Overlay on low surface energy vinyl wrap film

There are times when installers have to put an overlay piece (e.g., strip or cut vinyl) on top of a vinyl wrap film that has low surface energy, like a matte metallic film. In this case, the overlay piece might not stick well if you do not prep it properly.

Here are a few tips for you to handle the situation and achieve a high-quality finish when overlaying film onto a wrap:

Get in position

Before the application, you will have to take a few measurements to be clear where the overlay should go. Before removing the backing paper of the cutout piece, you can use masking tape on the four sides to secure it in place. Break the masking tape into two parts – Half of it gets left over the vinyl wrap film, and the other half is left on the overlay.

Thorough cleaning

Now, with the leftover masking tape on the vinyl wrap film, you will have a clear idea of where the overlay will be. Clean that area specifically with isopropanol alcohol – Remember, clean ONLY this area that is going to be covered. If you clean the entire section, the alcohol might damage the film so that it will affect its durability. Dry it up as soon as the cleaning is done. And use heat gun to heat up this area, which can help raise up the surface energy.

Application

Line up the masking tape to put the overlay piece back in position and remove its backing paper bit by bit. Secure it and work the material down with your squeegee. Apply heat to the edge of the overlay to seal it, and then go over the entire overlaying area with your heat gun. The heat will help the adhesive flow underneath so that the piece can stick better on top.

If you can manage to follow these steps, you will be able to achieve a high-quality result, despite the fact that the surface energy of the wrap is low. Visit teckwrap.com for more wrap tips.