Professional Wrap Installer… Why not do it yourself?

(Re-published with permission from – 2014)

What?! Those national wrap installers charge WAY too much! This can’t be too hard. It’s just sticky vinyl. I can do this.

Look, despite our natural skepticism of other’s skills and firm belief in our own abilities, there are multiple reasons why wrap installation professionals ARE considered professionals. Let us count the ways…

1. Experience: The high-end professional wrap installers have spent thousands of hours practicing their skills. They have handled miles of vinyl. They have run hundreds of thousands of strokes with various squeegees and tools. They have pulled, pushed, tightened and relaxed untold amounts of films. In short, this doesn’t happen overnight nor by accident. A professional wrap installer has put in an immense amount of time to make it look just that easy.

2. Knowledge: Your average skilled professional wrap installer can tell within 2 two strokes if the film is laying correctly. He or she can tell instantly, by touch, if the film is laminated or not. They can immediately smell if a print has been laminated too quickly and whether or not this will cause extra aggression in the adhesive tac. They know which way the seams should go, how they should line up and where to position them for the best finished look. How do you correct an alignment issue? How do you position a bumper section? How do you correctly trim body panel seams? What is the proper angle to wrap a door handle? Disassemble the side mirrors… tail lights…? There are a multitude of ways to mess up a wrap install and a professional installer has a huge jump on knowing just what they are.

3. Certifications: There are multiple certification systems available in the wrap industry. The best ones focus on experience, accountability and skill. The UASG – United Application Standards Group for example, requires that an applicant be able to prove at least three years of wrap installations before they are allowed to apply for certification. This guideline, combined with an actual shop inspection, in-process project observations and verification of business accountability, makes sure a shop is ready before they are even allowed to test. The test itself consists of two days of intense hands-on, skill and specific project testing along with written practices, techniques and material knowledge assessments. All-in-all it makes for a very comprehensive testing system. Another excellent certification is the PDAA – Master Certified system which places a heavy focus on overall film knowledge and proper install techniques for a variety of film options. Proper surface preparation all the way to correct finishing techniques for wrap longevity are tested and covered under the PDAA system. These certification systems work hard to prove their competence.

4. Tools: Did you know that national wrap installation professionals have spent many hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, on EACH set of specialized tools for their crews? The professional wrap installer has spent a lot of time and money purchasing specific blades, rollers and holders, tapes, squeegees and a variety of other specialized tools that are designed to make sure the wrap is done correctly. These guys aren’t walking into a project with an x-acto knife and vinyl squeegee folks. They take their job seriously and have invested heavily in the tools of their trade.

Just like a veteran woodcarver can make his knives move through oak like butter, and a martial arts master can make his spinning jump kick look effortless, a professional wrapper can make his job look easy. BUT, it all comes as a result of tireless practice and endless dedication to perfecting their skills. THIS is why you go with the professional wrap installer.


See the original article here: