Wrapping Roof - Tips Apprecieated
 

As the title suggests, in the next week or two I will be wrapping my roof in gloss vinyl.

I have 3M 1080 gloss black vinyl, clay bar, vinyl squeegee, microfiber rags, and a heat gun. I have watched a few DIY's that basically contradict each other. It seems everyone has their own method of wrapping with vinyl. Is there a best practices that trained installers follow?

Anyone that has done this themselves DIY'ers or Professionals please chime in with pointers and tips, as I will be trying this myself rather then farming out to a tint / wrap shop.

My plan of attack is to remove antenna, clay and prep surface of roof, stretch vinyl over whole roof, start in center and work one side down from front to back of roof, repeat on other side, tuck in and clean up edges. Please tell me if I am way off or about to do this backwards, like lubing up after finishing the deed...

I have seen some spray down the roof with water as they position the vinyl, like a tint job, where as i have seen others position and fit vinyl dry... Is one method better than another?

Thanks for any Tips!! :thanks::respekt:

Doing so wet will allow more play if you screw up, the water helps temporarly kill the tack allowing you more time to work the vinyl smooth and squeege the buggles/air out.

It's best if you remove the roof and wrap it off the car. This will let you make sure you do a proper job on the edges. The roof is attached via bolts under the head liner.

I'm not a teenager...The roof is actually spot welded not bolted... Your comment is 100% FAIL.

Damn it's this easy huh?
Maybe I'll take my roof off.


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I am a clear bra installer but I have some vinyl experience.

I have done my roof two different times with 3M 1080 satin black.

Both times I pre-stretched the whole piece dry.

The first time, I started in the center like you said but got some stretch marks at the valleys.

The second time, I did the two outside pieces first. This creates a bridge across the whole center. Then I swipe each valley across using my hand in a micro fiber. Then I finished up the center.

Trimmed and wrapped all edges. Credit cards work great for getting underneath the seals.

Thanks @Pacific Audio that's great advice. I'll try starting from the outsides first as you mentioned.

I personal have never had any issues with 3M products but I was told from someone who wraps cars professionally(just won a national award for his work) that Avery is much better, so for next time.
As to tips, watch a lot of youtube first.
- [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCAjIXefdhY"]2011 WRX How to Install a Vinyl Roof Wrap by JDMFanaticVinyls - YouTube[/ame]
- [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9q5bzODc6Y"]2015 Subaru WRX DIY Vinyl Roof Wrap Install - YouTube[/ame]
just because the wrx isn't too far off from the ft86 roof.

Wrapping Roof - Tips Apprecieated
 

Start in the center like you mentioned and work the vinyl towards the front and back. Try to not 'stretch' the vinyl, because over stretching could cause the vinyl to discolor, what you want to do is work it slowly towards the outer edges and when do you get to the edge use a little bit of heat to de-wrinkle and wrap over the edges. And when you are finished use your heat gun and go over the whole roof to 'kill' the memory from the vinyl.


[ame]http://youtu.be/_QuV3KHu5_w[/ame]

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Then why does seibon sell a REPLACEMENT roof?

Do your research, don't just assume things. the replacement roof is a replacement yes, but you have to cut the original roof out and put the new roof in. If it was that easy, I would have done it a long time ago.

im sorry what did I assume by asking a question?

Ya I think he just assumed that you were the original "just remove it" poster.

After the roof is cut off, the "replacement" is epoxied (specialized epoxy) back on to the roof line.

well... my first attempt laying the vinyl dry did not fare so well... even with 2 people we couldn't get it to lay flat enough, i had way too many wrinkles and after about 30 minutes fighting with the vinyl i gave up and waxed the roof's freshly clayed surface and put the antenna back on.

All the tips and videos are a great help and i think i will try this one more time on my own. Next time i think i will try laying the vinyl down over a soapy water solution rather than trying to fit it dry.