No matter the industry or business, reception rooms can feel claustrophobic as people wait for their names to get called. If it’s a medical or dentist’s office, people feel on edge because of fear of bad news or a diagnosis. For something like an office building, waiting for the people you’re meeting with can make you feel a sense of dread in the interim and throw you off.
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A vinyl car wrap is an effective way to protect your vehicle from scratches, chips, and fading and can ultimately result in an increased value of your car should you ever decide to sell it. Car wrapping is also the first choice for vehicle advertising as it costs much less than the standard or custom paint job. A typical question that most car owners ask, however, is how long vinyl car wraps last. So, how much can you get out of your custom vehicle wraps?
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Professional graphics installers who pass rigorous written and hands-on graphics tests administered by 3M earn the title 3M Preferred Graphics Installer. A 3M Preferred Graphics Installer boasts unmatched graphics skills and expertise, making them the best-in-class graphics professionals the market has to offer. The 3M Certified Graphics Installation Company program was founded in 1999 and is currently managed by the United Applications Standards Group (UASG).
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Your custom vehicle wrap is more than just a way to make your company cars or trucks look sharp on calls or jobs. A well-applied decal graphic, combined with the knowledge of how to maintain your vinyl car wrap, becomes a moving billboard that stands the test of time. No matter where you go — the grocery store, a supply outlet, even sitting in rush hour traffic — your wrapped car or truck tells everyone in sight what you offer and how professional you are. Because the opposite can also be true, it’s important to take steps to avoid cracking, peeling, and fading concerns that will prematurely age your decal.
Vinyl decals and wraps are not all created equal. In addition to selecting a high-quality base material and trusting experienced vinyl car wrap installers, your “canvas” needs to have the right finish. An uneven paint job, chipping, peeling, or wearing of the topcoat will affect the wrap’s ability to adhere and stay in place. Always consult with a professional and follow their advice as to what prep work, such as paint protection film, might need to happen before your wrap is installed. The most important secret to maintaining your vinyl car wrap is to make sure it’s applied correctly to begin with.
Unsurprisingly, weather and sun exposure play a huge role in how long a vinyl car decal or wrap looks bright and new. If you’d like to limit the damaging effects of the environment on your wrapped car, try following these best practices to extend the life of your wrap:
The best way to clean and maintain your vinyl car wrap is with a good, thorough hand wash. This works for shiny, polished wraps as well as matte wraps, as no abrasive machinery is used. If you’re using an automatic car wash to wash a car with a wrap, rely on “touchless” locations only; brush-type car washes can lift or peel edges and cause premature vehicle wrap damage or aging.
Spot cleaning can also be performed as part of your cleaning and maintenance routine. If you need to wash your wrap but don’t want to take your car or truck through an entire car wash, just use wrap-safe cleansers and a soft cloth. Once again, test the effects on an inconspicuous spot and avoid abrasive cleaners or brushes, as these can adversely affect the smooth finish of your wrap.
When you want crisp, attractive graphics applied to your business vehicle, Night Owl Graphics offers the experience, attention to detail, and integrity you deserve in vinyl car, van, and truck wrap installations. Ready to see for yourself? Check our gallery! For more information about any of our offerings, including everything from business signs to custom wall murals, contact us today!
Owner and operator of Night Owl Graphics, Kim, recently purchased two new K9 bullet proof vests for the Horsham Police Department, where she also works part time as a crossing guard. Besides providing quality banners, signs, and vehicle wraps, Kim’s true passion lies in helping and rescuing animals. She is an avid supporter and advocate for no-kill sanctuaries including Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and organizations such as the ASPCA, who rescue abused and neglected animals.
In an effort to further her volunteer efforts for animals and individuals in need, Kim is in the process of becoming an animal rescue volunteer with the Humane Society and has experience serving with several charitable organizations, including Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team.
The dedication our team has towards the local community is what sets Night Owl Graphics apart from other businesses. From vehicle wraps and graphics, to banners and signs, customers who come to Night Owl Graphics will see firsthand the tireless efforts we put forth to achieve their design goals for their business.
At Night Owl Graphics, we have more than 20 years providing professional design solutions to companies and businesses throughout the community. We firmly believe in exceeding our clients’ expectations and being the company you can count on to create graphics that best represent your business.
To learn more about our team and the services we offer, contact us online or call us at 215.244.0444
Night Owl Graphics was recently featured on 3M’s website thanks to our work with Realty Mark, a Philadelphia real estate agency. These cars are well-known throughout the Philly area thanks to their bright blue sky on green grass design and eye-catching racing decals.
Night Owl Graphics, a 3M Preferred Graphics Installer, provided the wraps for these vehicles, working closely with Realty Mark to come up with the signature design as well as the flexibility for adding sponsorship logos. The sponsorships are real, and help Realty Mark cover the costs of these vehicles for their more than 600 traveling agents.
Race cars are attention-grabbing almost anywhere you go. This same principle brought the CEO of Realty Mark, Ray Gaber, to come up with the ingenious idea of wrapping his cars and selling the sponsorships to help fund his vehicle fleet costs. “If I put five or six sponsors on a Ford Explorer, it would look silly driving down the street. But when you put them on a sports car, suddenly you have a slick, great-looking vehicle that looks like a stock car,” he told the 3M website in an interview.
And he’s definitely on to something. Arbitron estimates that a wrapped vehicle that travels 15,000 miles per year will generate around 9 million impressions or views, and have a positive purchasing decision rate of approximately 30%.
Have a question regarding vinyl wraps for your vehicle? Call Night Owl Graphics today at 215.244.0444 to get a free estimate!
Vinyl wraps have two different huge benefits for someone like Gaber, who leases all of the vehicles in his fleet. The vinyl provides an extra layer of protection on top of the paint of the vehicles, preventing things like nicks, scratches, and other minor paint damage from occurring. When the vehicle’s lease is up, the wrap is removed, and the paint underneath is usually in perfect condition, reducing repair losses.
Vinyl is also exceedingly flexible in design. It can be adhered to almost any vehicle, and nearly any design can be printed on it, allowing you to make your vehicle into the eye-popping advertising machine your business needs to get your name out to potential customers.
Night Owl Graphics opted to use 3M’s IJ180c vinyl film because of its durability and ability to achieve the color saturation necessary to make the vehicle stand out visually on the roads. It’s not unusual for Ray Gaber to have people snapping cell phone pictures of the cars as they pass by, and he has even landed clients thanks to people simply talking to him about his cars.
Have a question regarding vinyl wraps for your vehicle? Call Night Owl Graphics today at 215.244.0444 to get a free estimate!
You just got a great deal on a new/used car, but it’s not the color you would have chosen. With that being said, the deal was so good that you couldn’t pass it up. Generally speaking, you have 3 options:
1 – Deal with the color. After all, you got a great deal.
2 – Get it painted.
3 – Get a color change wrap.
Let’s be real here – nobody wants to drive around in a car with a color that is different than what they wanted. The real decision, then, is between getting your car completely repainted and getting a color change wrap. But what are the pros and cons of each, and how much should you expect to pay?
Color change wraps are an attractive alternative to completely repainting your vehicle for the following reasons:
While color change wraps cost less than a professional paint job, they have a higher up-front cost (typically between $3,000 to $5,000) and are subject to some limitations in regards to what can be wrapped, such as louvers, some spoilers, hinges, etc. Likewise, since color change wraps are manufactured, the color selection will usually be more limited than that of a paint job.
Initially, many people are shocked to hear what a color change wrap costs. When first told of the pricing, many people first think “Wow, I thought it would be cheaper. That’s almost as expensive as getting it painted!” This is usually because people have seen advertisements from national auto body shops for $299 paint jobs. Sure, you can opt for an inexpensive paint job, but what exactly do you get with this type of deal? Like the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
The first thing you should know is that professional paint jobs almost never cost this little. Inexpensive paint jobs such as these are notorious for producing subpar results and can even damage your vehicle. For example, we had a client who went to a national auto body chain for a paint job in which they painted the tops of the tires, rubber gaskets, and even parts of the windows. Conversely, a professional paint job from a company who knows what they are doing will more realistically cost you close to $10,000, but your car will look like it came out of the factory when you are done. This makes the up-front cost of a wrapping job far more palatable.
A proper color change requires the car being taken apart. All the doors, mirrors, lights, etc., should be removed – all of which takes time. The exact time and cost of wrapping a vehicle will vary depending on the year, make, and model of the car, with aftermarket spoilers, sunroofs, body kits, and other modifications adding to this cost. Realistically, you should plan on being without your car for a week and paying between $3,000 and $5,000 for an average wrap in a standard color. When it is done, however, your car will look like it just came out of the factory – all for a fraction of the cost of a new coat of paint.
At Night Owl Graphics, our Certified 3M Preferred Graphics Installers never cut corners and only use the finest materials in our vehicle wrapping jobs. Unlike some other bargain vehicle graphics shops, we take pride in what we do and stand behind our work, ensuring our customers are satisfied with our exceptional craftsmanship every time. Having completed thousands of vehicle wraps and graphics for: Philadelphia and surround areas, companies and individuals over the past two decades, you can trust our team to provide the customized and long-lasting results you need to display your brand with pride.
Call 215.244.0444 or contact us online today to get your free estimate.