5 Clues You’ve Picked The Right Sign Company For Your Vehicle Graphics Project

If you’ve been thinking of a full wrap for your Mobile Salon RV, branding your car, tricking out your motorcycle, or outfitting your fleet of box trucks – we’ve got some helpful tips for you. We’ve heard too many sad stories from our customers about ways they’ve been burned by other companies. So how do you know if you’ve found a reliable vehicle wrap installer to trust with your car, truck or van wrap?

#1 – A Good Sign Company will Respond, and be Forthcoming With Information.
Two thirds of sign companies don’t respond at all to new customer queries for vehicle wraps. You have every reason to expect immediate answers, and any respectable sign company will take a consultative approach to help solve problems. If they try to sell you stuff you don’t want, move on.

#2 – An Honest Sign Company will Explain Their Quote.
Vehicle graphics projects don’t readily lend themselves to “one size fits all” pricing, so the quote should include a detailed scope of work. A vehicle graphics project often includes the marketing and design phase, the specification of materials, measuring and pricing, removal of existing graphics, printing and laminating, and installation – each with their own custom issues. Your sign professional should discuss all of these with you to get an accurate price.

#3 – A Reputable Sign Company will Handle The Whole Job, And Welcome You Onto Their Premises.
There is a high demand for vehicle wraps and a shortage of qualified wrap experts. Many sign shops outsource their wrap projects to installers that work for several different shops, so make sure the party you’re dealing with is well equipped and takes full accountability for the job.

#4 – A Reliable Sign Company will Explain The Warranty Clearly And Stand By Their Promises.
3M, Avery and Hexis manufacture the best quality materials available. But weather, storage conditions, and driving conditions affect how well even the highest quality wrap will perform over time. Many sign companies make blanket 10 year performance claims, which they may not be prepared to back up if they don’t take actual conditions into consideration. Make sure you have the right expectations about how the sides of your vehicle will look after years of sun and weather vs. the direct rays of the sun on horizontal surfaces. Ask your sign resource about what you can do to make sure your graphics continue to look stunning, and exactly how they intend to fulfill claims made in their warranty.

#5 – A Knowledgeable Sign Company will Use Approved Overlaminate that is Compatible with the Wrap Film.
Many companies will save money by not overlaminating their wraps, or using a budget overlaminate. You may not be able to see the difference when you come to pick up your truck or fleet and provide final payment, as any fresh install will always look dashing. But a few months of road wear and exposure to sun and rain will do damage even on the excellent latex Inks that the best print operators use for digital wraps. Reputable companies will use a cast optically clear overlaminate that is compatible with the cast vinyl they are printing on. There are exceptions –certain non-printed “color change” wraps using specialty materials do not require laminate. Ask your company to show you the Vinyl Manufacturer’s Specification Sheet.

It’s always exciting to see your new fleet or vehicle dressed up to show off your brand. With proper attention given to intended usage, specifications and processes prior to the install, you can be assured that the integrity of your colors and finish stand up to weathering and daily use, for years to come.

Please feel free to contact us if you have questions about these 5 points, or anything we may not have covered in this article. Join this conversation, or call Signwave at 631-761-9292, and we’ll make sure your install does not become one of those sad stories.