This is one beautiful wrap that Optimum Signs installed on a 2022 Honda Odyssey for Spargo Spa and Salon in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. It is a beautifully designed wrap that covers the entire van, except the windows. Even though we have been wrapping vehicles for the past 8+ years, sometimes we learn something new, and this was the case with this van.
With every new model year, the manufacturers make slight changes to the body style, size of the panels, and maybe the location of some of the accessories. With the 2022 model year, we noticed that both Toyota and Honda models are showing up with a type of ceramic coating. It’s not like the version you can buy aftermarket, but it is substantial. Thinking about what the ceramic coating does for the paint by keeping the elements from getting to the color. How does it do this? It seals the paint and covers the colorant in protective coating. This coating also makes the surface very “unsticky.” The material we use to wrap a vehicle has a type of adhesive that bonds to the clearcoat on the paint and uses the pores in the paint to adhere to the surface. The adhesive isn’t very aggressive because it can’t adhere in a way that could damage the clear coat. It has to stick without damage. So how did we get this wrap to look so lovely?
We started with a simple wipe-down with clean water. We followed up with an alcohol wipe over the entire surface of the van. That gave us more than enough for the vinyl to stick. We even tested it with some vinyl to see how well it would stick. The hard part is in the seams. We couldn’t get the alcohol wipes into the seams, so the vinyl didn’t want to attach. It even lifted after we finished the van. That is why we always do a quality check on every job before it leaves our shop. We found that by spraying isopropyl alcohol into the seam and using a q-tip, we could make enough of an impact on the surface that the vinyl stayed down. We went over every seam with a unique tool that helped us tuck the vinyl into the seam. Once over the entire van surface with a cotton glove, the van was ready for delivery.
If you have a vehicle that you want to turn into a rolling billboard but you don’t know where to start, give Optimum Signs a call. We can be reached at 262.289.9481 or email us at info@optimumsignswi.com. We have a team of designers that can help with a custom design for your vehicle. We also do fleets and larger vehicles.
