Here is a guide to applying a Vinyl Sun Visor Strip
My photos were taken outdoors for better lighting, however I highly recommend installing in a dust and wind free environment preferably indoors.
Hints and Tips:
*Check the weather report to make sure no rain is expected over the next few days. The Vinyl Strip needs at least 48 hours to dry before using your wipers. This includes not washing your car for 2 days.
*Look at the rubber seals before you begin fitting the strip. Think about where the blade needs to run to cut the strip.
Tools Required:
Squeegee with protective felt or a regular squeegee placed in a sock to prevent scratching the vinyl.
Spray bottle with soapy water (1 drop per 100ml)
Window cleaner (we use mentholated spirits)
Measuring Tape
Pen or pencil
Masking Tape
Knife with a NEW BLADE!
Preparation: The most important step!
Use window cleaner to thoroughly clean your window. We suggest washing your paintwork too as dust on the roof can wash onto your window.
Thoroughly clean the surface reaching all edges where the vinyl strip will be applied. Soak your cloth in mentholated spirits and use your finger nails to clean the edge of your rubber seals. You will notice a lot of grit on the cloth. Take your time cleaning as this is where the vinyl is most likely to fail if not clean.
Measure from the center of the windscreen down and mark with masking tape the size you want the strip to cover. We measured 10mm and placed the tape just below that point. So when we put the strip on we know to place it slightly above the tape.
What we must do now is measure the height of the strip on each side of the car to ensure that it won’t run on an angle. Place a strip of masking tape on the rubber seal down each side of the window. Make sure the tape is off the glass.
Look for a reference point you can measure from. We used the corner of the rubber strip on the roof and either the corner of the hood or front panel. Try to find different points to compare your measurement on each side. Make a base mark and place numbered points every 10mm (1cm) from that base mark.
Do the same on the other side. Take your time and measure more than once.
At this point you will require 2 people.
Place the strip on the window so that it is just above your center mark (masking tape) then check the sides to see at what numbered mark the strip should align. This must be checked on both sides. Remember for later. You can at this point tape the strip in position using masking tape and sit in the car and see if you would like it lower or higher.
This may also require 2 people.
Using a spray bottle with your water/soap solution. Thoroughly spray the window and surrounding panels (so that the vinyl won’t stick. Generously cover the window. Peel your vinyl film away from the backing paper and spray as you go to make sure it does not stick to anything. Again, be generous with the water.
Remember it is crucial that this is done where there is no wind as dust will stick to the vinyl.
Using one person on each side of the car, place the strip onto the window aligning with the side markers. If the strip does not align, simply lift and try again. Avoid sliding the strip as you can stretch the vinyl.
Note: if you do accidentally stretch the vinyl, use more water under it and apply heat using a hair dryer or heat gun. The film will quickly shrink back into shape. Remember to keep the adhesive wet as the heat will dry the water and cause the vinyl to stick.
Now using a felt covered squeegee, lightly squeegee the water out from under the strip. Start from the center top and squeegee down. Once you have worked your way around the strip squeegee again using more pressure. Keep squeegeeing until no water is seen to be coming from under the vinyl. Remove all masking tape and squeegee the film against the rubber seals and around the corner of the window. Make the vinyl form the shape of the rubber. (Trim if necessary)
Using a new blade in your knife, trim the straight sides of the strip. If you have never cut vinyl before, we suggest cutting some excess off the top and stick it to the glass, then try cutting to test how much press you require. You will find that you do not need to press very hard and we suggest not to as you will score your glass. Take your time as you only want to cut once. Start at the sides just after where the rubber seal curves. Complete a straight cut down, then cut from the center of the windscreen to the corner. Then squeegee or work the corner in with your finger so that the vinyl is sitting flat on the glass where you are about to make your cut, then cut the corner last. Take your time as this stage does not need to be rushed.
After trimming the strip, carefully remove the excess vinyl and squeegee the vinyl toward the rubber seals. You are now complete.
Congratulations on your first window strip install!
Please feel free to PM if you have any questions or comments regarding window strips or vinyl stickers/graphics.
My photos were taken outdoors for better lighting, however I highly recommend installing in a dust and wind free environment preferably indoors.
Hints and Tips:
*Check the weather report to make sure no rain is expected over the next few days. The Vinyl Strip needs at least 48 hours to dry before using your wipers. This includes not washing your car for 2 days.
*Look at the rubber seals before you begin fitting the strip. Think about where the blade needs to run to cut the strip.
Tools Required:
Squeegee with protective felt or a regular squeegee placed in a sock to prevent scratching the vinyl.
Spray bottle with soapy water (1 drop per 100ml)
Window cleaner (we use mentholated spirits)
Measuring Tape
Pen or pencil
Masking Tape
Knife with a NEW BLADE!
Preparation: The most important step!
Use window cleaner to thoroughly clean your window. We suggest washing your paintwork too as dust on the roof can wash onto your window.
Thoroughly clean the surface reaching all edges where the vinyl strip will be applied. Soak your cloth in mentholated spirits and use your finger nails to clean the edge of your rubber seals. You will notice a lot of grit on the cloth. Take your time cleaning as this is where the vinyl is most likely to fail if not clean.
Measure from the center of the windscreen down and mark with masking tape the size you want the strip to cover. We measured 10mm and placed the tape just below that point. So when we put the strip on we know to place it slightly above the tape.
What we must do now is measure the height of the strip on each side of the car to ensure that it won’t run on an angle. Place a strip of masking tape on the rubber seal down each side of the window. Make sure the tape is off the glass.
Look for a reference point you can measure from. We used the corner of the rubber strip on the roof and either the corner of the hood or front panel. Try to find different points to compare your measurement on each side. Make a base mark and place numbered points every 10mm (1cm) from that base mark.
Do the same on the other side. Take your time and measure more than once.
At this point you will require 2 people.
Place the strip on the window so that it is just above your center mark (masking tape) then check the sides to see at what numbered mark the strip should align. This must be checked on both sides. Remember for later. You can at this point tape the strip in position using masking tape and sit in the car and see if you would like it lower or higher.
This may also require 2 people.
Using a spray bottle with your water/soap solution. Thoroughly spray the window and surrounding panels (so that the vinyl won’t stick. Generously cover the window. Peel your vinyl film away from the backing paper and spray as you go to make sure it does not stick to anything. Again, be generous with the water.
Remember it is crucial that this is done where there is no wind as dust will stick to the vinyl.
Using one person on each side of the car, place the strip onto the window aligning with the side markers. If the strip does not align, simply lift and try again. Avoid sliding the strip as you can stretch the vinyl.
Note: if you do accidentally stretch the vinyl, use more water under it and apply heat using a hair dryer or heat gun. The film will quickly shrink back into shape. Remember to keep the adhesive wet as the heat will dry the water and cause the vinyl to stick.
Now using a felt covered squeegee, lightly squeegee the water out from under the strip. Start from the center top and squeegee down. Once you have worked your way around the strip squeegee again using more pressure. Keep squeegeeing until no water is seen to be coming from under the vinyl. Remove all masking tape and squeegee the film against the rubber seals and around the corner of the window. Make the vinyl form the shape of the rubber. (Trim if necessary)
Using a new blade in your knife, trim the straight sides of the strip. If you have never cut vinyl before, we suggest cutting some excess off the top and stick it to the glass, then try cutting to test how much press you require. You will find that you do not need to press very hard and we suggest not to as you will score your glass. Take your time as you only want to cut once. Start at the sides just after where the rubber seal curves. Complete a straight cut down, then cut from the center of the windscreen to the corner. Then squeegee or work the corner in with your finger so that the vinyl is sitting flat on the glass where you are about to make your cut, then cut the corner last. Take your time as this stage does not need to be rushed.
After trimming the strip, carefully remove the excess vinyl and squeegee the vinyl toward the rubber seals. You are now complete.
Congratulations on your first window strip install!
Please feel free to PM if you have any questions or comments regarding window strips or vinyl stickers/graphics.