With holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas just around the corner, it’s important to remember how to properly install and remove the fun, funky window decals that make the holidays exciting. At Action Glass in Houston, we are experts in all things residential glass repair, so we want to make sure that our clients are prepared as they begin the decorating process for their upcoming celebrations. Holiday window decals are nostalgic for many people, which is why many families look forward to applying them to their Houston home’s windows each year; however, if not applied or removed properly, they can have long-term effects on your windows. Use this guide as an essential tool for the upcoming holiday season so you can decorate to your heart’s content – without needing expert residential window repair when New Year’s Day arrives.
The Foundation of a Flawless Application: Glass Prep For Your Residential Decorations
Before you design your residential window display and start the decorating process, prepping your glass is essential for preventing repairs. This is the most vital element in ensuring your glass is safe, regardless of how many decals you apply. Starting off your application process with a clean surface not only keeps your decals looking uniform throughout each holiday season but also allows for easy removal that won’t result in large-scale glass damage.
Even if your windows may appear clean, using a dependable cleaner to wipe away the microscopic dust and dirt that can keep your decal from fully adhering to the pane. However, choosing the right cleaning product is essential for the ultimate window pane preparation. At Action Glass in Houston, we recommend using either a simple soap and water solution or a vinegar and water mixture. Avoid ammonia-based cleaners, as they can leave behind a chemical residue that prevents complete adhesion. To avoid streaks and residue when cleaning residential windows, use a two-rag method: one for the cleaning solution and one for drying.
Pre-Installation Inspection: Keeping Residential Window Repair at Bay
Decals can significantly impact any existing damage to your Houston home’s windowpanes. A sticky decal can cause a small crack to grow exponentially when you remove it. At the end of a busy holiday season, needing residential window repair can be an unwelcome realization. So, to avoid needing to call our team at Action Glass in Houston, be sure to thoroughly and meticulously inspect your panes for any damage before you start the decal application process. The most important things to keep an eye out for include:
- Nicks and scratches: Check your pane for even the smallest marking, sometimes only visible in direct sunlight. While these surface-level nicks and scratches might seem like minor flaws in your residential glass, sticky, large decals can cause them to worsen quickly.
- Chips or cracks: Look out for even thin, insignificant-looking lines on your glass pane. Cracks and divots in glass are notorious for spreading into large problems after the slightest pressure. Because of this, a strong adhesive can cause large amounts of glass damage.
- Prior residue: If you are aiming for an accurate application that lasts all season long and is sure to impress friends and family, checking for any leftover adhesive residue is essential. Feel along the pane for any inconsistencies and make sure to remove any texture from the glass before application.
Protecting Your Texas Residential Glass With Safe Holiday Window Decals
Although all window decals may seem the same, they are not when it comes to avoiding residential glass repair for your Houston home. You can separate most window decals into two categories: static cling decals and adhesive decals. Both types of window decals offer the same fun, whimsical design for the upcoming festivities, but they use different methods to stay on your windows and are designed with different scientific principles.
- Static cling glass decals: This type of glass window decal uses static electricity to bind to your home’s glass windows. If you enjoy swapping out decals based on the specific holiday, like Halloween or Thanksgiving, these offer quick and residue-free removal with very little effort. In the majority of cases, static cling decals are safer for windows, as they grip windows using friction, instead of sticky glue. This makes removal less aggressive for your glass, preventing worsening damage or a call to your window repair experts at Action Glass.
- Adhesive window decals: These are the most common type of window decals, and they are probably what the majority of Houston homeowners grew up using for holiday decorations. Application for this type of decal is simple because of its sticky backing, but they are also more permanent due to the sticky, messy, and strenuous removal technique required. While these might be the perfect solution to your long-term window decorating urges, if you want a quick holiday fix, these might not be worth the removal strain and potential window damage accrued in the aftermath.
Safely Removing Decals From Your Glass Window Without Needing Emergency Repair
While applying the decal is a simple, fast process regardless of the design and backing type, the real danger comes during the removal process. To understand the potential danger of this for your window pane, think about ripping off a Band-Aid. If a small edge of the bandaid’s adhesive strip sticks to broken skin, ripping it off can cause more damage, which may be more significant than the original scrape. This is exactly what happens when you place adhesive decals on even minorly damaged glass.
If you want to mitigate as much risk as possible, try removing your decals gently by using these techniques. The first way is by using a hairdryer to warm up the adhesive, allowing it to eventually slip off the window without needing to be aggressively torn off. Or, if you don’t have a handy hairdryer nearby, a plastic scraper like a credit card can help you gently and slowly lift the decal from the glass until it is completely free of the pane. Remember, no matter what – move slowly and gently to prevent residential glass damage.
When to Call For Professional Houston Residential Window Repair For Decal Damage
Once the holidays are over and your decals are being removed, how do you know when your residential glass needs professional repair? The truth is, when it comes to residential glass, sooner is always better than later. In most cases, calling a glass expert like our team at Action Glass can help keep small issues from growing into larger ones overnight.
Even if you follow careful instructions, thoroughly inspect your window before application, and remove your decal with great care, accidents can always happen. If you notice a new chip or small crack in your window after removing a decal, call our team of technicians right away in order to keep your pane from becoming more damaged and needing a more expensive repair or replacement. Action Glass today for a free residential glass repair estimate so you can have the best prep for your upcoming holiday window decal decorating spree!