Decal Application Surfaces

Have questions about what kind of surfaces you can apply your decal onto? Most clean and smooth surfaces are capable of accepting your decal however some surfaces need a little more work than others. This tutorial will help highlight some of the differences between one surface and the next. It will also explain what we consider to be a smooth surface and a textured surface.

Decals can be applied to many different surface types, but not all surfaces will end with the best results.

The best surfaces for applying a decal are completely smooth and texture free like glass, clear glossy plastic, or enamel painted metal. Walls that have been treated with glossy or semi-gloss paints will also work great for vinyl decal application. For natural wood surfaces, you'll want to make sure the wood is treated with either a glossy clear sealant or polyeurothane before applying your decal.

Lightly textured surfaces like corrogated plastic or stainless steel can work for decals, though they can be a bit tricky to apply. We recommend using the Wet Application Method for any lightly textured surfaces. You may also find that using a heat gun also helps your decals adhere to lightly textured surfaces a bit better.

Surfaces with heavy textures like brick, concrete, cinderblock, and natural unfinished wood are not suitable for applying a decal. Such rough textures cut down on the amount of surface area available for your decal, and will prevent the adhesive from sticking to the surface properly.

For a full list of Acceptable and Not Recommended Surfaces for decal application, check out our tutorial page on How To Apply Vinyl Decals.