What to do if your Vinyl Decal is peeling or lifting off the wall

Sweat off your forehead but a smile on your face, you admire the beautiful flower mural you just installed on your baby girls Nursery room. You take a few pictures, call your mom, signal the neighbor for a peek to your successful wall art project. Celebrate all around, finally the Nursery is finished! You go to bed super happy.

The next morning, you wake up and what do you do? Of course! you go back to the Nursery to continue to soak in the beauty.

But this time, oh no! DISASTER! your Vinyl Decal is peeling off the wall!!!!  What went wrong? What did I do? You wondered. The answer is: nothing, you did nothing wrong... (well, at least not in regards to your decal application) 

You cannot believe your eyes, you think your life is ending.
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BEAUTIFUL DECAL? 

After more than 7 years doing this, we have experienced a variety of situational environments, materials and wall paints. Based on our own experience (yes we paint walls too on our free time) and our customer's experience, we have pinpoint 3 different issues that might be the cause of this disaster pictured above:

1. Freshly painted walls still outgassing 
2. Dirty Walls (dust and oily substances) 
3. Paints contain certain additives that prevent dirt and smudges to stick, but they also prevent VINYL decals to stick:

   BEHR
   VALSPAR
   KILZ PREMIUM High Hide Stain blocker.
   Benjamin Moore
   Dunn Edwards
   PPG from Home Depot

What do I do now?

Based on our own customer's experiences we have put a list of options that might work depending your situation:

CLEAN THE WALL:

Yes, you should do this step before the decal failed to adhere to your wall, however, it might not be too late to do this step. VOCs can be cleaned with baking soda or alcohol and if these VOCs are preventing your decal to stick, this cleaning method could be the solution. Lets say your wall decal is peeling on the edges. Try peeling a little more than what is lifting, and try our Enhance Adhesive Cleaning method on that area. Make sure you let it dry and warm up after cleaning (alcohol tends to lower the temperature on the surface)

NOTE: If the decal has been applied to very dirty walls, the adhesive now has some particles of dust and it wont' stick. This option will only work if the wall was mostly clean to begin with.

WARM THE DECAL AND SMOOTH DOWN THE AREAS THAT AREN’T STICKING

Adhesive activates with heat. Maybe, at the time when you installed your decal, the wall was very cold and the adhesive needs some help waking up. So, grab a hair dryer and start blowing an area wall sticker at a safe distance (do not burn  your house while doing so!) and push down to smooth it to the wall. NOTE: If the decal has been applied to dirty walls, the adhesive now has some particles of dust and it wont' stick. This option will only work if the wall was clean to begin with.

USE GLUE TO ADD STICKINESS WHEN WALL DECALS WON’T STICK

While we never recommend using glue on your walls, this is an option if there are edges or pieces of your wall decals falling off.

REMOVABLE ADHESIVE GLUE that you can use to keep your decal on the wall. You can order these online or buy it on your local craft store. (Note, prices might not be updated) 

1. Aleene's Tack-It Over & Over Liquid Glue 4oz ($2)
2. Aleene's Repositionable Tacky Spray, 10-Ounce ($13)
3. ELMERS Repositionable Mounting Spray Adhesive, 10 Oz, Clear ($15)
4. Gorilla Heavy Duty Spray Adhesive, Multipurpose and Repositionable, 11 ounce, Clear ($8) ** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS AND ANIMALS
5. Krylon K07020007 10.25-Ounce Easy Tack Repositionable Adhesive Spray. Style:Easy Tack Repositionable Adhesive ($13)

PRO's TIPS: Thank you for our wonderful customers who have sent us their experience with the following products! Gorilla Brand has been the one that most of you liked, and also applied with a roll instead of spray onto the adhesive. For the thin vinyl (like the one used to make the trees) the Elmers or the Krylon are better, the Gorilla seems to be a bit too much for the thin vinyl.

DISCLOSURE: We do not endorse any of these any of these brands, These are just the most popular brands you can find in the market but we should not be held responsible for any issues or damages arising/caused from these products. Please always follow manufacturer recommendations on all products and contact us if you have any further questions.

How Could I Have Prevented This From Happening?

If you are reading this before purchasing your wall decal, the best way to reduce the risk of peeling or lifting is to test the material on your actual wall before placing a full-size order.

Order a Wall Decal Sample First

Paint formulas, finishes, wall textures and environmental conditions can vary from one home to another. A material that adheres beautifully to one wall may perform differently on another. For that reason, we recommend ordering a wall vinyl and self-adhesive fabric test sample before purchasing a large wall decal.

Apply the sample to a clean, inconspicuous area of the wall where you intend to install the full design. Leave it in place for several days and check that the edges remain securely attached.

1. Test the sample on the same wall that will receive the full-size decal.
2. Prepare the test area using the same cleaning method you will use before installation.
3. Allow the sample to remain installed for several days.
4. Check the edges and corners for lifting.
5. Remove the sample carefully and confirm that the material performs as expected.

A sample cannot account for every installation variable, but it can reveal many wall-surface, paint or adhesion concerns before you invest in a complete design.

Prepare the Wall for a Successful Installation

• Allow new paint to cure completely. For recently painted walls, wait at least six weeks before installing a peel-and-stick wall decal.
• Clean the wall properly. Dust, grease and cleaning-product residue can interfere with adhesion. Follow our enhanced adhesion wall-cleaning instructions before installation.
• Test before ordering the complete design. A sample is the best way to check compatibility with your particular wall and paint.
• Let the package reach room temperature. If the package has been exposed to very hot or cold weather, keep it indoors for at least four hours before installation.
• Follow the installation instructions. Review our wall decal installation guide before beginning your project.

Real Wall Decal Installations From Our Customers

Wall decals peeling or lifting is not the usual experience. Most installations are completed successfully when the paint has cured, the wall is properly prepared and the selected material is compatible with the surface.

These customer photographs show floral and woodland wall decals installed successfully in real nurseries, bedrooms and family homes.

Woodland Wall Decal Installation

A completed woodland nursery featuring birch tree wall decals installed across the customer’s wall.

Floral Wall Decal Installation

A completed customer nursery showing floral wall decals installed around the crib.

Find the Right Wall Decals for Your Room

Explore our customer-favorite floral wall decals and woodland wall decals. If you are uncertain about your paint or wall surface, begin with a test sample before ordering the complete design.