What Are Wall Decals?
What are wall decals?
Decals are an affordable and unique way to decorate any room. Vinyl wall decals are shapes of self-adhesive vinyl that will apply to any hard and flat non-porous surface. They can come in a variaty of sizes and colors. They are simpler than painting, and you are never stuck with one design for too long. Our decals are removable, so when you are finished with the design simply peel if off the wall and plan a new theme for your space!
How easy are wall decals to install?
We provide Installation Instructions that you can download. The instructions are easy to follow. Some of the larger decals will come in multiple sections that will subtly overlap in installation. It helps to have an extra set of hands to install the larger designs, as well as a squeegee, and painters or masking tape.
How are Dana Decals made?
Our decals are created from high quality vinyl and each decal is made to order. You order, and we create! The decals are die-cut from colored vinyl (we have over 50 colors). The design is cut into a large sheet of vinyl, and then extra vinyl is peeled away, leaving your design. After the design has been cut and peeled we adhere it to transfer paper to make application a breeze! We have hundreds of stock designs that can be ordered as-is or customized. We also offer a custom options at this link as well.
What if I have painted my walls recently (and what if I have Low/Zero VOC paint)?
Our vinyl will work best on enamel painted walls that are allowed to cure for at least three weeks. If you have recently painted your walls, we suggest you wait at least 3 weeks before putting up the decal, as applying the decal before the wall is 100% set can make it difficult for the decals to stick. Vinyl manufacturers suggest that smooth, semi-gloss or gloss enamel paints are best for vinyl application.
NOTE: Most current vinyl manufacturers suggest customers should avoid using VOC Free paint*. The ingredients in VOC free paints will prevent the decal from adhering properly. Successful results of Dana Decals on low/free VOC paint surfaces cannot be guaranteed. *(common VOC free paints include: Yolo Colorhouse, Behr Premium Plus Zero VOC, Benjamin Moore’s Natura® paint, and Glidden Spred®.Sherwin Williams offers several such paints including GreenGuard Emerald Interior Acrylic Latex, Harmony,Pro Industrial Zero VOC Waterborne Catalyzed Epoxy, Pro Industrial Zero VOC Acrylic Coating, and ProMAR 200 & 400 Interior Latex paint).
It may still be possible to apply a decal to these paint surfaces. The decal will require more time to apply, including burnishing it repeatedly, to help it adhere. Dana Decals does not guaranty successful installation of its decals on these kinds of paint surfaces at this time.
What kind of surface can I apply my decal to?
Our decals can be applied to Hard, Flat, and Non- Porous surfaces. This includes drywall, sheet rock, glass, mirror, most plastics, and sealed wood. Installation to any other surfaces is not recommended.
We highly encourage ordering a test kit to try a sample decal on the surface you have in mind.
The ideal paint surfaces are smooth, semi-gloss, or gloss enamel paints.
The surface temperature is another important factor for installing a deal. Be sure the surface temperature is not freezing to the touch, as decals will initially stick to a cold surface, but slowly peel away as the surface warms. If the decal is applied to a moderate temperature surface, it will hold through temperature changes. The surface temperature needs to be between 70°F to 80°F for installation.
How do I clean the surface I am going to apply my decal to?
We recommend cleaning the surface you are going to install your decal on using a solution of 1 teaspoon of Dawn Dish Soap mixed with one gallon of water. Mist the application area prior to installation, then wait for the surface to be completely dry.
You could also use rubbing alcohol to clean an area.
Cleaning is meant to clear away some of the tiny oil residue that may not be seen on the wall, but might keep the decal from adhering correctly to the surface. Glass cleaners or other ammonia-based cleaning products are not recommended for this purpose, even with glass installations.
What if my wall has a slight texture, will the decal stick to the wall smoothly?
If your wall has any sort of texture, using a tennis ball to rub in the decal to the wall can help press the adhesive side into all the little dips and bumps on the wall. We highly encourage ordering a test kit to try a sample decal on the surface you have in mind.
What if I can’t get my vinyl to stick to the transfer tape?
If you are having difficulty getting the vinyl part of the decal to peel off with the transfer paper, try laying out the decal on a hard surface and rolling a metal can (such as a hairspray can), or a flat metal object firmly over the transfer paper side of the decal to get the vinyl to stick on the transfer paper for application. Also check out the 'flip-tip' method in our installation instructions.
How do I install such a large and detailed decal?
If your decal is highly detailed, has many layers, or has lettering, we highly recommend trimming the large piece of transfer paper you received into smaller separate pieces. You can trim your decal design into smaller pieces to apply, being careful not to cut through the vinyl.
If your large decal comes in sections, you can slightly overlap the pieces which will create an almost invisible seam between the pieces to create the overall image.
Oh no, there are a few small bubbles in my decal after applying. What can I do?
Don’t worry right away if you finish up with some bubbles in your decal job. Small bubbles will go away in time (the film breathes, and will flatten out after a few weeks at an appropriate temperature). If you want to work on the bubbles immediately, apply moderate heat, then poke them with a pin, pressing the film down with your thumb immediately afterwards.
Can I remove my decal from the wall and re-use it?
Our decals are removable, but they are not re-usable.
Are your pattern decals wallpaper?
Our decals are not wallpaper sheets. Rather, they are individual pieces of vinyl that have been cut. The background of these pieces will be your wall itself.
How long can I store my decal before using it?
We recommend that you use your decal within 30-90 days of receiving them. If you are going to store your decal for a while before installing it, then we recommend you keep it in a clean, dry, temperate area (no extreme heat or cold) and, if possible, laid out on a flat surface. But don't wait too long to install, as the longer the vinyl sits packaged in the paper backer and transfer tape the stronger the vinyl will adhere to the packaging. This will make it harder to install flat and smooth. If you choose to store the decal past 30 days, we cannot honor returns past that time frame.
How do I clean my Chalkboard decal?
If your have ordered a Chalkboard decal, we recommend using an actual chalkboard eraser to clean the decal in-between uses. You can use a paper towel, but that can leave a certain amount of ‘ghost image’ and dust.
We do not recommend using your hand to wipe away chalk as the oils from your hand will slowly build up on the writing surface. We also cannot guarantee all chalk tools will work on the chalkboard vinyl. Regular chalk works fine, but chalk ink pens can often leave a ‘ghost image’. If you do use a chalk pen customers have mentioned stronger cleaners such as Mr Clean Magic Eraser work well to clean the decal.
Can I purchase Dana Decals in a store?
Dana Decals is an e-commerce company, and we do not have physical store locations.
DIE-CUT DECALS
What is the difference between a die-cut vinyl decal and a printed decal?
Dana Decals only offers die-cut decals. These decals are die-cut shapes made from one of our 50+ colors (can be seen on our color chart). We have both matte, matte metallic, and chrome metallic colors. If a design has multiple colors, each color will be a separate piece to install.
A printed decal is a design printed on vinyl, just like a home printer would print on blank paper. Unfortunately Dana Decals does not offer printed decals, so we cannot include elements such as photo images or designs with extreme detail.
Are cut vinyl decals safe for apartments, walls, dance floors, etc.?
Our matte vinyl is perfect for dorm rooms, apartments, dance floors and is the perfect solution for smashing decor for offices, weddings, parties, and other events! We use removable vinyl, which makes it great for short-term use, and not only long term.
Will die-cut decals work on glass, my car, or the bathroom?
Our decals are safe for use on cars and glass and even in bathrooms. While the vinyl is rated for mild outdoor use, the vinyl will have a shorter lifespan if exposed to continual extreme temperature or weather elements. Our decals can easily be installed on mirror, tile, acrylic, and drywall surfaces. Just make sure the surface is completely dry before installing.
If my wall has a slight texture, will the decal stick to the wall smoothly?
Textured surfaces vary, so we highly recommend ordering a Test Sample Kit to try installing the vinyl on the surface you have in mind, before ordering an entire design. Also note that if your wall does have a texture the vinyl may still adhere fine. However, you might be able to see some of the texture through the vinyl (appearing like an embossed pattern on the vinyl surface), and you might need to take some extra care with installation to make sure the vinyl fully adheres within the dips and dumps of the wall.
Will the die-cut decal damage my wall?
Our decals are made from a removable, matte, indoor exhibition vinyl that is perfect for interior decor decals. While it is removable, we cannot 100% guarantee there will not be any damage, nor that they may not be a small amount of adhesive residue, depending on the surface. Any residue is removable with a household cleaner.
Can I receive a hard copy sample of colors?
Certainly! No problem at all. You can order sample color swatches from our Samples page in either a pack of 5 colors or 15 colors. You can see our list of color choices on every design listing as well.
Can I receive decal samples for a test installation?
You can order a Test Sample Kit from our Samples page. The test kit includes: FAQ Sheet, Transfer Tips, Installation Instructions (both small and large are included for your reference), Take Down Tips, and Sample vinyl decals ready to install. This is the best way to test the surface you will be decking out in decals.
Can you create a custom design for me?
We would love to create a custom design for you. (Create custom decal request form)The best way to get the custom decal process started is to send all the information and ideas you have about your custom design through our Custom Decal Request form. A designer will contact you about getting digital proofs and price quotes for you. As Dana Decals only creates die-cut decals, we are not able to use photographs, gradients, etc.
CUSTOM DIE-CUT VINYL DECAL
Can I use images/logos I find on the internet?
Unfortunately, it violates copyright/trademark laws for Dana Decals to use other people’s images or designs without permission. We will need a proof of permission and licensing from the original creator of the design in order to create it as a decal.
How long does it take to receive a response from Dana Decals about a custom order inquiry?
Dana Decals responds to all inquires within one business day of the message. Our offices are open Monday through Friday 9AM-5PM (PST). This first response will address any questions you send and get the process of a custom design started.
What is the time line process for a custom decal order?
The timeline for a custom design decal will vary according to the needs from project to project. After you have contacted us for custom work, one of our designers will respond for further details (including any other necessary files), or with digital proofs of your design. At this time, you can respond with any changes you would like to make. Edits on digital proofs will be made by Dana Decals within 1 to 2 business days. The updated proofs will be sent to you.
Never a need to worry about your final design, as we do not cut the decal until you have given your final approval. Once the design has been approved, it will be sent to production. Production time may take anywhere from 1 to 5 business days depending on the complexity of the design.