Perforated window graphics - disintegrating?!?

[MikePro]

anyone ever seen this? everything but the adhesive is shredding away from the window in spotty sections.

We originally did this wrap 3 years ago, 3M-180C-10 with Clear Focus Perforated graphics/laminate.
Way beyond warranty, client is paying for me to replace the window graphics, but I just want to have a better idea what leads to this so I can explain to current and future clients(and myself) what to expect from perforated graphics.

I've since switched to all 3M products, including 3M's IJ8171 perforated, for vehicle wraps. Does this eventually happen to this product as well?

 

[SightLine]

Looks like pressure washer damage to me.

 

[gabagoo]

were they laminated with a film or liquid. I cant see how it could break apart like that with a film laminate over it, but you can see it is delaminating from the bottom layer which would make me suspect power washer as well.

 

[MikePro]

aye, was clearfocus' optically clear overlaminate (sheet).
I've had storefront window graphics up with this product for longer with lifting edges being the only issue to date (since resolved, as I now trim 1/4" away from the edge and overlap with clear strips.)

 

[Patentagosse]

washer pressure abuse. just by the strokes. sometimes the overlaminate is destroyed because it floats over the holes of base layer which make it easy to puncture as it dries along the years. I'm having few customers complaining 'bout that recently. They have several cells perforated so now dust slips inside and make lt. brown spots. I'm now trying a new products, thicker, which I hope will help the cells not to break.

I have used ClearFocus 65/35 for few years but now switched to Oracal 3676 because it offers longer durability & better adhesion. Since day 1, I always covered my window perf prints with Oracal 290GF but now I'm testing their 297GF which is twice thicker. It also leaves less squeegee strokes (good thing...)

Does any of you ever been able to apply laminated window perf w/o marks? I don't. I mean on slightly curved vehicle glasses, not flat storefront windows... I use half moon felt squeegee. Curious to hear 'bout that...

 

[scott pagan]

i see this often. the air trapped in between the holes of the perf under the lam eventually weaken and fail. sometimes it's moisture, sometimes just a high UV/sun exposure that causes the laminate to fail like your photos show. most of the vehicle perf is only warrantied for a year, so we try to let our customers know it is not a long-lasting product.

curious on better solutions on working out the squeegee marks. some days are better than others as far as that goes, but they do tend to go away on their own. it just looks bad on delivery to explain the strokes in the perf.

 

[OldPaint]

3 years.........it wasnt made to last longer....be happy..........

 

[MikePro]

i use a wet felt squeegee without causing marks during application.

agreed that it is a pita to get scratches in your laminate during application. i used to apply with a regular squeegee and spray bottle of soapy water until I got sick of leaving occasional streaks in the finish of the laminate.

 

[Wraps ink]

Usually the marks will disapear once the sun heats it a bit