Are decals a permanent product?
Decals are permanent while also being semi-permanent.
The whole objective of a decal is to adhere to your vehicle, window, wall, floor, etc. for long periods of time, providing you with long-term advertising, branding and marketing. But while decals are intended to provide long-term coverage, they are also semi-permanent in nature, due to the fact that eventually decals can be removed. So essentially a decal can be adhered and removed at will whether you need the decal to last six months to six years.
The semi-permanent permanence of decals is a great selling point for this particular product. Decals give you an option to continually upgrade your graphics, when the needs arise, by removing and replacing the decals with brand-new decal products. And since decal adhesives are manufactured to interact well with smooth non-porous surfaces, you won't have to worry about damaging the underlying substrate, upon removal.
And just for reference, a decal can also be described as a sticker or label, vinyl lettering or graphics. The term decal is a loose description that covers any adhesive product that involves a digital print of logos, pictures, text or combinations thereof. Bumper stickers can also be referenced as decals as well. And while a typical decal shape is customarily square, rectangular, oval or circular in nature, most people using the term decal, tend to associate it with a product that is die-cut (cut-to-shape) which creates a custom cut look devoid of a background.
So now that you understand the not-so-permanent...yet permanent qualities of decals, it's time to delve into the different decal materials, and their preferred uses.
INTERMEDIATE VINYL DECALS:
Intermediate (or standard) decal vinyl is practical for most all decal printing and affordably priced as well. Standard decals are best used on smooth surfaces. Intermediate decals can be ordered with or without lamination, depending on your decal needs, and will typically last about 2 to 4 years (digital prints); and about 5 to 7 years for cut vinyl decals (solid colored vinyl).
HIGH-PERFORMANCE VINYL DECALS:
High performance (or premium) decal vinyl is primarily used for vehicles or in situations where the decal will be exposed to harsh elements, chemicals or environments. Premium decals are also best used on surfaces that have a bit of texture because they have a more aggressive adhesive than intermediate decals. Premium vinyl carries a higher price tag and can be laminated for extra protection as well. For digitally printed premium decals, you can expect a 3 to 5 year life expectancy; with premium cut vinyl decals lasting around 7 to 10 years.