The Best Way to Paint Flexible Vinyl

Flexible vinyl is used to cover various surfaces and while it can be purchased in numerous colors, sometimes it is nice to change or refresh the color without having the purchase new vinyl. This task needs particular paint to cover the material. There are also certain ways to apply the paint. When you choose the correct paint and application methods, you end up with great results. This is a nice do-it-yourself job that is not difficult and can even be fun. All you need is some lacquer thinner, masking tape, paint, and a spray gun.

There are some specific types of paint that work best for flexible vinyl. Paints that are mostly acrylic-based are the best as they stick to the vinyl better without cracking or chipping off. Urethane-modified acrylic paint also works well. Do not use poor quality latex or oil-based paints. This will not expand and contract with the surfaces and will crack and chip.

Paint in a well-ventilated area and wear protective clothing to prevent any possible skin irritation.

Clear the area where you will be painting and clean it using lacquer thinner. The thinner will remove any oil, grease, dirt or other residue that may be on the surface. Test a small corner first to check for any adverse reactions. If not, process to cover the whole surface.

Apply masking tape to the surface to check if the surface is completely clean. If the tape comes off quickly and easily, it means that the area is not clean and you need to repeat the cleaning process. When the tape is more difficult to remove, it means that the surface is clean. Let the surface dry before masking the places that are not to be painted. Check with your particular vinyl for recommendations on using a layer of plastic adhesion before applying the paint.

Stir the can of paint thoroughly. Clean the paint sprayer equipment well and pour the paint into it. Adjust the spray nozzle strength to the maximum level which is between 25 to 30 psi. Select a small area to test the spray gun on first. Test various types of strokes to result in a thin coating. Spray from around six to eight inches away from the surface using slow even strokes. When you are ready, apply between two and four mist coats waiting about 15 minutes in between each one for them to dry. Do not try to save time by applying thick coats, as the paint will not set correctly.

After you have applied all of the layers of paint, let it dry for 24 hours. Use a plastic sealant on the surfaces to seal and protect the color. This will also add a nice finished look to the vinyl.