Pain(t) in my back: How Low- or No-VOC Walls Impact Sign Install

If you are familiar with Office Sign Company’s diverse product line, you may know that our signage is heavily reliant on adhesives as a practical, dependable, and compliant mounting option. From foam tape, to translucent tape , to vinyl graphics, adhesives play a very large role in the signage process. With such an important factor to our products, it is important to be aware and be explanatory about any pitfalls or concerns that may play into its use. And while adhesion has not posed much of a problem for us in the past, a new type of paint that has been introduced recently has been causing some issues.

This new variation of paint, VOC-free paint, has been becoming more and more common because of its more environmentally friendly nature. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds which in higher concentrations can have environmental impact and sometimes even potential long term health effects. Despite the positive aspects of this new paint, its adhesion levels are much lower than standard paints, and consequently does not have the long lasting mounting potential. This is why, for our signage mounting purposes, we want to make sure/advise that you do not use VOC-free paint if you intend to apply adhesives. If you are unsure of the paint type that you currently have, it most likely isn’t VOC-free, considering its very recent development and clear labeling on the container (if you have it). Still, if you are unsure and want to make sure that our adhesive mounting/products will work for you, we can send you a sample.

Given the recent nature of this issue, there has not been too much time to develop solutions, but if you have VOC-Free paint, and are interested in signage, you do have options. While adhesives like foam tape are a common mounting choice, we do have more viable possibilities for this scenario such as screw mounts or stand offs. As for vinyl graphics, which act as their own adhesives, there is a variety of different options regarding quality or adhesion levels to consider, and obviously, vinyl and adhesive producers are aware of this problem and will be developing a better product. Processes like post-heating can also help the adhesion quality. For more info on the vinyl application processes, contact us!

Lastly, a more direct option, if you have your heart set on adhesives, would be just to use standard paints as opposed to VOC-Free. However, just a warning, if you painted before applying the adhesives (with standard paint), it is important to let it cure before applying. This process takes longer than just letting the paint dry, so to play it safe, it is best to wait a few weeks, a month being the most ideal, to avoid any problems with the adhesion.

 Written by: Jack Machacek