on the edges of the graphic to loosen it
Gently lift the decal
Pull up on the adhesive vinyl graphics at a 45° angle to remove the adhesive vinyl graphics
If it becomes difficult to remove you may need to reheat the surface
On full wraps or larger decals use a larger propane torch
Avoid pointing the torch at plastic parts such as handles, bumpers, and window trim. The heat can and will damage them
After removing the decal clean away excess adhesive. Do not use abrasive cloths or cleaners
Clean the vehicle with a citrus-based solution

How to Remove Adhesive Vinyl Graphics When:

Vehicle decals being removed from a work van

It’s Been on too Long

Not every graphics removal job is simple. There are multiple factors that affect adhesive vinyl graphics removal. For example, adhesive vinyl graphics on a vehicle longer than warrantied, can be difficult to remove. Vinyl left on too long almost becomes part of the surface. It’s nearly impossible to remove it following basic removal guidelines.

“How long has the graphic been on the vehicle? If the decals have been on the vehicle longer then recommended, it can be difficult, time-consuming, and damaging to the finish. For example, seven-year vinyl, which has remained on a vehicle for more than ten years, can be challenging to remove and may pull off parts of the finish.” — How Do You Remove Old Vehicle Graphics?

The Vinyl is Damaged

Damaged graphics such as decals ripped and torn by tree branches are difficult and time-consuming to remove. And that’s even when you know what you’re doing. If this is the case with your old vehicle graphics, your best answer may be to hire a pro. Attempting to DYI damaged adhesive vinyl graphics often leads to more damage. And that can be time consuming as well as expensive.

How to Avoid Costly Vehicle Graphics Mistakes

It’s Cheap Material

Using the wrong material creates problems during removal. For example, using cheaper short-term adhesive vinyl on a long-term application is a no-no. It may save money up front but can be a nightmare at de-identification (removal of old adhesive vinyl graphics).

“There are many types of materials available. However, several factors besides the printed product affect the removability of the graphic. Including climate, location of graphic on the equipment, condition of the surface, and installation. There are several steps that can be taken to avoid these potential problems before the graphics have been produced.” — How to Reduce Fleet Graphics Removal Expense

Heat Doesn’t Work

“Have you ever been asked or hired to remove vinyl vehicle graphics that are cracked and weathered due to their age or the material used had a permanent adhesive? If you have, you know how difficult these graphics can be to remove and the amount of time it can take. There are times where using a heat gun or propane torch just doesn’t work.” — Avery Dennison: Removing adhesive vinyl from weathered graphics.

“I was talking with Gary Meunier — one of our national account managers — about a bid to remove graphics from a fleet of vehicles, for a company preparing to return them at the end of a lease agreement. We didn’t install the graphics, but we are one of the few companies trained and prepared to properly remove the lowest bid decals. The company was surprised it would cost nearly as much to remove the decals as what they had paid to have them installed, because it was a cheaper material with a permanent adhesive. It is difficult, labor-intensive, and time-consuming to remove such materials.” — The Lowest Bid Mistake.

Avoid Dangerous and Environmentally Unfriendly Chemicals

They are many chemical options for removing adhesive vinyl graphics. Unfortunately several of the options are toxic to humans and the environment. One such is methylene chloride, which is also found in paint removers.

“Methylene chloride, also known as dichloromethane or DCM, is a solvent used in a range of products. The average consumer is most likely to encounter it in paint strippers, even though safer alternatives exist. Methylene chloride has been linked to cancer, cognitive impairment, and asphyxiation.

Numerous people have died from exposure to methylene chloride. In 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to ban this chemical’s use in paint stripping. EPA didn’t act until 2019 to finalize the ban, but then only banned consumer uses and sales, leaving workers unprotected. We’re calling on retailers to take action and stop selling paint strippers containing methylene chloride. In the meantime, if you need to remove paint or a coating, make sure to avoid methylene chloride and other toxic chemicals like N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP).” — The Facts: Chemicals of concern methylene chloride. How to remove adhesive vinyl graphics doesn’t mean you have to use toxic chemicals.

Your Best Solvent Option

Your best solvent option is oranges or rather solvents based on citrus. These solvents not only work, but they’re also environmentally safe, and non-toxic to humans, and they smell good! They’re primarily processed from orange juice by-products, skin, seeds, and pulp thus saving tons of waste. The active ingredient in citrus-based solvents is d-limonene, which is so safe it’s used in food supplements.

“Recent studies have proven that d-limonene, which is considered as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) solvent by the US Food and Drug Administration, as a valuable alternative for traditional solvents for extraction, such as methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, toluene, glycol ethers, and numerous fluorinated and chlorinated solvents…”Science Direct: Development of a green procedure of citrus fruits waste processing to recover carotenoids.

Steam it Clean!

Steam is green! At TKO we use steam removal on large and difficult removals. It’s easy to use, safe, and non-corrosive. We use steam pads at low temperature to soften the vinyl and the adhesive behind it. The results usually mean less residual adhesive. As well as a friendlier workplace, and zero damage to the environment.

“The key to steaming off decals is to get the temperature correct: too hot, and you may damage the finish; too cold, and the only thing that happens is it gets wet. We suggest you experiment first on a small, unexposed area of the vehicle.” — How Can I Safely Remove Decals From My Trailer?

What about Removing Adhesive Vinyl from Glass?

“Removal of vinyl from glass is a little different than vehicle or substrate vinyl removal. Heat is one of the main tools with vinyl removal but should not be used on glass.

You can look for a more scientific explanation online, but the short answer is that glass does not expand and contract evenly when heat is applied. Unless the glass is specially treated, like with some cookware, it can break when heated.” — Sign and Digital Graphics: Vinyl graphics removal.

Do You Want to Know the Best Way to Remove Adhesive Vinyl Graphics? It’s Simple Hire us.

We offer full de-identification graphics removal. Whether you purchased your original fleet graphics from TKO or not, we can help with the removal. We have more than one facility set up for complete graphics removal. It doesn’t matter if you have five vans or one-thousand 53-foot trailers we’re prepared to remove your old graphics using heat, safe citrus-based solvents, and steam. If we can answer any questions or be of service, Contact Us.

Did you learn something from this post? Will it help you avoid adhesive vinyl graphic mistakes on your fleet graphics? If so, we’ve done our job.

Would you like to learn more? If you enjoyed this, you might also like this video. The video shows step-by-step how to remove adhesive vinyl graphics. How to remove adhesive vinyl graphics.

“We are proud to be a 3M™ MCS™ Certified Warranty Manufacturer, which means our customers receive consistent, outstanding products backed by 3M’s most comprehensive warranties. We are members of the United Application Standards Group (UASG), and master certified through the PDAA (Professional Decal Application Alliance), delivering the best installation services possible.” — About TKO Graphix

Fleet Graphics from the Customers Point of View

Have you ever looked at your fleet graphics from the customers point of view? So, what would you see if you looked at your fleet graphics from the customers point of view? It doesn’t matter if your business is a B2C (Business to Consumer) such as, a retail outlet, B2B (Business to Business) for example, a service provider, or a not-for-profit charitable organization — visitors judge your organization by its appearance and your cars and trucks are part of who you are. Vehicle graphics can be a customer’s first impression of a company.

What do your vehicles say about your organization? What impression do they make? If you’re uncertain, take a walk out to where your vehicles are parked and look at them through the eyes of a customer or prospective client. Walk in their shoes. Looking at your fleet graphics from the customers point of view only takes a few minutes. It’s worth the time. Who knows what you’ll find.

The Right Stuff

When you look at your fleet graphics from your customers pint of view note how the adhesive vinyl is holding up. Is it torn, faded, or showing signs of stress such as air bubbles? “High-quality graphic films will stand the test of time in a variety of climates. However, not all films are built to withstand rigorous road conditions. A key determinant of a wrap’s longevity is the durability of the film. A film’s durability refers to its strength against elements such as weathering and other outdoor exposures. Lesser quality films are more likely to fail under harsh outdoor
conditions over a shorter period.” — 5 film factors to consider when wrapping your fleet.

Looking at Your Fleet Graphics from the Customers Point of View

Did Your Vehicle Graphics Speak to You as a Customer?

Does the design send a clear message? Or is it confusing and muddled? Would a new customer know what you offer? Would a casual passerby understand what you do? Do the fleet graphics speak to you? Because if they don’t speak to you, will they reach your customer?

Was the Information Easy to Find?

Were vital details such as contact information and product easy to find? Were the key points repeated on the front, back, and both sides of the vehicles?

Are Your Vehicle Graphics Too Complicated?

Is the message confused or lost because of TMI (Too Much Information), poor color selection, outdated design, or hard to read fonts?

Did You Recognize Your Brand?

Is your brand unified across marketing and advertising initiatives? If a potential customer is familiar with your logo would they immediately know it was you just by viewing your vehicles?

Do Your Vehicle Graphics Speak Quality?

When you walked into your parking lot and looked at your fleet vehicles sign, did it speak quality to you? Were the cars and trucks clean, well-maintained, and in good repair? What do poorly maintained vehicles and cheap fleet graphics say about your organization? Fleet graphics shouldn’t be a place to cut corners.

What Did You Learn?

Hopefully, you learned that your fleet graphics meet your customer’s needs. But if not, it’s a great exercise to determine what you can do to meet customer expectations and reach your target audience. If you’d like a second opinion, we’d be happy to look at your fleet graphics from the consumer’s point of view. But we need to warn you we’re a tough customer. Contact Us.

Did you enjoy this post? Would you like to know what our customers think of TKO? 10 Clients Rate TKO Graphix Customer Service

If you’d like a free estimate for your fleet or vehicle graphics; you can Request A Quote.

TKO Graphix is a national fleet and vehicle graphics company helping customers since 1985. We provide full-service graphic design, digital printing, screen printing, graphics installation, and removal of large format graphics.

We’re a fleet and vehicle graphics company and since 1985, we’ve been helping businesses, large and small, brand their fleet of tractor-trailers, service trucks and company vehicles. Whether you have a fleet of thousands or a few vehicles, we are here to lead you through the vehicle branding process.

TKO Graphix is a Certified 3M™ MCS™ Warranty graphics manufacturer. Our installation crews are 3M Certified and are employees of TKO Graphix, not sub-contractors.

FAQ: What’s the Best Color Contrast for a Vehicle Wrap?

What’s the best color contrast for a vehicle wrap? One would think that white against a black background or black on a white backdrop would be best, but that’s not always the case. To determine the best answer to your question, you need to consider a few points.

First, Support Your Brand

If your brand incorporates a specific shade of blue, then a black and white vehicle wrap will not fit your brand. It may show well, but a consumer might not recognize that it’s you.

Color Contrast for a Vehicle Wrap

The Psychology of Color

The color you chose for your wrap sends a message. For example, blue inspires trustworthiness, red is bold, purple imaginative, and green looks healthy. There are combinations of colors that speak volumes without one printed word. How many fast food restaurants use combinations of red and yellow in their signage? How many financial institutes use blue and white, and how many health food markets use various shades of green?

According to Psychology Today

In an appropriately titled study called Impact of Color in Marketing, researchers found that up to 90% of snap judgments made about products are based on color alone (depending on the product).

And in regards to the role that color plays in branding, results from studies such as The Interactive Effects of Colors show that the relationship between brands and color hinges on the perceived appropriateness of the color used for the particular brand (in other words, does the color “fit” what is being sold).”

You Want to Stand Out Don’t You?

Whether the reason you wrapped your vehicles is to advertise your wares, issue a call to action, or promote your brand, if your wrap is lost in the crowd, so is your message and its purpose.

What Colors Will Work Best for You?

To begin with, consider how the two colors contrast. The LR (light reflectance) of the colors sets the contrast. The top five contrasting color combinations are:

Black on yellow
White on black
Yellow on black
Black on white
Blue on white

Another way to enhance the contrast is to outline the letters. For example, if your branded colors are blue and green, you could outline the letters in black or white to make them stand out against the background. The same can be accomplished with drop shadows.

So, What’s the Best Color Contrast for a Vehicle Wrap?

The best color contrast for a vehicle wrap involves several factors. Choosing the best and most contrasting colors for your fleet graphics can make the difference between getting noticed and being just one more vehicle wrap. Taking into consideration such points as branding, contrast, and LR (light reflectance) can make all the difference.

If we can clarify color contrast, help you decide what colors work best for your brand, or answer any questions, Contact Us.

If you’d like a free estimate for your fleet or vehicle graphics; you can Request A Quote.

TKO Graphix is a national fleet and vehicle graphics company helping customers since 1985. We provide full-service graphic design, digital printing, screen printing, graphics installation, and removal of large format graphics.

We’re a fleet and vehicle graphics company and since 1985, we’ve been helping businesses, large and small, brand their fleet of tractor-trailers, service trucks and company vehicles. Whether you have a fleet of thousands or a few vehicles, we are here to lead you through the vehicle branding process.

TKO Graphix is a Certified 3M™ MCS™ Warranty graphics manufacturer. Our installation crews are 3M Certified and are employees of TKO Graphix, not sub-contractors. If you’d like to learn more and get a free quote, contact us today.

TKO Graphix Most Visited Blog Posts

So, what are the TKO Graphix most visited blog posts? I’ve included the top three most visited posts on the TKO Brandwire blog site in this post. Near the end of the post I’ve added links to the next seven rounding out the top ten. If you’ve read these three posts you can skip to the end of this blog. However, if you haven’t it might be worth your time to review these three.

Over the last 12 months, “How Much Does a Vehicle Wrap Cost” garnered 7,207 views. “Should I Wax My Car Wrap” gained 5,506 visits. And “Can Adhesive Vinyl Be Applied to Plastic” received 5,128 visitors. That’s our top three blog posts. And here they are TKO Graphix most visited blog posts.

TKO Graphix Most Visited Blog Posts

How Much Does a Vehicle Wrap Cost?

“That’s a good question as well as one that’s difficult to answer because there are so many variables. Vehicle wrap cost can range from $1500 to $4000 or more. Here are a few of the variables that can affect the cost of a vehicle wrap:

Do You Need a Wrap or Decals?

The difference in cost between a wrap and applying plotter-cut decals can be substantial. Before making a decision on a full wrap think about what you want to accomplish and whether strategically placed decals would do what you want and need.

What Size is Your Vehicle, and is it Damaged?

Obviously, a compact car will be less than a box truck, and a full wrap on a 53-foot trailer will be more. Also, a damaged vehicle can incur more cost. “There’s a misconception that vehicle graphics, especially a full wrap, can “hide” damage to a vehicle’s body. Minor damage such as fading and very small scratches may be covered and concealed, but not damage. Rust, dents, and scrapes will show through the graphics and cause problems.” — Can Vehicle Damage be Applied Over Body Damage?

How Many Vehicles Are You Wrapping?

Wrapping one trailer will more than likely cost more per trailer than wrapping 50 with the same design.

Do You Have Print-Ready Art, or Do You Need Design?

Although TKO Graphix offers very competitive art fees, providing art, compared to contracting our team to design graphics from scratch, will make a difference in cost.

So, How Much Does a Vehicle Wrap Cost?

The best answer we can share is … it depends. It depends on the size of the vehicle, the scope of the work, and the location of the vehicle(s). Other considerations include the type and quality of the adhesive vinyl material, experience of the installation crew, and the condition of the vehicle. There’s no one exact answer to the question. Although the attached video may answer many of your questions the best advice we can share is check with a local provider. If we can be of any help let us know, contact us.” Check out the video — How Much Does a Vehicle Wrap Cost?

FAQ: Should I Wax My Car Wrap?

We all want our vehicles to look their best, but there’s no need to wax vinyl graphics. They’ll look great without polish. Adding a protective wax finish to paint may protect it from exposure, but it doesn’t help vinyl — it may even damage it. In this PDF, Caring For Your Vehicle Graphics and Wraps, 3M explains:

Do not use any abrasive polishes or cutting compounds.
• Do not use any polishing or wax products on matte or textured films.
• If there is wax or waxy residue on the surface, remove with an all-purpose cleaner.

If your vehicle is a partial wrap or has decals, you’ll want to wax the exposed painted surfaces, but be careful to keep the wax away from the graphics and remove any build up from the edges.

Two reasons to wrap a vehicle are to both protect the surface and to make it look its best. Both are accomplished without wax, so relax and enjoy your ride. Save the wax-on, wax-off routine for others. Do you enjoy reading FAQ’s? Check out a few of ours here. — FAQ: Should I Wax My Car Wrap?

FAQ: Can Adhesive Vinyl be applied to plastic?

Can adhesive vinyl be applied to plastic? That’s an excellent question, and the answer is…maybe. It depends on the type of plastic, the chemical formula. Some plastics take readily to adhesive vinyl graphics application, others don’t, and still others will work, but only if installed properly.

Can I apply vinyl to plastics?

According to experts, applying adhesive vinyl graphics to plastic can be a challenge. Some are friendly, and some are not. Outgassing is a possibility much of the time. Before considering wrapping a plastic substrate, you need to know its chemical composition.

Polycarbonates are used on equipment for automotive, home, and the office. Polycarbonates contain water which when covered with vinyl graphics may outgas forming water bubbles between the substrate and vinyl. An experienced applicator can determine the best method of installation, dry or wet.

Polymethacrylate (PMMA) is the clear, shatterproof plastic used as a replacement for glass. Most adhesives will stick to a PMMA surface; however wet installation may be the best to avoid outgassing.

Polyethylene is used for plastic bags, containers, bottles, and tarps. Vinyl can be applied to this material using dry application and for some applications heat may be required.

Polystyrene is a hard plastic. For example, computer casings are made from polystyrene. This material can be wrapped but outgassing varies from formula to formula and may cause separation.

Styrofoam is a polystyrene plastic, and although vinyl can be applied it’s difficult and isn’t recommended on some types of Styrofoam

Polyvinylchloride (PVC) is in most cases user-friendly for adhesive vinyl application; however, the hardness of the plastic impacts the installation. Hard PVC will accept the vinyl but may be difficult to remove while softer PVC may not offer the best adhesive surface.

The Answer is Yes and No

Proper adhesion of vinyl graphics on plastics depends on several variables that include the type of plastic and how it was produced. Much of the success or failure will depend on the knowledge and experience of the applicator. Should it be installed wet, dry, or not at all? Other factors such as the condition and cleanliness of the surface as well as temperature and humidity during installation will impact the appearance and longevity of the graphic. If you’d like to learn more let us know. — FAQ: Can Adhesive Vinyl be applied to plastic?

TKO Graphix Most Visited Blog Posts Top Ten

TKO Graphix most visited blog posts include the three above (they’re one, two, and three and here are four through ten. I hope you enjoy them. If we can be of any service don’t hesitate to Contact Us.

If I had a surprise in the TKO Graphix most visited blog posts it’s Hacking the Code. As a blogger it appealed to me. However, I didn’t expect the size of audience it had. So, what else should we write about? What questions do you have? What problems can we help yo solve? If you have any ideas for the next TKO Graphix most visited blog post. Let us know.

How Much Do Vehicle Graphics Cost?	4,568 visits
FAQ: How Much Do Custom Decals Cost?	3,773

DIY: How to Wrap Your Own Vehicle	1,955
FAQ: How Do You Remove Old Vehicle Graphics or Decals?	1,927
FAQ: Can I install Vinyl Graphics in the Cold?	1,750
Hacking the Code: 5 HTML Shortcuts for Bloggers	1,157

FAQ: What’s the Best Font Size for Vehicle Graphics? 751

Thank you!

Does Your Rolling Billboard Tell a Story? Here’s Why It Should

I’m talking about 18 wheels of rolling billboard. Is your fleet one of the thousands of trailers and box trucks traveling the highways and byways of America? If so, is your message being received by your target audience? Your fleet vehicles shouldn’t only deliver your product, but they should also deliver your message.

What’s Your Story?

What message do you want to deliver? Keep in mind that consumers only have seconds to view your fleet graphics. So, what’s the most important takeaway you want to share? What can you send with seven to ten words that will reach your target?

“Whether a consumer is driving, or walking in a business district, there are thousands of messages fighting for their attention — signs, billboards, and fleet graphics come at people in droves. It’s impossible to take them all in, and even the best only receive seconds of anyone’s attention.” — The Fleet Graphics 5 Second Rule.

With such a small window of opportunity, it’s essential to maximize your exposure. Use fonts that are easy to read and big enough to see. Be sure your colors contrast and your design is attractive.

It takes a lot to hold anyone’s attention for long, especially when they’re driving. According to a study from Microsoft, humans now have less of an attention span than goldfish.

“The average attention span for the notoriously ill-focused goldfish is nine seconds, but according to a study from Microsoft Corp., people now generally lose concentration after eight seconds, highlighting the effects of an increasingly digitalized lifestyle on the brain.” – Time.com

I personally take this study with a grain of salt, because human nature doesn’t suddenly change to this degree. However, I know this, a rolling billboard is only seen for seconds, there’s a lot of competition for peoples attention, and what holds our interest is something that is attractive, useful, interesting, or humorous.

What Problems Do You Solve?

I was asked recently in an interview if it’s harder today to reach customers than it was a few years ago. My answer was it hasn’t changed much, if you solve a problem, and can get the message to those who have the issue you’ll reach customers, or they’ll find you.

“Most people search for solutions to their problems, not products. If people can’t see how their problems could be solved by what you’re providing, you may be wasting your time and resources. And if the problem you’re trying to solve isn’t compelling, you may have a rough road ahead of you.” Are You Selling the Benefits of Your Product?

What Image Do You Want to Project?

Do you want to show that your product is fun, or do you want folks to know you’re serious? Are you appealing to prospects FOMO (fear of missing out) or their hope of gaining a benefit? You can only do so much with words, but a picture, an image, can tell a story in a heartbeat. An image that brings a smile to someone’s face or gets across the problem you solve is worth a thousand words.

What Story Does Your Rolling Billboard Tell?

Designing a successful rolling billboard begins with knowing your customer, your companies’ culture, and the problems you solve. After that, the key is to tell your story, but keep it simple. Are your fleet graphics getting the job done? If you’d like to learn more, Contact Us. We’ll help you drive your brand home.

TKO Graphix is a national fleet and vehicle graphics company helping customers since 1985. We provide full-service graphic design, digital printing, screen printing, graphics installation, and removal of large format graphics.

Photo by Christopher Paul High on Unsplash

Richmond Exteriors Deceptively Simple Van Graphics

Richmond Exteriors deceptively simple van graphics get the job done. When you look at the photo of the Richmond Exteriors van the graphics design seems simple, doesn’t it? Because it is. However, as we tell folks about vehicle graphics simple can be deceptive. Simple can be elegant, and this design is. Richmond Exteriors deceptively simple van graphics are hard to miss.

To begin with, the van colors, fonts, and logo are the same unified brand found on their website, Richmond Exteriors, ads, and even their Facebook page, Richmond Exterior Facebook. So, whether a Richmond Exterior Van is cruising around I-465. Or is parked in your neighbors drive anyone familiar with Richmond immediately recognizes the van. Because Richmond Exteriors deceptively simple van graphics get the job done.

The Rest of the Story

But that’s only one half of the story. Someone who isn’t familiar with Richmond Exteriors, who sees their van, will soon learn who they are and what they offer. Listed in the middle of the van are the primary services offered by Richmond Exteriors – roofing, awnings, siding, fencing, windows, insulation, and gutters. It stands out, doesn’t it? That’s because the branded orange stripe is placed just at the correct height. And if you look closely, you’ll notice the white lettering shadowed in black. Deceptively simple, isn’t it?

Richmond Exteriors Deceptively Simple Van Graphics

The company logo and web address are easy to find and to read. The red symbol with, “Since 1987” inspires confidence. And the phone number stands out stretching across the lower third of the van in orange letters outlined in black against a white background.

“When choosing colors for your vehicle graphics, it may not be what color, but how colors of both the vehicle and your graphics contrast. Using poorly contrasted colors reduces the impact of vehicle advertising. Poorly chosen hues, designs that hide the message, and colors that don’t match your brand waste your marketing dollars. One should first consider the brand, logo, and vehicle colors.” — FAQ: What Color Should I Wrap My business Vehicle?

About Richmond Exteriors

“Over our 32 years in the remodeling business we’ve grown immensely and steadily. Now Richmond Exteriors is a leading provider of quality exterior products and services for residential and commercial clientele throughout Greater Indianapolis. Our staff has expanded from one full-time employee to a large staff of fully trained professionals.

Despite how rapidly we’ve expanded, our core values have remained the same. We still offer Greater Indianapolis customers with incredible customer service and dedicate ourselves fully to every job we undertake. We take pride in our workmanship and back our work with exceptional warranties. Hard work and exemplary customer service got us to where we are today, and we aren’t going to stop any time soon.” — About Richmond Exteriors

About TKO Graphix

“TKO Graphix is a full-service graphics provider. We offer a wide range of services, including graphic design, digital printing, screen printing, graphics removal, and installation. We’re a 3M Scotchprint® Graphics Authorized Manufacturer and a 3M™ MCS™ Warranty provider, which means our customers receive consistent, outstanding products backed by 3M’s most comprehensive warranties. We are members of the United Application Standards Group (UASG), and master certified through the PDAA (Professional Decal Application Alliance), delivering the best installation services possible. Our 50,000 square foot facility in Plainfield, Indiana, houses our family of companies, TKO Graphix.We think it’s pretty special and would love to give you a tour.” — About TKO Graphix

We’re a fleet and vehicle graphics company and since 1985, we’ve been helping businesses, large and small, brand their fleet of tractor-trailers, service trucks and company vehicles. Whether you have a fleet of thousands or a few vehicles, we are here to lead you through the vehicle branding process.

If we can answer any questions, please Contact Us.

Hurst Beans Full Wrap

We’ve worked with NK Hurst on several projects over the past few years, and it’s always a pleasure. Working on this Hurst Beans full wrap was no exception.

I had the privilege to ask Tony Snider, VP of NK Hurst Company, a few questions about Hurst Beans experience with TKO Graphix. Here’s what Tony had to say.

Tony Snider, VP of NK Hurst Co. Interview

Why did you choose TKO Graphix for this Hurst Beans full wrap?

“TKO developed artwork and wrapped two trailers several years ago. We are very happy with the quality of work. The trailers look as good now as when they were first installed.”

Time Lapse Video of Wrapping the Hurst Beans Trailer

You’ve worked with our organization for several years what keeps you coming back?

“Your reputation and people. Even though we didn’t go forward on a previous signage project for our downtown location, Lee and others provided top-notch ideas with the highest courtesy. This, hits home.”

What’s been your experience working with the team at TKO Graphix?

“The simplicity and seamless process of the quote, artwork, and installation. Our point of contact on the sales end made us feel like a top client. The content discussion with graphics went smooth and the final product, even better.”

How have your vehicle graphics helped your business?

“We don’t purchase outdoor media. Our “rolling” billboards provide awareness, education, and social media direction about our business and brands.”

What’s new, special, or exciting at Hurst that you’d like to share?

“In 2019/2020 we will introduce organic dry bean soups to our line of America’s Best Bean Soups.”

Who is the NK Hurst Company?

“Founded in 1938, the N.K. Hurst Company began its business in the trading of coffee, tea, sugar, and other food commodities. Starting in 1947, the Hurst name became recognized in the industry as being a first quality packager of edible dry beans. In 1963, Hurst partnered with a local company to create a dry ham flavoring for his beans. The HamBeens® brand name was trademarked and became the first mass produced seasoned dry bean product in the country. “ — About Hurst Beans

Did I mention Recipes?

Warning: This link may lead to a rabbit hole that pulls you in. Okay, I like to cook, and I love to try new recipes so, for me this site is awesome. It’s Hurst Beans Recipes. There are hundreds of recipes that can be sorted by cuisine, occasion, main ingredient, and cooking method. So, do you need a recipe for the 4^th of July using pork on a grill? Have fun, Hurst Beans Recipes

The Hurst Beans Full Wrap

The Hurst Beans full wrap, which means both sides, and the rear of the trailer are completely covered with adhesive vinyl graphics. The background shows a field of beans, row after row of green plants against a baby blue sky. The message is clear. This is good for you. It’s healthy, nutritious, and it tastes good. The logo of the 15 Bean Soup bag is recognizable to anyone who has traveled the bean aisle in most grocery stores. It adds instant recognition to the design.

Now the message becomes it’s Hurst Beans that are good for you and good to eat. This wrap sends a positive message and if you’re like me when I saw it, I was ready for some beans and cornbread. I made enough to take some to my dad.

If we can help you with your fleet graphics, Contact Us regardless of the type of car or truck you have we have the perfect full wrap recipe for you.

TKO Graphix is a national fleet and vehicle graphics company helping customers since 1985. We provide full-service graphic design, digital printing, screen printing, graphics installation, and removal of large format graphics.

What Should Not Be Wrapped on Your Car or Truck

So, what should not be wrapped on your car or truck? Every component of a vehicle doesn’t lend itself to being wrapped. There are materials that adhesive vinyl will not consistently adhere to. Some materials can be damaged if adhesives are applied. And still other parts of a car or truck shouldn’t be wrapped because the adhesive can damage the substrate. Here’s what should not be wrapped on your car or truck.

What Should Not Be Wrapped on Your Car or Truck

Molding

The soft rubbery black molding around windows is composed of polyurethane. Adhesive vinyl graphics shouldn’t be applied to this material. Regardless of the adhesive vinyl used it will not consistently adhere to this rubbery material. You’ll find molding around windows, doors, and sometimes on panels. You shouldn’t wrap the rubbery trim molding. However, the glass can be covered with window perf.

“Window perf is made in layers. The first (top) layer is the white vinyl that is printable, the next layer is black vinyl, followed by an adhesive coating and finally the release liner. The black layer acts as an optical illusion that allows clear visibility from behind the printed vinyl.” — Sign & Digital Graphics Magazine

Unpainted Plastic

It’s not advisable to wrap unpainted plastics components such as mirrors, door handles, and bumpers. Once again, it’s a crapshoot of how it will look and how long will it last.

The unpainted plastic parts of a vehicle can include door handles, side mirrors, and panels. In general, auto body paint provides the necessary layer of grip for films to bond to. For this reason, you should avoid wrapping parts that aren’t painted.

So, can plastic be wrapped? The answer is yes, and no. Proper adhesion of vinyl graphics on plastics depends on several variables that include the type of plastic and how it was produced. Much of the success or failure will depend on the knowledge and experience of the applicator. Should it be installed wet, dry, or not at all? Other factors such as the condition and cleanliness of the surface as well as temperature and humidity during installation will impact the appearance and longevity of the graphic.

Much depends on the composition of the plastic for example, “Polyvinylchloride (PVC) is, in most cases, user-friendly for adhesive vinyl application; however, the hardness of the plastic impacts the installation. Hard PVC will accept the vinyl but may be difficult to remove while softer PVC may not offer the best adhesive surface.” — Can I Apply Vinyl to This?

Here’s a list of types of plastics and how adhesive vinyl may or may not be applied. FAQ: Can Adhesive Vinyl be applied to plastic?

Wait What!?

When I was researching this post, I checked with two of our experienced installers. As an aside, I asked, “Has anyone ever asked to have their taillights wrapped?” They both looked at me and said yes! I had no idea there was a material created for that. One of the installers said he’d put a yellow film on his son’s vehicle’s fog lamps. As counterintuitive as it may sound, you can wrap headlights, taillights, and fog lights. There are film designed just for that purpose, Headlight, taillight, and fog light self-adhesive vinyl.

So, What Should Not Be Wrapped on Your Car or Truck?

If you’re not sure what should not be wrapped on your car and truck and what can be covered, please reach out to us with your questions. We’d be happy to offer our advice, because after more than 35 years designing, producing, installing, and servicing vehicle graphics, we have the answers. We got you covered. If we can answer any questions, Contact Us.

TKO Graphix is a national fleet and vehicle graphics company helping customers since 1985. We provide full-service graphics solutions such as design, digital printing, screen printing, installation and removal of fleet graphics, vehicle graphics, and commercial graphics.

FAQ: Does Every Vehicle in a Fleet Need a Full Wrap?

So, does every vehicle in a fleet need a full wrap? The answer is no, and we’ll share a great example, Whicker Construction’s fleet vehicles. Whicker has more than one type of vehicle in their fleet. The different vehicles have different purposes and are seen differently by different people. It would be nearly impossible for all the vehicles to look exactly unlike and there would be no reason to do so.

Does Every Vehicle in a Fleet Need a Full Wrap?

Example One

We recently completed a full warp of a work van for whicker Construction. The wrap uses a branded image of a beautiful home with the same soft green and blue you’ll find throughout Whicker’s marketing. The logo, a stylized W behind Whicker Construction, works well with the white background. Contact information is easy to find and to read — very imperative at 55 MPH. Bulleted along the side of the van are, custom homes, remodeling, and insurance repairs, which is enough information to set the stage. If you’d like to learn more rad this — Photo Blog: Whicker Construction.

Example Two

Our most recent vehicle graphic project for the Whicker Construction fleet was a pick-up truck. Unlike the work van, it’s not a full wrap. The work truck graphics were designed using plotter cut decals. The graphics stand out in black and white against the gray background of the truck. The company logo is prominent as well as contact information – phone and web address. And Whicker Constructions core services are bullet-pointed on the side, custom homes, remodeling, and insurance repairs.

Both examples work. They both share services, calls to action, and the company brand. Just in different packages. So, does every vehicle in a fleet need to be a full wrap? Nope, not at all, and sometimes depending on the vehicles and their uses, it may not be the best answer to wrap every vehicle in a fleet.

Who is Whicker Construction?

“Whicker Construction knows that you come to us with home in mind. Not just any home. Your home. Like visits from an old friend, conversations over coffee, and planning for the future – you’ll be home with Whicker. We are committed to taking your vision and bringing it to life, detail by detail, in a professional, timely fashion while maintaining the utmost integrity.

Homes by Whicker Construction understands the desire to build that dream home and has been successful over the past two decades because of the simple philosophy of never beginning a project – big or small – without first forming a strong relationship with the homeowner. Like a home, Whicker Construction understands that these relationships must have a solid foundation.” — Whicker Construction About Us

How Can We Help You?

If we can be of any assistance or answer any questions about fleet graphics don’t hesitate to Contact Us. We’ll make you feel right at home.

If you’d like a free estimate for your fleet or vehicle graphics; you can Request A Quote.

TKO Graphix is a national fleet and vehicle graphics company helping customers since 1985. We provide full-service graphic design, digital printing, screen printing, graphics installation, and removal of large format graphics.

We’re a fleet and vehicle graphics company and since 1985, we’ve been helping businesses, large and small, brand their fleet of tractor-trailers, service trucks and company vehicles. Whether you have a fleet of thousands or a few vehicles, we are here to lead you through the vehicle branding process.

TKO Graphix is a Certified 3M™ MCS™ Warranty graphics manufacturer. Our installation crews are 3M Certified and are employees of TKO Graphix, not sub-contractors. If you’d like to learn more and get a free quote, contact us today.

A Night in ER, an Answer to ER Overcrowding, and the Hendricks Regional Health Box Truck Wrap

This post is about the Hendricks Regional Health box truck wrap that we wrapped earlier this year. But more importantly, it’s about what the wrap represents. However, before I get to the wrap, I want to share a personal story.

That Time I Passed Out at Work

Several years ago, I got up from my desk at TKO Graphix and experienced lightheadedness. I took a couple of steps, and suddenly I was dizzy and disoriented, and then before I knew it, I fell to the floor. I had passed out and was rushed to the hospital by Plainfield’s finest; they were great. They asked what hospital to take me to. I choose an Indianapolis hospital.

When I was wheeled into Emergency, the first thing I noticed was the number of patients. There were dozens of people waiting, others in line at check-in. And as I was to learn later still more in hallways and side rooms. Some in carts, others in beds. I was checked in, my vital signs were taken, and then I was wheeled to a room where I waited more than three hours to see a physician.

Have You Ever Tried to Sleep in an Emergency Ward? Good Luck

I spent the night in an Emergency Room. I learned the next day that I had experienced a potassium deficiency. While I was there, I talked with staff. They apologized for the time it took to get processed, see a doctor, and have tests completed. I asked why it took so long and was told because they were so backed up with patients in Emergency. Here’s the point I want to get to. I was told the majority of patients waiting didn’t need emergency assistance. A family doctor, clinic, or immediate care could have helped them.

The Problem

The problem was that many of those folks waiting in Emergency had nowhere else to go. Some didn’t understand the difference between an Emergency Room and Immediate Care, and still others had little choice due to lack of transportation, low income, or no insurance.

I’m not a healthcare expert; I’m repeating what was shared with me by the medical staff. However, what they told me makes a lot of sense. And that’s why what Hendricks Regional Health has done at their Danville and Brownsburg operations is brilliant. Next to both Emergency Rooms are Immediate Health Care Clinics.

A Solution

“Our Emergency Departments in Danville and Brownsburg, featuring convenient side-by-side emergency and immediate care, continue our mission in providing increased access to care close to home. Generally speaking, if you are in a significant amount of pain, the ER is the right place to go. For less severe illnesses, injuries and symptoms, it is best to contact your primary care physician, or visit Immediate or Urgent Care if you are not able to see your physician in a timely manner.” — Hendicks.Org/Emergency

The Hendricks Regional Health Box Truck Wrap

When I looked at the Hendricks Regional Health Box truck wrap, I immediately noticed the smiling face of David Farman, MD. Dr. Farman is the Medical Director of Emergency Medicine at Hendricks Regional. After following the background behind Dr. Farman my eyes were pulled to the top of the wrap “Hendricks Quality Care” and the meaningful tagline “At the Speed of Life.” Finally, my gaze rested on the website address. I grabbed my phone as I was standing there and went to the site.

The Hendricks Regional Health box truck wrap sends a message. It works. But what is more important is the message. The lesson for me is if I ever need Plainfield’s finest to transport me to Emergency Care again, I’ll know where to tell them to take me.

If we can help you send your message, Contact Us, whether it’s an emergency or not.