Guess this is as good a place as any to put this. Can anyone give me some suggestions on removing a full roof graphic. Like, where to start and what to watch out for? Jim
Uhhh... Start at the roof? If it is 3M vinyl, just go very slow and steady. It *usually* does not leave residue, and if it does, it usually comes off easily and is only along the edges. If it is not 3M, you will know why some will settle for nothing less when you do finally get the old stuff off. :frown2:
I'd have whoever installed it, take it off. He should have an idea how to do it without damaging the undersurface.
I was going to suggest a nice warm garage, and a heat lamp/hair dryer/heat gun - but be real careful with the latter...go slow and steady and she should come off, depending on how old it is and how brittle. Good luck, and as always - take some pics! A local club member tried to remove some rock pitted stripes off his hood and it peeled up the clearcoat - yes, 3M product. Ultimately because of all the rock chips he wound up getting the front end repainted anyway, but we were all surprised at the damage the stripes did. The 3m vinyl adhesive remover is supposed to be the best for getting residue off too...
Agreed. Nice weather and warmer temps will make this job 10 times easier. Cold vinyl is not something you wanna annoy yourself with.
Use PLASTIC razor blades for lifting. Warm sunlight will help. I would not use a heat gun, to risky, maybe a hairdryer. WD40 will both clean off any residue left behind, and once you get a corner going, you can spray/wipe it under the graphic to help release any adhesive. Try pulling straight back, rather than up once you get something to pull on. That black roof is likely going to take some polishing to get the finish even. You have a couple of months to fret about it for now though Mark
Thanks everyone for the advice. I wasn't going to do anything before spring, but now I have some ideas about how to go. BTW: I know how to spell graphic. Really. Jim
Looks like interesting stuff Just keep in mind your roof graphic does not have decal like adhesive, which can be like gaff/duct tape. You may not need much of it. Like I said, WD40 works as a good remover, so do those magic erasers things. You could try carrot juice, just spray it all over the graphic, and let the horses lick it off, while you watch:beer Mark
I would also suggest having someone help as it would be easier top have one person do the pulling and the other easing it off. And the WD40 really does work great and it cleans up nice.
Looks like WD-40 it is and I agree some help would be a good thing. Right now it is one of those 25, but feels like 14, type of days, so I guess I have time before I try this. The help is great and who knows, by the time it gets warm, you all will have come up with a way that I can get the graphic to take itself off. :cornut: Now, there is a concept. Self wrapping vinyl. :idea: Jim
Mission Complete: Met up with a friend of mine, who does body work for a living, today and we removed the roof graphic in about an hour with a hair dryer and our fingernails. It was raining hard outside and the temp in his garage was about 54 degrees. Started in the right front corner and worked to get a strip off completely across the front and then worked back from there, down each side. He said that he has found that if the outside temp is very hot, the stuff comes off in larger sections, but the glue tends to remain on the roof. Cooler temps makes smaller sections with the glue remaining on the graphic. Quick wipe with some solvent, then clean with a foaming glass cleaner and the job was done. He also noted that this graphic was made of high end stuff and that also makes a big difference. Ready for the new one in 50 some odd days. Jim
Thanks, Mark. I guess things seem a bit scary until you have actually tried it, then you wonder why you were so worried. Jim