Rolling Out a Custom Wall Wrap
Rolling out a custom wall wrap, one printed panel at a time.
Reels
Watch walls change. Real wall wrap installs from Ardor's crew.
Panels rolling out, seams lining up, shop footage from the cutter and finished rooms. Filter by space or watch the install clips back to back.
Tasting Room Wall Wrap, Woodinville
A custom wall wrap for a winery tasting room in Woodinville, installed by our crew.
Entrance Wall Wrap: Blank to Branded
This entrance went from blank to fully branded with one custom wall wrap.
40-Foot Wall Graphic
A 40-foot-wide wall graphic that puts the brand front and center.
Juicy Power Yoga Studio Wall Wrap
A custom wall wrap for Juicy Power Yoga in Mountlake Terrace that brings energy and identity into the studio.
Panel-by-Panel Install, Everett
From blank walls to finished: a full panel-by-panel wall wrap install in Everett.
Window Perf and Building Sign, Enumclaw
Perforated window film and a Dibond building sign give this Enumclaw storefront a bold street presence.
Window Graphics You Can See From the Road
Custom window graphics sized to read from the road.
Cutting UMC's Wall Wrap Panels
Every panel of UMC's wall wrap is cut and prepped on our Zund cutter before it touches the wall.
UMC Wall Graphics, New Everett Office
Custom wall graphics for University Mechanical Contractors' new Everett office, printed on 3M film and installed by our crew.
Window Graphics That Get Noticed
Custom window graphics from Ardor Printing that make storefront glass work for you.
Interior Wall Wrap, Snohomish
A custom printed interior wall wrap for a Snohomish business, printed on our HP 800W and cut on our Zund G3.
Custom Wall Wrap Install, Bellevue
Installing a custom wall wrap in Bellevue to brand a business space and give the office a strong first impression.
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What you're watching
How a custom wall wrap goes up, panel by panel
Every clip on this page comes from an Ardor job. Some follow an install from blank wall to finished room, like the panel-by-panel install in Everett. Some are shop footage: a Snohomish wall wrap printed on our HP 800W, or UMC's panels cut and prepped on our Zund cutter before they touch the wall. Others are quick reveals of a finished space, like the Juicy Power Yoga studio in Mountlake Terrace or a winery tasting room in Woodinville.
Wall film prints on 54-inch rolls, so any wall wider than one roll goes up as a set of vertical panels. Each panel is printed, laminated when the job calls for it and cut to size in our shop. On the wall, each panel overlaps the last at the seam and the art lines up across the join.
Most of the work you don't see happens before the first panel. The wall has to be clean, dry and sound. Avery says fresh paint should dry at least seven days before film goes on, and 3M recommends wiping walls with a mix of 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% water. Block, brick and heavy texture take a conformable film worked in with heat. Our wall surfaces guide covers prep for each surface.
On a typical install day, the first panel is hung level from the top and squeegeed down. The next panel overlaps it, and so on across the wall, then the edges get trimmed and pressed down in a final pass. A single wall usually takes our crew one day. For the full path from wall wrap design to finished wall, read how wall wraps are made.
What to watch for in an install
Use this list when you watch a clip, or when a crew is on your own wall. Each step names the guidance behind it.
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Step 1
A clean, cured wall
Before any film goes up, the wall gets wiped down and checked. Fresh paint is a warning sign until it has cured.
Avery: let the final coat dry at least 7 days. 3M: clean with 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% water.
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Step 2
Film at room temperature
Panels rest flat in the room before they go up, so the film and adhesive match the space.
Avery IB 6.50: rest at least 1 hour. Avery MPI 2600 minimum application temperature: 40°F.
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Step 3
A level first panel
The first panel sets the line for every panel after it, so it goes up plumb from the top.
Mactac: hang the first strip plumb with a spirit level.
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Step 4
Hinge, peel, squeegee
Big panels are taped at the top. The liner comes off a section at a time while the squeegee follows. A stray bubble gets a pin prick and another squeegee pass.
Avery IB 1.6: expose 200 to 400 mm of adhesive at a time on large panels.
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Step 5
Heat on texture
On block, brick or textured paint, look for a heat gun and a rivet brush working the film into the surface.
Avery IB 1.6 and 3M's textured-wall method both use heat.
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Step 6
Trimmed edges and a final pass
Corners, door frames and trim get a clean cut, then every edge is pressed down again.
Avery IB 6.50: trim 1/4 in at corners and 1/8 to 1/4 in at doors and openings.
Watch like an installer
Three things to notice in every clip
What separates a clean wall wrap from a bubbly one happens fast on video. Here's what to look for.
- Seams
01
Panel seams
Wall film prints on rolls, so walls go up in vertical panels. Watch how each panel overlaps the last. Avery calls for at least a half-inch overlap on multi-panel graphics.
- Technique
02
Squeegee strokes
Installers pull the squeegee across the film in firm, overlapping strokes. Avery warns that pushing it stretches the film.
- Finishing
03
Edges and outlets
Corners and door edges get trimmed and brushed down. Outlet and switch covers come off and go back on over the film (industry rule of thumb).
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Are these real Ardor projects?
Yes. Every clip on this page comes from Ardor Printing's own Instagram, TikTok and YouTube accounts or our shop footage.
Why do wall wraps go up in panels?
Wall film comes on rolls, and Ardor prints wall film on 54-inch rolls. A wide wall is printed as vertical panels that overlap slightly at each seam, then installed one panel at a time.
How long does an install like this take?
A single wall usually installs in one day. Multi-wall, floor or building projects take several days.
Can you install while we're open?
Yes. We can schedule after-hours installs so your office, church or shop stays open during the day.
Can I see finished photos of projects like mine?
Yes. Our projects page groups finished walls by space type: offices, churches, restaurants and retail, gyms and schools, exhibits and storefronts.
Will the wall look the same when the wrap comes off?
Not always. Removable films peel cleaner, but paint can lift on weak or aged paint. We check your wall first and tell you the removal risk before you decide.
What happens before the first panel goes up?
The wall gets checked and cleaned. At the on-site measure we look for fresh paint, flaking and texture, because film holds only as well as the paint under it. Avery says new paint should dry at least seven days, and some paints take months to fully cure.
Will I see the seams?
Wide walls need seams, because wall film prints on 54-inch rolls. Panels overlap at each seam, and we plan the layout so seams fall in low-visibility spots.
What's happening in the shop clips?
That's the work before install day. We print wall graphics in our Snohomish shop, including on our HP 800W, and cut and prep every panel on our Zund cutter before it leaves. Then our crew brings the panels to your site.
Sources
- [1] Avery Dennison Instructional Bulletin 1.6: Interior wall graphics (opens in a new tab)
- [2] Ardor Printing: Wall wraps and murals (opens in a new tab)
- [3] Avery Dennison MPI 2600 Series Wall Film data sheet (Rev. 17) (opens in a new tab)
- [4] Avery Dennison Instructional Bulletin 6.50: Interior wall graphics tips (opens in a new tab)
- [5] 3M Instruction Bulletin: Application, substrate selection and preparation (opens in a new tab)
- [6] SignShop: 3M issues new wall preparation recommendations (opens in a new tab)
- [7] Mactac Deco Media Application Guide (opens in a new tab)
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Send a few photos of your wall or book a visit. We measure, check the surface and send a quote. Call (425) 629-0796 or request your estimate online.