Weather & Your Vehicle Graphics
How the elements impact a wrap’s lifespan
Vehicle graphics are a cost-effective advertising strategy for your business. They serve as moving billboards working to inform more customers about your company’s services.
But just like any tool, they require regular maintenance and upkeep. And fleet managers should think about the weather when strategizing about how often vehicle graphics will need replaced. The simple truth is that mother nature helps to dictate the wrap’s lifespan.
But there are steps you can take to mitigate the risks. Here are a few tips from AGI and our partners at Avery Dennison:
· Salt is the Enemy During the Winter Months
If your fleet operates in northern states with several months of cold, wintry weather, it’s not the snow you have to worry about. It’s the salt dotting the roads.
The salt is caustic and can eat into a wrap just like it can chip away at your vehicle’s paint. The best solution to combat this mineral is to hand wash the graphics often. See our tips for how best to clean vehicle graphics here.
· UV Rays Can Burn off the Wrap’s Protective Layers
Exposure to strong ultraviolet rays can wear down a vehicle wrap faster than any other weather element. Fleet managers operating vehicles in dry, desert climates found in the western part of the United States should pay particular attention to this.
Simply put, UV rays gradually burn off the UV inhibitors that are in the protective laminate. Just like UV rays can cause a vehicle’s paint to fade, they can speed up the aging process on a vehicle graphic.
To help minimize this type of UV exposure, park the vehicle in a garage or shaded area whenever possible to reduce the amount of time it spends baking under the sun.
· Hail Can Damage a Wrap
Every vehicle on the road is put at risk in a hail storm. Depending on the size of the hail, this particular weather element is known to leave dents and dings on a vehicle’s exterior. A wrap is just as vulnerable to this type of damage as the rest of the vehicle.
If your wrap is damaged in a hail storm, the best course of action is to take the vehicle to the shop that installed it. The shop can replace the specific panel that was damaged without needing to redo the entire vehicle, therefore saving your company money.
