Frequently Asked Questions about Vinyl Wraps
Where do I buy a wrap?
FELLERS Certified wrap providers are companies throughout the country that have had a special scrutiny of their experience and workmanship. Click on this link to find a FELLERS Certified wrap provider near you.
Can FELLERS sell me a wrap?
No. FELLERS is a supply-house to the companies who actually sell the wraps. FELLERS also certifies companies that sell wraps to ensure better quality.
What's involved in a Wrap?
All vinyl wraps that are not a simple solid-color wrap involve three phases. First, your FELLERS Certified Provider will get the appropriate measurements, and develop a design per your specifications. Second, the graphics will be printed and laminated to protect from abrasion and UV rays. Third, the Wrap will be installed on your vehicle, wall, or floor.
How is a Wrap produced?
Unless your vinyl wrap is a simple solid-color wrap it will need to be designed first. After a computer design is created, your wrap will typically be printed on a large ink-jet printer. Think of the color printer that you have on your desktop, only with a width of up to 60." Another big difference between your desktop printer and the one that will print your wrap is that the wrap printers use a type of ink that is much more durable than what you would print at your home or office. Most high quality wraps are then laminated with a vinyl laminate that protects against marks, abrasions, and fading.
Are wrinkles, bubbles and seams acceptable for wraps?
Many wraps have wrinkles, bubbles and seams. It is possible to prevent or repair some if not all wrinkles and bubbles. It is also possible to prevent many seams. Large size, complex curves and even your "cost budget" create the possibility of wrinkles, bubbles and seams. It is important to discuss expectations and limitations with your FELLERS Certified Wrap Provider. Typically an experienced wrap provider, such as a FELLERS Certified Wrap Provider, has learned through experience to minimize and often eliminate wrinkles, bubbles and seams.
How long will my Wrap last?
That depends on the application. If you are doing the inside walls of your business, the wrap could be good indefinitely, depending on sun exposure. Typical outdoor vehicle wraps are good for 3-5 years, wrapped vehicles stored primarily indoors can last indefinitely. Floor wraps in high-traffic areas don't last quite so long because of all the traffic!
Will a Wrap damage my paint?
Most wraps that are removed from factory-painted vehicles do not damage the paint underneath, however paint damage is possible on all wraps. Talk to your FELLERS Certified Wrap Provider about what can be done to prevent paint damage.
Why is a Full Wrap more beneficial than a Partial Wrap?
Full wraps cover most or all of the paint on a vehicle while partial wraps cover only part of the vehicle. Even though Full Wraps are more expensive they give a larger "canvas" for your designer to work with and therefore give your vehicle graphics more visual impact. In addition, Full Wraps protect all of the original paint underneath instead of just part of the paint. This is critical when the wrap is removed since fading and scratches can result on the unprotected paint of a Partial Wrap. As a result, Full Wraps tend to protect or even increase the resale value of vehicles more than Partial Wraps.
How long will it take to do my Wrap?
This depends on the job. Always make sure to ask your provider about the timeline, as each provider and each job is different. The "design" part of the wrap process can take as little as a few hours up to several days. A vehicle installation, for example, can typically be wrapped in a day or two not including the time needed to design.
How much will my Wrap cost?
The average nationwide price for a printed and laminated vinyl wrap is $15 per square foot of installed product. Solid-color wraps are significantly lower in price. Additionally, most providers charge for their design work, and some will charge you if your vehicle is not 100% clean when you bring it in for installation. Design costs can significantly impact the overall cost of any wrap depending on the quality level you desire. For example, if you demand the design services of a well known artist, or if your design requires you to pay licensing fees, this could increase your cost. Request an all inclusive price quote before selecting a Wrap Provider.
How can I justify the cost of a Wrap?
There is no more cost -effective advertising method and there is also no more cost effective customization/personalization method available than Wraps.
Studies have shown that Wraps are the most cost effective form of advertising available today. In a city of 50,000, a Wrap can get over 8 million views per year. Obviously, in higher traffic areas, you get more attention. Many people who get their vehicle wrapped park it outside of their business near a busy intersection for maximum exposure. A Wrap works for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week and it's a one-time advertising expense, unlike other traditional media like radio, television or even yellow pages. As a specific example, one study from 3M shows that you would have to spend over $130,000 on television ads to generate equivalent annual impressions of a $3,500 Wrap!
Vehicle wraps are uniquely mobile. Would McDonald's let you stake your sign or banner on their lawn while you eat lunch? No, but you can park your wrapped vehicle on their lot while eating and get all that exposure in a very high traffic area!
Wraps can also customize/personalize better than any other method and have unique benefits over custom painting. For example, many photographic and artistic elements simply can't be reproduced perfectly by painting or air-brushing. But the single most important benefit of wrapping over custom painting is that a wrap can often be easily removed or repaired. In fact, wraps are often used to "protect" the original paint underneath, which actually increases the resale value of many vehicles. However, removal of wraps on walls without damage has been shown to be difficult.
How do I know that I am comparing "apples-to-apples" when looking for a Wrap?
Here are some important points that can guide you to making an informed decision:
- Always ask how long the wrap will last and about the warranty coverage.
- Make sure you understand what parts of the vehicle are going to be wrapped. Not wrapping certain difficult parts of a vehicle such as rear-view mirrors or door handles may reduce the cost of the wrap. It is also critical to use a design that can incorporate un-wrapped parts of the vehicle for optimal appearance. It is not always necessary to wrap the roof of a vehicle and this can reduce your cost. For example, if a delivery van or motor home roof cannot be seen from the ground, then this part of the wrap could be eliminated. However, racing vehicles or vehicles that drive in big cities and are seen from above, it's beneficial to wrap the roof.
- Ask about the vinyl that will be used. There are different qualities and price points of vinyl. Typically "high performance" vinyls are recommended for high quality vehicle wraps. There are also special vinyls designed just for walls and floors.
- Ask whether your wrap will be laminated. Most high quality vehicle wraps are over-laminated with clear vinyl. Some wraps can be liquid laminated or not laminated at all but it's important to talk with your FELLERS Certified Wrap Provider about lamination. Whether or not your wrap is laminated will impact the cost of your wrap.
- Make sure you understand the total cost associated with the Wrap. There are frequently additional costs associated with vehicle prep and cleaning as well as design. Ask your Wrap Provider for an all-inclusive price.
- Design is the single most critical step for the success of your wrap. Some designers are more experienced and worth the extra cost associated with their services.
- Be sure to ask what special techniques will be used to prevent paint, clear-coat, and plastic-part damage. These techniques may increase the cost of the wrap.
- Be sure to ask what techniques will be used to prevent wrinkles, bubbles and seams. A wrap with zero wrinkles, bubbles and seams is typically more expensive than a normal wrap or may not be possible.
- FELLERS Certified Wrap Providers are typically superior to other wrap providers because they have gone through scrutiny in order to obtain certification and must maintain their credentials in order to remain FELLERS Certified.
What happens if my Wrap gets damaged?
Most wraps that get damaged can be fixed a lot easier than any custom paint job because your design can be reprinted just like when reprinting at home with your own computer. It's important to talk with your FELLERS Certified Wrap Provider about the steps required to fix your wrap if it gets damaged.
Can I take my wrapped car through a car wash?
Most vehicle wraps can be taken through car washes just like any painted vehicle. However, like with many paint jobs, vehicle wraps can also be damaged by car washes. Take care around the exposed edges and seams of a wrap and ask your FELLERS Certified Wrap Provider what they recommend to increase the life of your particular wrap.
How will I know what my wrapped car or wall will look like when done?
Your FELLERS Certified wrap provider should submit color proofs to you before they begin the job. You will need to sign-off for approval before they begin printing your Wrap. You can expect slight color differences between the proofs and final Wrap due to the difference between printing on paper versus vinyl and the difference in inks, but there shouldn't be extreme color differences.
Design costs can significantly impact the overall cost of any wrap depending upon the quality level you desire. For example, if you demand the design services of a well known artist or, if your design requires license fees, this could increase your cost. Request an all inclusive price quote before selecting a Wrap Provider.