Image courtesy of WallsRepublic.com
Wall decals are a great way to add colour, accent and interest to any space. Using them for decorating a room may have captured your imagination but you’re wondering if they could damage your walls.
Before I get into answering that question, it’s handy to know that the terms “ decal” and “ sticker ” are often used interchangeably, but they do describe two different applications.
So will you damage your walls using wall decals? Yes you could if you don't choose the right type, but knowing which decals to buy and how to remove them correctly will ensure your walls are left undamaged.
But what about wall stickers? The same applies, if you go down the cheap route there’s more chance of needing to repair your wall after removal. But that’s not to say they can’t be applied and removed safely.
Which Create More Damage, Stickers or Decals?
Sticker or decal, they can both look really great on your walls. The final result may be similar, but they are kind of, sort of different products.
The difference between a Wall Sticker and a Wall Decal
A sticker has a backing paper that is peeled off to expose the adhesive underneath. Then it’s simply a matter of sticking it onto the wall. Wall stickers can be made of various materials, usually a vinyl or polyester, but some places sell paper stickers.
Decals are transferred onto the wall. They have a backing paper too, which peels off to reveal the adhesive. But they also have a transfer surface on the front to help apply it to the wall. Decals can consist of a number of individual letters or patterns and the top layer keeps them aligned as intended. Most decals are also made from a vinyl or polyester material, but fabric is also available if you hunt around.
So as to which one can cause harm to your walls, it’s more about the materials used.
How strong is the glue? Decals made for indoor use will have weaker glue compared to stickers made for outdoor applications which can use a permanent adhesive. Also some glues can harden over time and If they’re cheaper, chances are the manufacturer will have used inferior materials which can ultimately lead to them being more difficult to remove.
An interesting snippet of information. Decal and sticker are often used to describe the same thing. Decal being used more widely throughout Australia and America, whereas sticker is used in Europe. They can also go by the name of Wall Tattoos, Wall Graphics, Wall Clings, Wall Stick-On and Wall Vinyl.
Looking for a huge range of unique & beautiful wall murals?
Can Some Walls Damage More Easily?
Assuming that the decal is going to be applied to a painted surface, certain paints and finishes are more susceptible to marking than others.
This is more likely to happen the longer the decal has been on the wall.
Matte and eggshell paints can mark more easily. Most newer paints these days are of a very high quality, but age can be a contributing factor, the general quality of the paint and whether it had a good primer.
What about textured walls? Smooth surfaces are the best for applying wall stickers, textured walls aren’t ideal but it can be done with a little bit more effort.
This video is a good demonstration, as you'll see, applying to textured walls is a bit more time consuming.
How long they stay put is another question. If you’re going to do this, contact the seller as they may be able to offer you a version that works better for a textured surface.
Removing them will be more tricky though as the glue has an uneven surface to work it’s way into and will be harder to lift off.
But because they can be stuck on almost any smooth surface you can apply them to windows ( as long as they’re not exposed to too much heat ) and mirrors, laptops, whiteboard or anywhere else your creative imagination takes you!
Places to Avoid Using Wall Decals
As versatile as they are, there are places where wall decals aren’t the best idea. Either they just won’t stick or they will definitely cause damage.
I’m not sure you’d need to totally avoid using them, but if you’re renting you’d be safer trying removable or repositionable stickers.
Surfaces that simply won’t hold a decal are bare brick, besser or cinder blocks or other porous surfaces.
It’s recommended not to apply them to lacquered surfaces either.
Using decals on a surface that is regularly exposed to extreme heat or cold, as this can make the decal brittle and difficult to remove.
Some people have tried with great success, but it’s not generally recommended to use a decal on wallpaper. I guess it's fine if you’re keeping it for a long time and you’re happy to replace the wallpaper along with the decal when it comes time to remove it.
Freshly painted walls will need time before any stickers can be applied. You get different time frames from different suppliers. Some say four weeks, other eight, so best to ask the seller if this is an issue that may affect you.
Prevention is Better Than Cure
Choosing the Best Decal to Avoid Damage
It may be the only decal available with the design or pattern you really want. But further down the line, maybe years, it may have to come off. And when that day arrives you don’t want any more work or damage than necessary.
So choosing the most wall friendly option could be better in the long run or even in the short term. Perhaps you’re renting or the stickers are going in a child’s room and they will outgrow them in a year or two.
So what steps can you take now to prevent any damage to your walls in the future?
If you’ve read the above chapter you’ll already know where not to apply a wall decal along with making sure your walls are correctly prepared. But there are types of decals and stickers that are specially designed to be easily removed.
There are decals and even wallpapers made using a gum like adhesive which won’t change over time, preventing hardening and leaving residue.
Polyester fabrics are sometimes used which are meant to be less susceptible to curling like vinyl. So they don’t require such a hefty adhesive.
Sometimes called ‘ peel and stick “, repositionable wall stickers can be peeled off and used again.
Sometimes the low tack stickers can have issues adhering to certain surfaces or maybe you just can’t find a design you want in the more removable type decals.
Companies will use different strength adhesives, so ask your supplier and find out what type of glue they use, will it harden over time and how difficult it will be to remove.
Removing Decals With Minimum Damage
Depending on the type of adhesive and how long the decal has been on the wall will determine how easily it will come off.
Removing wall decals and stickers correctly
There is only one method that’s used and for this you will need a hairdryer. If you’re a baldy like myself it will mean going out and purchasing one!
So let’s begin.
1. Find a corner and gently start to lift. If you’re having trouble getting hold of a corner, set the hairdryer to low and carefully heat up a section until you’re able to peel it away.
2. Don’t hold the hairdryer too close and the vinyl only needs to be warm, if the glue gets too hot it can become tacky and leave residue .. so go easy!
3. It’s important to roll the decal back on itself, don’t try to pull it away from the wall at 90 degrees as it may tear or bring some paint with it.
4. Make sure the hairdryer is heating the next section that needs to peel off, you’re always working ahead of yourself. Two people can make the job easier.
5. Patience is required as you may get stubborn bits, but just work slowly and steadily.
6. If there is any residue left, a citrus cleaner is great at removing glue. You may need to give the wall a wipe, just mild detergent or sugar soap should do. But persistent stains you may need a powder cleanser or something similar.
Here's a short video so you can actually see how this method works.
How Long do Wall Decals Last?
With the right preparation, a good quality decal should last you years.
If you want to be really precise with applying your decal it's recommended that the air and surface temperature be between 18C and 25C. So don’t apply it to a wall that has had sunlight on it for a few hours or if it’s really cold.
The surface needs to be clean and dust free. Use a mild soapy water and make sure the area is completely dry before applying the sticker.
Regular cleaning will help and because they are made from a vinyl or polyester they can simply be wiped over with a damp cloth or a mild detergent. Whether the decal was screen or digitally printed the inks used should be waterproof, if not you’ve bought a real cheap one!
The location of your decal can affect it’s longevity. If it’s seeing a lot of direct sunlight it could get brittle over time. But many home windows have tinting applied making it perfectly safe.
Most digitally printed outdoor vinyl decals are rated up to 5 years, so in a home environment you can imagine they’re going to last way longer than that.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been seduced by the array of wall decal designs available, but a little wary of damaging your walls, I hope this article has put you at ease!
Stickers are a unique and versatile wall art that can be used throughout the home. There are really classy designs for modern living, there’s floral styles, patterns and loads of designs for children. You’ll definitely be able to find a decal to suit whatever creative vision you have.
Used and applied in the right way, the risk of damaging your walls is quite minimal. And at the end of the day it is a design choice, even if you paint a room and then want to change the colour later on there is work involved. Putting up a painting requires screws or nails in the wall. So the benefit of enjoying a wall decal outweighs the small damage that may or may not occur to your wall.
I’d love to see the decals you’ve used and how they work with the rest of your decor. Also please share any experiences or added tips to removing wall stickers you may have in the comments.
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