How to glue a refrigerator with a self-adhesive film
If the appearance of the old refrigerator leaves much to be desired or it simply does not fit into the new design, but for the rest of the indicators you are completely satisfied, do not rush to abandon the old and reliable "friend". His appearance can be changed beyond recognition in just a couple of hours with your own hands. The solution to this problem will not require serious financial investments from you. You only need a self-adhesive film on the refrigerator and a little zeal.
Today, the market has a huge selection of films for decoration.A variety of shades, patterns and textures just rolls over. Among them:
plain products of any color;
canvases covered with all kinds of patterns, floral and floral ornaments;
imitations of building materials - wood, stone, brick, concrete;
photos of movie stars and attractions;
natural motives;
animal prints;
abstraction.
In the individual order mode, you can print on film any images that you can imagine. There are no restrictions, and if you want your family to smile at the door of the refrigerator, this is also not impossible.
The film can be divided into separate categories according to the type of surface. The texture of the material may be:
glossy;
matte;
mirrored;
invoiced;
embossed;
metallized.
Such a variety of the presented material will make it possible to arrange a refrigerator in any style and color scheme.
Advantages and disadvantages
Before you go to the store for self-adhesive, it is worth considering in detail its positive and negative sides and only after that make a decision.
The main advantages of the film include its following features:
budget cost, which makes the film publicly available;
a rich palette of shades, an excellent selection of prints and textures;
allows you to hide stubborn stains, small scratches and chips on the surface of the refrigerator;
protects the paintwork from possible damage;
serves for a long time without burnout and discoloration;
It is not afraid of moisture and detergents, therefore regular washing does not bring any damage to the coating;
able to serve for many years, while maintaining a presentable appearance;
simple installation - to fit the refrigerator is quite possible with your own hands.
The only drawback of the film is its inability to smooth out the roughness of the base. It is necessary to exclude the entry of foreign particles under the material. For perfect fixing of the canvas will have to carefully clean and degrease the surface of the refrigerator.
How to choose
The reverse side of the great variety of film is that it is difficult for an inexperienced person to understand all this abundance and choose a product, taking into account all the significant nuances.
Film properties
A film of various manufacturers is presented on the market, and image quality, material thickness and its cost depend on this. Reasonable price and taste preferences should not be decisive factors when choosing a product. It is important to consider that the refrigerator will be located in a room where, by default, there is increased humidity and temperature. In addition, in the kitchen, the appliance will undergo frequent attacks of splashing grease and other contaminants. Therefore, the following indicators will be the most essential characteristics for self-gluing:
water resistance - the appearance of the product should not suffer from exposure to steam, settling condensate, water and detergents;
resistance to sunlight - the picture should maintain the brightness of the colors throughout the entire operational period;
resistance to abrasion - the coating must bravely withstand numerous cleanings, without which a kitchen appliance simply can not do.
In order not to make a mistake with the choice, you must familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the material and the manufacturer's guarantees before buying.
When choosing a material, it is first necessary to pay attention to:
components that were used to make the product. As the main substance can be used - polyester, propylene, polyvinyl chloride. In addition, the composition contains various plasticizers and stabilizers. The stiffness of the future film depends on the plasticizers added. Sometimes various fabrics and paper are used;
glue - most often used is acrylic, rubber or silicone;
material structure - single or double layer;
surface type - glossy, matte, mirror;
mission - when choosing a film, you need to consider where it will be used;
decorative qualities.
Picture
The main advantage of self-adhesive is a huge selection of various prints. This provides the creator of design with complete freedom of action, allows you to create without restraining your imagination and come up with the most unexpected options.
It is very important to take into account certain requirements when selecting a particular drawing.
The size. The fragment located in the center of the film should not be distorted, therefore its dimensions should not be larger than the glued plane.
The form. Please note that the refrigerator has a rectangular shape, and its height always exceeds the width. Therefore, it is better to choose vertically oriented pictures.
Theme. On the fridge abstract images, macro photographs, animal prints, ornaments and patterns, collage compositions, panoramic photographs will look great;
Resolution. The clarity and image quality depends on the number of pixels per cm of film.
Style. Focus on your chosen direction. For Provence cuisine, a film with the image of flowers or rural landscapes is perfect, the Japanese style will decorate the image of sakura, and for hi-tech style it is better to choose abstraction and geometric shapes.
Method and print quality
There are various technologies for printing self-adhesive images.
Screen printing. Most often used in printing advertising products and allows you to get a high-quality image that is resistant to external factors. It is applied when drawing drawings on vinyl, metallized or holographic films of various shades.
Digital printing using solvent or eco-solvent inks, thanks to which it is possible to achieve a complete and correct transfer of colors.The deep penetration of ink into the film structure ensures the longevity of the image. This technology is most often used when creating films for the interior.
Offset printing. In this case, the transfer of the inscription is carried out in 2 stages - first to the rubberized drum, and then to the film.
Large format printing. The ability to create large-sized products allows you to use it for the manufacture of display cases, banners, decor for the facade and flooring. The quality of the images is complemented by their durability - the service life can be plus or minus 3 years.
Flexoprinting. For printing images, a special roller is used.
The size
In order for the picture to retain its quality when printing, its size should be approximately equal to the area of the product that is planned to decorate. This parameter is usually indicated in pixels. To translate these values into the metric system, you need to know that about 38 pixels can fit at a distance of 1 cm. Based on this, you can calculate that if the height of your refrigerator is 180 and the width is 55, then you should choose images with a size of 6800 by 2090 pixels. Since it is unlikely that it will be possible to find a suitable drawing with such parameters in open access, it is better to use a card index of a company that is engaged in printing on film. Most often, the service for creating a layout is provided for free, provided that you order the decoration of the film in this company.
How to glue yourself
The decoration of the refrigerator is carried out in several stages. The procedure is quite simple to perform, so it is quite possible to deal with it on our own. Do not rush while working, especially if you are using an expensive exclusive image. It is necessary to act very carefully and carefully so as not to spoil the material.
Necessary tools and materials
First of all, prepare the following tools and materials:
self-adhesive film;
marker or pencil;
putty knife;
atomizer;
scissors;
dishwashing liquid;
alcohol;
dry microfiber cloth.
Surface preparation
At this stage, you should start preparing the refrigerator. The appliance must be freed from food, turned off, thawed and thoroughly washed. After that, you need to dismantle all available fittings. This must be done in order to be able to apply the film in a single cloth without the formation of joints and creases. To do this job correctly, read the instructions for your refrigerator. If you are new to sticking a film, we recommend that you remove the door, as it is much easier to work with surfaces in a horizontal position. If you have sufficient experience, this stage can be excluded.
All glued surface should be clean and degreased. Use liquid dish soap for washing, and then treat the base with alcohol. Make sure there are no specks on the surface. Even the smallest of them will appear through the film and spoil the appearance of the refrigerator. Deep scratches and chips can give the same effect, so you should sand them thoroughly.
Measurements and adjustment of the figure
Attach the canvas to the door or wall of the refrigerator. Make sure that the pattern fits exactly where it is intended. If necessary, align the image with the borders of the pasted surface. At the edges we leave a reserve, which will be enough for the formation of bends.
Dry gluing
Detailed workshop
We fix the strip around the edges with tape so that the picture does not move.
We begin to stick on top of the left corner. We bend the corner and separate the base.
We glue the adhesive part of the corner and smooth it with a cloth, starting to move from the center down, and then to the sides.
We continue to gradually remove the base and glue the canvas, smoothing it from the center to the sides.Excessive rush can cause bubbles and creases. If they do form, try to drive the air over the edges.
An ordinary needle and a hair dryer will help to cope with bubbles and folds. We pierce the bubbles and smooth them. We heat the formed folds with a hairdryer and gently stretch.
The edges of the film must be inserted with a spatula into the gap between the door and the rubber, and the excess material should be cut with a knife.
Wet gluing
Step-by-step instruction
Prepare a mildly concentrated soap solution by adding a small amount of liquid dishwashing detergent to the water. It is necessary to wet the refrigerator outside.
Pour the solution into a spray bottle.
Place the film face down on a flat surface. You can use the countertop, and if its surface is not large enough, spread the material on the floor, previously covering it with a clean cloth.
Separate from the upper edge of the strip of the base 2-3 cm wide and cut it.
Apply the film with the sticky part to the upper edge of the surface and smooth it with a dry cloth. The resulting bubbles should be expelled with a rubber spatula. If you can’t get rid of them, just gently pierce them with a needle and smooth the material with a squeegee or rag.
Roll a piece of film with the image inward.
Spray the free surface of the door.
While slowly separating the paper base, attach the film, carefully smoothing it on top with a squeegee.
Constantly check the coating for bubbles and strive to expel air toward the edges.
Dry the film and install the fittings.
How to care for the film
Caring for a fridge taped over is identical to caring for ordinary furniture. To clean the surface, ordinary gel detergents are used. Harsh chemicals will have to be abandoned. Coarse abrasive sponges or hard brushes should not be used.
How to remove an old film
If you are tired of the coloring of your refrigerator or tired of the picture, you can always get rid of the film. But to paint or glue the second layer of film in order to update the interior on top of the old coating is not recommended. There remains one option - the glued material must be removed. The main question is how to remove self-adhesive, preserving the integrity of the paintwork?
Dismantling methods
Using hot water. Try to thoroughly moisten the coating and after a few minutes proceed to the separation of the film. You can pick up a thin layer with a knife or spatula. Be careful not to damage the surface of the refrigerator.
If hot water fails, use a hairdryer. We thoroughly heat the surface, returning the adhesive viscosity, so that it will be possible to tear off the film without difficulty. Ideally, you need to use a building hair dryer, as it has high power, but in case of its absence, a home one will do.
Replace the hairdryer with a heater with a fan. We expose it to the strongest mode and direct it to the device that needs to be cleaned. When the material becomes softer and more plastic, pry the edge of the film and gently separate it from the surface.
The remaining pieces of glue will help remove solvent, gasoline or alcohol.
Conclusion
To decorate the refrigerator, you can use other techniques - decoupage or painting. The process of turning an old household appliance into a unique art object is a very exciting activity that you can do with your child. Offer him to decorate the fridge with napkins or draw something instead of spoiling the expensive wallpaper. A beautiful magnet will complete the composition. Take our inspiration in the photo gallery, which presents a selection of real-life examples of decorating refrigerators.
If the appearance of the old refrigerator leaves much to be desired or it simply does not fit into the new design, but for the rest of the indicators you are completely satisfied, do not rush to abandon the old and reliable "friend". His appearance can be changed beyond recognition in just a couple of hours with your own hands. The solution to this problem will not require serious financial investments from you. You only need a self-adhesive film on the refrigerator and a little zeal.
Content
Features
Today, the market has a huge selection of films for decoration.A variety of shades, patterns and textures just rolls over. Among them:
The film can be divided into separate categories according to the type of surface. The texture of the material may be:
Such a variety of the presented material will make it possible to arrange a refrigerator in any style and color scheme.
Advantages and disadvantages
Before you go to the store for self-adhesive, it is worth considering in detail its positive and negative sides and only after that make a decision.
The main advantages of the film include its following features:
The only drawback of the film is its inability to smooth out the roughness of the base. It is necessary to exclude the entry of foreign particles under the material. For perfect fixing of the canvas will have to carefully clean and degrease the surface of the refrigerator.
How to choose
The reverse side of the great variety of film is that it is difficult for an inexperienced person to understand all this abundance and choose a product, taking into account all the significant nuances.
Film properties
A film of various manufacturers is presented on the market, and image quality, material thickness and its cost depend on this. Reasonable price and taste preferences should not be decisive factors when choosing a product. It is important to consider that the refrigerator will be located in a room where, by default, there is increased humidity and temperature. In addition, in the kitchen, the appliance will undergo frequent attacks of splashing grease and other contaminants. Therefore, the following indicators will be the most essential characteristics for self-gluing:
In order not to make a mistake with the choice, you must familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the material and the manufacturer's guarantees before buying.
When choosing a material, it is first necessary to pay attention to:
Picture
The main advantage of self-adhesive is a huge selection of various prints. This provides the creator of design with complete freedom of action, allows you to create without restraining your imagination and come up with the most unexpected options.
It is very important to take into account certain requirements when selecting a particular drawing.
Method and print quality
There are various technologies for printing self-adhesive images.
The size
In order for the picture to retain its quality when printing, its size should be approximately equal to the area of the product that is planned to decorate. This parameter is usually indicated in pixels. To translate these values into the metric system, you need to know that about 38 pixels can fit at a distance of 1 cm. Based on this, you can calculate that if the height of your refrigerator is 180 and the width is 55, then you should choose images with a size of 6800 by 2090 pixels. Since it is unlikely that it will be possible to find a suitable drawing with such parameters in open access, it is better to use a card index of a company that is engaged in printing on film. Most often, the service for creating a layout is provided for free, provided that you order the decoration of the film in this company.
How to glue yourself
The decoration of the refrigerator is carried out in several stages. The procedure is quite simple to perform, so it is quite possible to deal with it on our own. Do not rush while working, especially if you are using an expensive exclusive image. It is necessary to act very carefully and carefully so as not to spoil the material.
Necessary tools and materials
First of all, prepare the following tools and materials:
Surface preparation
At this stage, you should start preparing the refrigerator. The appliance must be freed from food, turned off, thawed and thoroughly washed. After that, you need to dismantle all available fittings. This must be done in order to be able to apply the film in a single cloth without the formation of joints and creases. To do this job correctly, read the instructions for your refrigerator. If you are new to sticking a film, we recommend that you remove the door, as it is much easier to work with surfaces in a horizontal position. If you have sufficient experience, this stage can be excluded.
All glued surface should be clean and degreased. Use liquid dish soap for washing, and then treat the base with alcohol. Make sure there are no specks on the surface. Even the smallest of them will appear through the film and spoil the appearance of the refrigerator. Deep scratches and chips can give the same effect, so you should sand them thoroughly.
Measurements and adjustment of the figure
Attach the canvas to the door or wall of the refrigerator. Make sure that the pattern fits exactly where it is intended. If necessary, align the image with the borders of the pasted surface. At the edges we leave a reserve, which will be enough for the formation of bends.
Dry gluing
Detailed workshop
Wet gluing
Step-by-step instruction
How to care for the film
Caring for a fridge taped over is identical to caring for ordinary furniture. To clean the surface, ordinary gel detergents are used. Harsh chemicals will have to be abandoned. Coarse abrasive sponges or hard brushes should not be used.
How to remove an old film
If you are tired of the coloring of your refrigerator or tired of the picture, you can always get rid of the film. But to paint or glue the second layer of film in order to update the interior on top of the old coating is not recommended. There remains one option - the glued material must be removed. The main question is how to remove self-adhesive, preserving the integrity of the paintwork?
Dismantling methods
Conclusion
To decorate the refrigerator, you can use other techniques - decoupage or painting. The process of turning an old household appliance into a unique art object is a very exciting activity that you can do with your child. Offer him to decorate the fridge with napkins or draw something instead of spoiling the expensive wallpaper. A beautiful magnet will complete the composition. Take our inspiration in the photo gallery, which presents a selection of real-life examples of decorating refrigerators.