Can decals be removed easily?
Decals are pretty easy to remove when the time comes.
While decals are adhesive in nature, for the sole purpose of being used for long periods of time both indoors and outdoors, they can usually be removed pretty easily when they have served their purpose and need to be replaced or removed for good. We carry two types of decal materials to suit your decal needs. Standard (intermediate) vinyl will last 2 to 4 years on smooth non-porous surfaces and is a great choice for just about all decal needs. Premium (high performance) vinyl has a more aggressive adhesive than standard vinyl and is best suited for vehicle graphics or wall graphics on slightly textured surfaces.
Most decals, during removal, come off in chunks...some bigger than others. How easily your decal is removed depends a lot on the surface and how long it has been there. Decals that have been used for short term applications may come off super easy, but decals that have been in place for a long time may give you a little more of a workout. But with a little patience and persistence, even the most difficult decal to remove, will eventually come off.
Tools for Vinyl Decal Removal:
For the most part, to easily remove vinyl decals you'll only need your hands, a squeegee or a razor blade. Squeegee's and razor blades help to get under the vinyl to be able to lift a portion of the decal off the surface so that you can grab it with your fingertips and pull. But you may want to consider which tool works better for your decal removal based upon the surface you will be removing the decal from. Delicate surfaces with paint jobs may benefit from using a squeegee; whereas more durable surfaces or hard to remove decals may need something sharper like a razor blade.
Another tool to keep on hand, that can possibly make your vinyl decal removal easier, is a blow-dryer. By simply running a blow-dryer over a portion of the vinyl decal on a low setting, it will sometimes heat up the adhesive so that it is easier to remove. Do not try and use a high setting directly on the vinyl...slow and low that is the tempo.
How to Remove Vinyl Decals:
Pick a starting point and use your fingers, a squeegee or a razor blade to lift up a piece of vinyl to pull off. Simply repeat the process until all of the vinyl decal has been removed. If you hit a rough patch, you can utilize the hair dryer (blow-dryer) method mentioned above. Once the vinyl decal removal is finished, you may notice a slight residue from the adhesive left behind. Using a mild cleaner on the residual adhesive usually does the trick, but if not, you can always try to scrap it clean with a razor blade (be careful though, you don't want to damage the underlying surface).
And one final note...remember that while decals are easily removable, that doesn't make them reusable. Once a decal has been adhered to any surface, when removed, it will no longer be able to be used again. If you are in need of a removable decal for short term use or repeated use, please give us a call during business hours, to discuss your specialized decal options.