By Digital Output Staff
The importance of proper surface preparation cannot be overlooked for any application, but when it comes to floor graphics, installation failure can result in pedestrian slips and even worse injury. That is why cleaning and drying a floor—no matter if it’s wood, brick, or carpet—is essential for maximum floor graphic adhesion.
Above: HP Removable Adhesive Fabric and the new HP Removable Adhesive Fabric (Latex/solvent), made from recycled water bottles and coating materials, are ideal for floor graphic applications. They are one-step solutions with no need for lamination.
Setting the Tone
Proper floor graphic installation leads to a safe, visually appealing graphic. Surface preparation is essential to achieving this.
Surface preparation is critical towards any successful vinyl graphic installation, but Amanda Smith, marketing and communications manager, Mactac, admits it is a step easily overlooked and often misunderstood. “The best graphics installer understands proper procedures for cleaning and preparing various surfaces for optimized pressure-sensitive graphic applications.”
“Proper surface cleaning is essential for a perfect bond to the substrate and for the durability and longevity of application. Any kind of dirt and dust can have a negative impact on the adhesive,” shares René Bourgeois, VP sales North America, ASLAN Selbstklebefolien GmbH.
According to Michelle Kempf, VP, sales and marketing, Continental Grafix USA, Inc., “most importantly, a poorly prepared surface can be a safety concern as it can affect adhesion, leading to edge curling and lifting, which quickly becomes a safety hazard. Beyond safety, poor surface preparation may also affect appearance, durability, and the life span of the graphic.”
“By cleaning the installation area you maximize the durability and visual impact of a floor graphic providing a professional finish that withstands heavy foot traffic,” attests Mike Richardson, business development Manager – graphics media, Jessup Manufacturing Company.
Category Prep
For the purposes of this article, we’re looking at three different categories of floors and how preparation is similar or different. This includes stippled/textured hard surfaces—concrete, asphalt, brick; smooth hard surfaces—tile, laminate, wood; and carpet.
According to Matt Edwards, digital print media product manager, General Formulations, “whether the surface is carpet, slightly textured, or smooth, preparation involves removing any dirt, grease, and debris that may compromise the adhesive bond with the substrate.”
“All three categories have one thing in common—they are a magnet for dust and dirt. This will without question adversely affect the performance of the adhesive,” says Kieran Blacknall, academy manager, Drytac.
Prior to cleaning or perhaps simultaneously, Brian Ebenger, VP of business development, XCEL, suggests graphics installers “identify if there are any coatings on the floor surface that may strengthen or weaken the adhesive performance including sealants, stains, de-icer, anti-grime, or waterproofing.”
Then, the installer or print provider should identify the graphic size and clean the area at least six inches larger than the size of the graphic, recommends Michelle Oczkowski, product manager, Brand Management Group. She also suggests avoiding any citrus-based cleaners or detergents that contain enzymes or soap.
While all surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned, drying after cleaning is also important, points out Aarona Tesch, product marketing manager, ACCO Brands. “As any moisture can lead to bubbles or the graphic peeling off prematurely. The surface temperature and the environment should also be considered.”
“The greater the foot traffic and longevity expectation, the more crucial it becomes to create the cleanest surface possible to ensure a strong, even bond between the flooring surface and the adhesive across the full graphic,” shares Kempf.
Stippled/Textured Surfaces
Concrete, asphalt, and brick are all examples of stippled or textured surfaces.
Due to the nature of the surface, textured floors might require more intense cleaning, like power washing, notes Richardson.
“For textured concrete surfaces installers pressure wash the area where they will be applying the film. This is the most effective way to get these types of surfaces fully clean and prepared,” recommends Joey Heiob, technical service representative, Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions.
Bourgeois suggests cleaning with a broom prior to application as well.
Since these types of surfaces are porous, it is important to “ensure ample time for any residual moisture to evaporate before applying a graphic, as trapped moisture could cause the graphic to fail,” recommends Edwards.
Smooth, Hard Surfaces
Tile, laminate, and wood are smooth, hard surface options.
Smooth, hard surfaces are usually cleaned using a mop, sponge, or rag, lists Heiob.
Richardson also suggests giving these types of floors a good clean with a degreaser, then they are ready to go.
Carpet
It seems obvious, but Bourgeois says cleaning carpets with a vacuum cleaner prior to application must be completed.
Many vendors encourage floor graphics on carpets with low-pile fibers. Richardson says that if the carpet in question features high-pile fibers, then they need to be flattened prior to applying the floor graphic—and a special adhesive is probably needed.
Influencing Prep
While surface preparation is essential, choosing the correct media for the job cannot be overlooked. The media’s adhesive influences surface preparation.
Blacknall agrees that surface preparation is critical to a successful installation. However, selecting the right material for the surface in question with the correct face film and adhesive is even more important.
“There are three types of energy related to surfaces—high-, medium-, and low-surface energy. By understanding the science behind adhesives and surfaces, you will gain the power to make informed decisions about each project,” continues Blacknall.
High-surface energy substrates are usually attractive for adhesives and don’t need much convincing to stick. Examples are glass and smooth metals, says Blacknall.
Medium-surface energy substrates—wood, stone, or concrete—welcome adhesives “when they’re in the right mood,” so you might have to consider your approach more than you would with a high-energy surface, adds Blacknall.
“Low-energy surfaces, such as rubber and polypropylene, aren’t interested in any old adhesive. They have high standards and require you to pull out all the stops. Low-energy surfaces are very much the introverts of the bonding world,” states Blacknall.
Regarding adhesive, Tesch outlines the four main categories and how each influence surface preparation. The first, permanent adhesive, requires a very clean surface for maximum adhesion since it forms a strong bond. Any debris or dust comprises that bond, which leads to peeling or bubbles.
While removable adhesive is more forgiving and easier to adjust during installation, the surface still needs to be cleaned to ensure it applies well, admits Tesch.
High-tack adhesive is designed for rough or textured surfaces, which require a thorough cleaning prior to application. Heat guns help ensure proper adhesion, according to Tesch.
Finally, low-tack adhesive is commonly used for temporary graphics. Tesch says while the surface must be clean, minor imperfections are more tolerable.
Holding Responsibility
Surface preparation is important, but who is responsible? The print provider who created the graphic? The client who ordered it? The person in charge at the location where the graphic will ultimately be placed?
Smith believes it is a shared responsibility. “The print provider is typically responsible for ensuring that the printing surface is clean, smooth, and suitable for the printing process. However, the customer also plays a role in preparing the surface by providing the print provider with a clean and properly primed substrate. This collaboration helps to ensure the best possible printing results and customer satisfaction.”
“It is the responsibility of the entire supply chain. The end user must specify that it’s for a floor, the print provider must ascertain the surface type, and the media supplier must ensure the correct material is provided. Communication is key to a successful installation,” agrees Blacknall.
A discussion between client, print provider, and installer at the beginning of the job is important. “The print provider may not be local to the installation site but is best positioned to provide specific instructions regarding surface preparation to the client or installer prior to installation. Ideally, this is addressed at the beginning of the job, so surface preparation can be appropriately worked into the schedule and managed by the appropriate party—either the client or installer, if not the printer,” says Kempf.
Edwards points out that floor graphics are used everywhere from large school emblems to small advertisements in grocery stores that could be professionally installed or delegated to a store employee. In these scenarios, while surface preparation is not the direct responsibility of the print provider, it is important to provide guidance on best practices to ensure a successful install.
If the print provider isn’t the installer in the job, then it’s the installer’s responsibility, says Ebenger. “The print provider is responsible for the proper media selection for the application along with the proper print, dry, and finishing components. The installer/installation company is responsible for the proper surface preparation and complete installation process. Even experienced, certified installers should refer to the media’s manufacturer instructions to ensure proper installation for optimal performance.”
As the professional in the situation, Bourgeois says the print provider is responsible for proper surface preparation. “A perfectly cleaned surface directly affects the result of their work.”
Eventual Removal
Clean release of a graphic is the goal, with minimal to no adhesive left behind—or a damaged surface. Proper surface preparation helps to achieve this.
“Proper surface preparation makes a big difference when it’s time to remove floor graphics. When the surface is clean and smooth, the graphics stick well but are easier to take off later, leaving less residue behind. If the surface isn’t prepped right, dirt and moisture can get trapped, making removal messy and possibly damaging the floor. Good preparation not only helps with sticking the graphics but also makes taking them off a lot simpler,” suggests Richardson.
Tesch believes that “clean, dry surfaces allow for easier removal of the floor graphic with less chance of adhesive residue being left behind.”
“A properly cleaned surface enables the removal of the film cleanly in one piece,” notes Bourgeois. Although, he points out that even more important is that the right adhesive is chosen for the project at hand. “You need a special adhesive formulation when applying to stones such as granite and marble to make sure the adhesive doesn’t ingress into the stone,” for example.
The right adhesive creates uniform adhesion, which is critical in a clean removal. “Surfaces that have been cleaned properly allow for more uniform graphic adhesion and can make removal easier. Graphics with poor adhesion in some areas and stronger adhesion in other are more prone to tearing or leaving residue behind,” notes Kempf.
At the end of the day, “if the proper installation procedures are followed and the correct media is used, removing the graphic should be quick and easy,” concludes Blacknall.
Avoid Failure
Surface preparation is essential for floor graphics. As Ebenger says, “it is the difference between a great project and a failed project.”
Identifying the floor type as well as determining the correct material and adhesive for the job helps ensure a successful installation. Taking it a step further, cleaning that floor of any debris ensures the graphic remains in place for the desired amount of time.
Sep2024, Digital Output
