Measure and Prep

Measure & Prep — VisuFlare

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Measuring & Surface Prep

A graphic is only as good as the numbers it's printed to and the surface it lands on. Measure carefully, prep thoroughly, and your install goes up clean the first time.

Before you measure

A few rules that apply to every surface:

  • Always field-measure. Never order from architectural drawings or blueprints — as-built dimensions are almost always different.
  • Assume nothing is square. Measure width and height in several spots and use the largest dimension so there are no gaps.
  • Measure twice, order once. Record everything in writing as you go.
  • Add bleed. Roughly 1" all around for smaller pieces, up to 2" for large or multi-panel graphics — excess is trimmed on install.
  • Check the surface while you're there. Confirm it's sound, finished, and suitable for the material before you commit.

How to measure

Windows & Glass

Perforated, film, cling, vinyl

  1. Measure the full opening — overall width × height — ignoring panes and mullions first.
  2. Then measure each individual pane and mullion separately, including the silicone, rubber, or trim around the glass.
  3. Work to the nearest 1/100" — glass jobs need precision.
  4. For graphics that run across multiple windows, note mullion gaps so the image lines up pane to pane.

Walls & Murals

Adhesive vinyl, wallcoverings, textured media

  1. Measure the widest width and tallest height, excluding baseboards and crown molding.
  2. Measure height in several spots — critical in older buildings that have settled.
  3. Round up to the nearest inch.
  4. Note any outlets, switches, vents, or fixtures that fall inside the artwork area.

Surface prep, by surface

Glass

Windows, partitions, doors

  1. Clean the glass fully — remove tape residue, old adhesive, paint flecks, and any film of cleaner.
  2. Final-wipe with 70% isopropyl alcohol on a lint-free cloth; avoid ammonia glass cleaners, which leave a haze that hurts adhesion.
  3. Dry completely and squeegee out dust. Glass must be spotless — every speck shows.

Smooth Walls

Painted drywall & panels

  1. Let new paint fully cure — at least one week (some paints take longer). Uncured paint outgasses and pushes the graphic off.
  2. Wash with mild detergent and warm water; skip any cleaner containing wax, lotion, or oils.
  3. Final-wipe with a 70/30 IPA-water solution and let dry. Use IPA sparingly on fresh paint.
  4. Note the finish: flat/matte paints hold less aggressively than satin or semi-gloss.

Textured & Masonry

Brick, concrete, cinder block

  1. Brush off dust and debris with a stiff brush, then clear fine particles with a shop vac or leaf blower.
  2. If practical, pressure-wash the day before and let it dry a full 48 hours.
  3. Wipe with isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber towel where reachable.
  4. These surfaces need heat and a foam roller to conform — the film is warmed (roughly 200–230°F) and rolled into the texture and mortar joints. This is a textured-media + skilled-install job, not a peel-and-stick.

Floors

Interior floor graphics

  1. Surface must be clean, smooth, flat, and dry — remove wax, grease, dirt, and construction marks.
  2. Wipe with rubbing alcohol on a lint-free towel, then dry with a fresh towel. Clean an area 6–8" larger than the graphic.
  3. Let a freshly cleaned or mopped floor dry completely — up to 24 hours depending on airflow.
  4. Use a floor-rated material with slip-resistant laminate for any walking surface.

Ideal install conditions

Temperature

65–85°F

Hold media and site in range for 48 hrs before & during install.

Humidity

Below 70%

Prevents condensation that ruins adhesion.

New Paint Cure

1 week +

Before applying anything to freshly painted walls.

Post-Install Cure

48–72 hrs

Let the adhesive set before cleaning or heavy use.

Do & don't

Do

  • Field-measure every opening, in multiple spots
  • Use the largest dimension and add bleed
  • Clean, then final-wipe with IPA, then dry
  • Let new paint and clean floors fully cure/dry
  • Match the material to the surface's texture

Don't

  • Order from blueprints or drawings
  • Assume the wall or window is square
  • Apply over ammonia cleaner, wax, or dust
  • Install on paint that isn't cured
  • Peel-and-stick standard vinyl onto brick

Got a tricky surface?

Send us the dimensions and a photo of the surface — we'll confirm the right material and the prep it needs before you order.

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Good prep is invisible — it's the reason the graphic still looks perfect a year later.