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Solid Vinyl to be installed onto wood.

Tony Rome

New Member
I have a business that has an interior wall that is all stained wood it is very flush but a tile like pattern, basically like a hardwood floor.
They stained the wood and that is it.
We were going to do PVC with double stick tape but they thought it would ruin the wall when/if they need to change it at some point.
So they decided to do a cut vinyl.
Any idea what vinyl I can use that would be easily removable after 5+ years but also would stick to the stained wood?
Thanks!!!
 

Gino

Premium Subscriber
If the wood has grain to it, most likely nothing will adhere..... well. Also, most stains have an oily [even if you can't feel it by touch] to them and will most likely repel vinyl after a bit of time.

Best bet...... adhere some substrate to the wall which will accept the vinyl and perhaps be alright screwing directly to the wall.


When customers dictate how something should be done to save them money, most probable..... it ain't gonna work. Walk away or decline due to unforeseen problems.

The best solution would be, to clearcoat with 2 or 3 clears with the sheen of their choice, then your vinyl will stay put and also be removeable.​
 

Tony Rome

New Member
If the wood has grain to it, most likely nothing will adhere..... well. Also, most stains have an oily [even if you can't feel it by touch] to them and will most likely repel vinyl after a bit of time.

Best bet...... adhere some substrate to the wall which will accept the vinyl and perhaps be alright screwing directly to the wall.


When customers dictate how something should be done to save them money, most probable..... it ain't gonna work. Walk away or decline due to unforeseen problems.

The best solution would be, to clearcoat with 2 or 3 clears with the sheen of their , then your vinyl will stay put and also be removeable.​

Good info. I told them if they want vinyl we would have to clearcoat it. I am wondering if we would still have to clearcoat if we went back to PVC letters and used the good 3M tape?
I was trying to think of a substrate to attach to the wall and then apply letters to that, but I can not think of what (besides glass/plexi) would work.
The area is 7' x7'
Thanks
 

T_K

New Member
We have been covering stained wood surfaces with vinyl for a few months now. No long term results yet.

However, I've discovered that we've pretty much had to do a wet application when using a clear vinyl to prevent bubbles and excessive silvering. Neither the printer nor the clear vinyl really comes off easily or cleanly. After only 2 days sitting in the warehouse, we've had to use lots and lots of heat and pulling very slowly (like 1 in. at a time) to try and prevent damage to the finish. Even with all our precautions, there are still bits of finish that just adhere better to the vinyl than to the wood. Good news

I would expect that after 5 years you'd have to sand down and refinish the wall, based on our short term results.
 

Tony Rome

New Member
We have been covering stained wood surfaces with vinyl for a few months now. No long term results yet.

However, I've discovered that we've pretty much had to do a wet application when using a clear vinyl to prevent bubbles and excessive silvering. Neither the printer nor the clear vinyl really comes off easily or cleanly. After only 2 days sitting in the warehouse, we've had to use lots and lots of heat and pulling very slowly (like 1 in. at a time) to try and prevent damage to the finish. Even with all our precautions, there are still bits of finish that just adhere better to the vinyl than to the wood. Good news

I would expect that after 5 years you'd have to sand down and refinish the wall, based on our short term results.

Thank you. I am needing to use a solid color vinyl and I usually order an air release if that option is available.
This customer wants the least amount of damage to the wall when/if removed and I just think that adhesive IF applied directly to stain is going to leave a definite shadow or affect from the combination of oily stain and adhesive.
I think .25" PVC letters either with double stick tape OR better yet maybe PVC letters that I can somehow nail/tack/pin to wall would be better long term.
UGH! If you want the wall to look nice forever just leave it alone, lol.
 

T_K

New Member
This customer wants the least amount of damage to the wall when/if removed

Definitely sounds like you need to avoid the direct application of vinyl.

I just think that adhesive IF applied directly to stain is going to leave a definite shadow

Anything you put up is likely to leave a shadow. That's why everyone repaints when selling their house. Anything that's been on the wall long term will likely leave an outline.
But I do think the pvc sounds like a better option than direct application of vinyl. At least with this option, you're only worrying about the adhesive from the tape.
 
Do PVC with tape. Use as little tape as possible. If the wood is really only stained have them buy a 5 dollar touch up can. Keep it safe in the storage for 5 years. Then when you pull what little tape you did use. You just touch up the spots with a little stain. Takes two seconds and will look like new.
 

Tony Rome

New Member
OK, so they are definitely going with PVC now.
SO, do I still need a clear coat or will the 3M VHB tape work without it?
I am going to test it but wondering if anyone knows, long term?
Thanks!!!
 

Tony Rome

New Member
Do PVC with tape. Use as little tape as possible. If the wood is really only stained have them buy a 5 dollar touch up can. Keep it safe in the storage for 5 years. Then when you pull what little tape you did use. You just touch up the spots with a little stain. Takes two seconds and will look like new.
Do you think the 3M VHB 5952 would work without a clear coat/sealant?
 
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