Applying Vinyl Decals in Cold Weather!

Winter is a difficult time if you’re trying to apply vinyl graphics for outdoor advertising! Vinyl is sensitive to temperature as this type of material expands and contracts according to the temperature of whatever it’s applied to. It’s also heavily affected by the temperature and weather around it. This is why it may be difficult to use vinyl in the winter. Some problems that the cold weather can cause are as follows: The adhesive on the vinyl will be less effective. This makes it difficult for it to stick to surfaces as efficiently as it should. Why is my vinyl decal not sticking? You need to know how to properly stick a vinyl decal. It also helps to know what can vinyl decals stick to so you don’t try on something that’s never going to work. All vinyl has an optimal temperature range. Extreme cold can affect the performance of the face film and adhesive and make installation difficult if not impossible. On the flip side, extreme heat can make the adhesive too aggressive. So whether you're applying vinyl graphics in Alaska or Hawaii, January or June, you may have some environmental challenges. The most conformable vinyl in the world will only stay put if the adhesive works. In temperatures below the minimum, the adhesive becomes so brittle it can’t “wet out” or mold to and bond with the substrate. If you’re near the minimum surface temperature, it may stick initially, but fail to bond well enough to become permanent. This could lead to adhesive failure after delivery to your customer; the cardinal sin of sign making.