Decal Sticker Graphic Maintenance

[Joel and Julie]

From Burlington Graphic Systems, manufacturers of the decals for Keystone.

The surprise may be that they say NOT to wax them:

Exterior Graphic Care Instructions

The graphic package you have purchased with your Keystone RV
was designed for superior durability and requires little maintenance.
Please follow the steps below to get the best performance from your
graphic package:

• Wash your graphics with soap and water or car wash detergents. Rinse
thoroughly. Do not use abrasive sponges (like SOS pads) or abrasive
cleaners (like Comet) to clean your graphics.
• Start cleaning at the bottom of the graphic and work up, rinsing the
abrasive dirt and contaminants away as you go. Starting at the top
can leave streaks below where concentrated cleaner runs down and
effectively cleans that surface area more than adjacent areas.
• We recommend that you do not wash your graphics with a high-pressure
sprayer such as a power washer. Try to avoid the graphics when power
washing your RV walls. High-pressure sprayers can contain enough
force to lift the edge of your graphic and cause it to peel.
• Do not overcoat your graphics with clear paint of any kind. Your
graphics already have a clear coat over them.
• Do not let gasoline or other fuels drip or remain on your graphics for any
length of time. If a spill occurs, wipe off the graphic and rinse with water
immediately.
• Do not use petroleum-based solvents on your graphics. They will soften
the vinyl and damage the clear coat and / or ink.
• Do not apply wax over your graphics, especially if the wax contains any
petroleum or silicone distillates. Car wax will not improve the finish of
graphics and can damage the surface of vinyl graphics after repeated
exposure. If you do wax your RV, wax that has dried along the edge of
a graphic can be removed by first softening it with rubbing alcohol and
cotton swabs. Be sure to rinse the area after cleaning.

2600 Chicory Road Racine, WI 53403 (262) 554-8808 Fax (262) 554-8586

[dieselguy]

Vinyl graphics are actually porous ... several coats of wax in a fashion "suffocate" the vinyl and promote shrinkage and curling. I don't have an answer as to why some of us with no real difference in maintenance have several years on our decals and other a few short months before deterioration becomes noticable. Instead of wax, I use Aerospace 303 as it is a UV inhibitor. It's kinda hard to put on without streaks, but a microfiber cloth helps.

[drsmart]

After using wax on our previous SOB graphics and watching them crack and peel over the years, I'm now waxing around the decals and using 303 on them.

Dave

[racerjoe]

I don't think there is a good answer to this. Keystone says one thing,burlignton says another,some people have waxed,some haven't, bottom line when there is trouble,their response is varied.Some people get them replaced,some have to pay. I just wish a common cure could be found so these can look good for many years.

[drsmart]

quote:Originally posted by racerjoe

I don't think there is a good answer to this. Keystone says one thing,burlignton says another,some people have waxed,some haven't, bottom line when there is trouble,their response is varied.Some people get them replaced,some have to pay. I just wish a common cure could be found so these can look good for many years.

Painted graphics? They could be waxed and power washed.

[dieselguy]

Painted Graphics ... take a look at a few rigs with a few years on full body paint or graphics painted over the silicone sealing the joints ... it gets ugly. I'm refering solely to where the paint goes over the silicone.

[bighornram]

I practiced this nightmare with my Wildcat. I'm planning on covering my new Montana. I do live in the high desert. High UV, wind, dry. Hot in summer and cold in winter. Decals on my Wildcat lasted about 18 months. I'm in the process of ordering a Goldline cover. 303 for the canopy, graphics and tires. Hoping this will keep the new shine.