FloorSignage AlumiGraphics® Installation & Removal Instructions
INSTALLATION REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS INSTALLATION NOTES End users can apply and remove. AlumiGraphics can be installed at over 250 square feet per hour. No heat source to install or remove. Use a hard rubber roller such as a J Roller instead of a squeegee. The roller is better at evenly compressing the material to texture of the surface and sealing the edges without friction. Additionally it is faster than a squeegee. Exception felt edge squeegees can be used with AlumiGraphics Smooth only on smooth surfaces The foil based media has no memory it easily conforms and holds the shape to the applied surface. The foil based media is not affected by changes in temperatures or moisture and will not shrink. Edge to edge installation is approved on both Smooth and Grip. Smooth can be overlapped. When properly compressed to the surface the material will take on the texture of the surface appearing as a painted image. AlumiGraphics typically does not leave residue lift paint or damage treated surfaces when the material is removed however because the quality of materials method of installation and conditions can vary we recommend testing by applying a swatch to a section of the desired surface by to determine suitability. SURFACE PREPERATION 1. Optimal application temperature 50 F 10 C or higher. 2. The surface must be clean and thoroughly dry for proper performance. 3. Usually thorough sweeping is sufficient but if the surface is oily or covered in a layer of grime from pollution it may need to be power washed with a commercial degreaser. 4. Avoid applying over loose or caked dirt gravel oily residues flaking paint or other foreign substances that will interfere with proper bonding. 5. In rare occasions when adhesion is difficult such as on surfaces with VOC coatings or residue clean with a mixture of 5050 to 7030 percent isopropyl alcohol IPA water then wipe with a clean cloth. In some cases a second cleaning is helpful. STANDARD INSTALLATION 1. Lay printed side down
on a flat surface then peel back the release liner from the foil surface. 2. Place adhesive side down flat on the selected location. 3. Smooth by hand from the center to outer edge be sure all edges lay flat. 4. Firmly compress to the surface with a roller so that the material has 100 contact especially all edges. 5. To remove bubbles puncture material with a pin prick to create an air release compress with roller. LARGE SCALE GRAPHICS SUGGESTIONS AlumiGraphics Grip is recommended to be tiled edge to edge no overlapping. Aluminum foil does not shrink and seams will not open up. AlumiGraphics Smooth can be overlapped. Strategically align the seams along blank or busy areas where alignment is less critical such as between letters to make installation easier and faster. APPLYING TO BRICK WALLS TILE FLOORS WITH GROUT LINES Since there are many variations in the type and size of bricks tiles the size and depth of the grout lines each installation on brick or block surfaces may require a slightly different method. AlumiGraphics is designed to adhere to hard rigid surfaces so the goal of each installation where there are grout lines or gaps is to make sure the material is applied primarily to the hard rigid surfaces. Remember that deep gaps sand and broken up concrete do not provide a surface that the adhesive can bond strongly to. Do not span material between surfaces such as bricks on walkways it can be punctured or torn such as by the heels on womens shoes and on walls these gaps can allow moisture to get behind the graphics and break down the acrylic adhesive. The material does not stretch much so if installing on brick a good method is to peel back the release liner and lay on the intended surface press the material in the grout areas then compress or roll the material on the flat surface areas of the brick or tile with a roller. If the grout or gaps are deep you may not want to attempt to put the material all the way into the gap and instead slice the material
between the gaps and press the edges against the sides of the bricks. This would be like wrapping the bricks. Another technique for walls is to make sure the outside edges of the graphic are completely compressed and sealed and then use a roller to compress all of the flat surface areas on the bricksblocks throughout the middle of the graphic. LIFE EXPECTANCY Life expectancy ultimately depends on two things using a profile downloaded from AlumiGraphics.com and quality name brand inks. The material foil based will not deteriorate with time or by environmental conditions like vinyl plus it can withstand a wide temperature range and not be affected. The standard life expectancy of AlumiGraphics applied on outdoor walls and walkways exposed to the elements is up to 1 year although there are many cases of it lasting longer. This period is based on solvents inks fading first latex and UV inks typically perform longer. Indoor applications when installed properly can last much longer. To extend the life and color of graphics use a water based liquid laminate applied by a hand spray bottle. Several water based laminates recommended include Frog Juice by Super Frog Wall Amor by Marabu ClearShield by Clear Star and DreamGuard by Dream Scape. A single coating is fine and works on both AlumiGraphics Smooth and AlumiGraphics Grip. On locations where the edge of the graphics can be picked or pealed by pedestrians or in harsh environments a caulk or edge sealer can be applied after installation for protection. Some printers have used thin cast film laminates on AlumiGraphics Smooth for additional UV protection on walls with little or non-complex texture. Cautionary note Film laminates and heavier coatings of liquid laminate placed on AlumiGraphics Grip can potentially reduce the slip resistant quality and safety rating. REMOVAL 1. Removal does not require heat. Generally easy to remove on wall and pedestrian walkway applications extreme rough surfaces andor vehicular traffic m
ay increase the difficulty in removal. 2. Simply peel off at an angle less than 45 degrees for best result typically leaves no residue. 3. Dispose with aluminum recycling. CLEANING Power washing with nozzle 36 inches from graphics do not spray edges. Cleaning with a hose broom and Dawn dish soap let stand to dissolve adhesive. If residue remains it can be removed by Applying a degreaser such as Simple Green. Nail polish remover and wire bristle brush. Simply allowing it to wear away with pedestrian traffic and weather. SIMPLE DURABLE RELIABLE