Discussion Seams in pvc pieces

[Dark Horse Signs]

We seem to be having trouble always matching the seams up...seamlessly. Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions on how to match up PVC pieces or ACM panels on a wall while leaving an invisible seam? The thickness ranges from 3mm to 1in material.
This would have to be done without the design, if it was a solid colour piece.
We have tried using biscuits, it causes some improvement but cannot be used for thinner materials.

 

[Gino]

Actually, what you've asked and written makes no sense, without your explaining what you're doing to get this mismatched seams. Can you be more specific and/or do you have pictures of these lousy seams ??

 

[Marlene]

I've used bevel joints on thicker materials and it works pretty good to lesson the look of a seam.

 

[Dark Horse Signs]

Actually, what you've asked and written makes no sense, without your explaining what you're doing to get this mismatched seams. Can you be more specific and/or do you have pictures of these lousy seams ??

The PVC pieces are being printed on, and the put onto a wall. It is a solid colour print, sometimes with designs but often not something that can hide the seam. The pieces are attached to the wall using VHB tape and Loctite Glue. How can I put these on the wall, to eliminate the seams? Or lessen the obviousness of these seams?

 

[Gino]

Evidently, your walls are not 100% flat, causing seams to not join up precisely. The best thing to do is make a framework, attach that to the wall and then mount your substrate to that.

edit : or possibly, you are using factory cut ends, which are generally never straight.​

 

[bowtievega]

You can also make a doubler strip you tape to the back of the panels at each joint to make sure the two panels are aligned evenly. If the wall isn't perfect and you are taping to the wall the edges of the panels will follow the contour of the wall and not each other. Take a 2" wide piece of .040" aluminum and put some thin VHB tape along both edges that will stick to the back of the two panels along the seam. Apply the strip to the back of the first panel to be installed and attach to the wall. When you install the second piece that butts up to the first one, remove the tape liner from the doubler strip and attach the second panel to the strip and then to the wall. Now you should have something to help hold the two pieces together at the seam.

 

[Nuagedesigns]

We have used the tape behind each panel as well. we also tend to print a bleed on the first panel and wrap into the seam on the first panel. Then we align the second print also with bleed and panel to the first print and wrap that print in and around the seam edge on second panel. This helps in situations where the panels may be viewed up close and allows the eye not to be drawn to a harsh vertical line of a different color if the panels do separate or are uneven for some reason. Hope this makes sense.