HHR Install Help Needed

[formanek]

I have done two installs now on the HHR. I get frustrated and really need some advice. The area where the rear fender flare meets the body is of course an issue.
Two different ideas I have tried.
1. Start from the top and work to the bottom. When getting to the area I speak of I have bridged it (not all the distance) then heated and pressed into the area that I have put primer on.
2. Start from the front and work horizontally to the back and feed it into the area as I go back, but that caused wrinkles after the fender that I had to work out.

YES, I want to take an install class to further my learning curve but living in bum f**k nowhere in MN I have to wait until Spring when the classes start.

ANY help or pictures to illustrate i would be grateful.

 

[HulkSmash]

lots of heat to get the wrinkles out.
Start out by laying your whole sheet out, and starting on the top half and work your way down. Heat it when you get to that area, and just press it down. You dont even need primer for that.

 

[WrapperX]

There's no solid way to get around it. Those fenders are a pain. They take a certain know how of vinyl to deal with. Generally I start at the top of my panel whether its horizontal or vertical and make my way down. I most certainly put primer on the junction of the side and the edge where the fender juts out. As I'm working, I move my way left and right until I have pretty much tucked the vinyl along the edge of the fender. this brings the vinyl tight around the fender and if done correctly you should only need to run your squeege over the fender to secure it to the surface. I use a little heat to make this work but I try to avoid stretching as much as possible. Contrary to popular beleif a good install has very little stretching with heat. Use heat to soften the material just enough to allow the wrinkles to move out on their own. I also then make sure I post heat it to 200 degrees to fully activate the adhesive bond to avoid lifting.

 

[HulkSmash]

adding heat doest always stretch, as you said, it softens it. Let it cool down for a few seconds before you apply again, and you'll have minimal distortion.

 

[jc1cell]

There's no solid way to get around it. Those fenders are a pain. They take a certain know how of vinyl to deal with. Generally I start at the top of my panel whether its horizontal or vertical and make my way down. I most certainly put primer on the junction of the side and the edge where the fender juts out. As I'm working, I move my way left and right until I have pretty much tucked the vinyl along the edge of the fender. this brings the vinyl tight around the fender and if done correctly you should only need to run your squeege over the fender to secure it to the surface. I use a little heat to make this work but I try to avoid stretching as much as possible. Contrary to popular beleif a good install has very little stretching with heat. Use heat to soften the material just enough to allow the wrinkles to move out on their own. I also then make sure I post heat it to 200 degrees to fully activate the adhesive bond to avoid lifting.

+1

 

[ProWraps]

a properly installed wrap should never be stretched.