FAQ

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for here, feel free to contact one of our superstar team members in our workshop or call 0429 925 194.

Look, we’re probably not the cheapest, or the most expensive. But we’re surely the best. Vehicle signage pricing varies greatly, depending on 3 main factors in the production and installation:

• Graphic Design
• Materials used
• Labour

Ask about our vehicle graphics pricing guide it is really helpful in understanding the range of prices for various styles and vehicle types.

The more information you give us, the better we can tailor a solution to meet your needs and provide an accurate quote, so you can expect us to ask lots of questions during our consultation. Generally, we will want to know the details of your vehicle (make, model, year, body type, colour and quantity), the background of your business (industry, customers, location,) and your initial ideas and expectations (existing artwork, budget).

Sure. If you have a fixed amount or a rough idea of how much you wish to invest in signage, just let us know. We’re used to catering to a range of budgets, and with virtually all that we do being custom-built, we have room to move in the design and production of most projects. Whether you wish to spend $120 or $30,000, we will always tailor the best solution for your needs, giving you the biggest bang for your buck.

Yep. In fact, we’d love to! Our design team has creativity coursing through their veins and leap at the chance to create new and fresh elements from scratch. Depending on your requirements, we can customise a logo, vehicle layout or complete signage solutions for you. This service is charged at a very competitive hourly rate, and we always let you know how many hours are included in your project quote. If we expect additional hours may be required, you’ll always get a heads up.

You don’t need to supply us with artwork if you don’t have any. Our in-house graphic designers are ready to take care of this for you, starling with creating a business identity or logo initially, then using this in the overall design for your signage or vehicle graphics.

Many of our customers already have a business logo, however, they still need our help in designing the layout and finished artwork for production. That’s cool. And some of our other customers already have completed artwork files ready for us to use. No worries. Just email these through when you make your enquiry so we can ensure it’s suitable for your project.

Having a read of our Supplying Artwork information will help you to help us – so that we’re all happy and on the same page. Here’s an overview of these guidelines:

• Logo and Design Files should be in .PDF and in VECTOR format where possible
• Colours must be in CMYK or PMS Coated
• All fonts MUST be converted to outlines or send us your font file or name of font that has been used.
• Final proofs should show artwork size and scale images must be high resolution, at least 150dpi at 100% size.

Mountain Signs has created literally thousands of different vehicle graphics layouts over the years so we have an extensive portfolio to showcase our work. In fact, you have most likely already seen our work out and about – you just don’t realise it. Once we’ve established your specific requirements, we handpick a selection of a few relevant examples we’ve produced that are similar to your brief and budget. Unfortunately, we can’t create artwork for free or send mock-ups with every quote. Of course as soon as you accept our proposal we’ll design and send you proofs to visualise exactly what you’re investing in. We’re confident that you’ll be impressed with our designs.

We’re sure you’ll love it. That’s because it’s our job to ask all the right questions and get as much background info from you in the beginning, so that we can create artwork that delivers on your brief, with designs you’re happy with. It’s normal for most projects to go through a few revisions – this is part of the creative process – and if there’s anything you want changed, that’s cool, just discuss any feedback with our designer and we’ll revise it accordingly. It’s very rare that we can’t achieve a design that you love, but art can be subjective.

If you aren’t impressed with your design we’ll openly discuss your options before moving forward with your project.

We sure can, and often do, but the best result is usually achieved inside our facility where the environment is ideal and we have all our equipment and materials at hand. As a general rule all vehicle graphics jobs are installed at our place, but if bringing it in is not possible most of the time we can make it happen elsewhere.

A simple job can be carried from concept to completion in as little as 3 working days (pretty cool, huh?) whereas a more complex vehicle wrap project takes around two weeks from Go to Woah.
For projects that are being designed by our in-house team, first we have to work with you to get the design approved. Our team will always get started within a couple of days. The duration of the design phase will vary depending on your feedback and revisions, but once approved we can usually book you in for installation within 1 week. For anything less than a full wrap, we only need your vehicle for one day. Full wraps will need to be in at for at least 48 hours. Our facility is fully secure and your vehicle will be locked indoors overnight.

Mountain Signs PTY LTD prefers 3M & Avery Dennison graphics products. We use premium vehicle grade vinyl, pre-coloured cut-vinyl and digitally printed cast films with clear overlaminate.
When it comes to windows we choose Clear Focus Autoview with Opticlear gloss laminate;  to be sure it meets road legal light-transmittance. All of these products are backed by a manufacturer’s warranty and our installations are fully guaranteed for 12 months. In fact, our team is trained and accredited by 3M & Avery Dennison.

Good news! Neither the vinyl nor our application techniques will cause any damage to your car’s paint. The truth is, vinyl applied to the car will actually protect the paint from Mother Nature’s elements.
Proper vehicle-grade vinyl is fully removable within its lifespan (up to 5 years) and the paint underneath will be as it was previously! What we do find with cut-vinyl lettering is that an impression can remain after removal because the surrounding paint has deteriorated slightly. All that’s usually required in this case is a professional buff and polish.

We wish! Sadly, no. Vinyl is not a good alternative to traditional panel repair methods. Our films are very thin, only about 7Omicrons, which means that grooves and bumps underneath it will still be visible once the vinyl is applied, although it is true that a patterned design will distract the eye from an uneven surface. The other important thing to note is that the vinyl will not stay adhered to a surface that is not sound. That means if the paint is cracked and peeling or faded, chalky or flaking off, then the vinyl will not stay on the car. We don’t advise and certainly don’t warrant applications where the surface is not up to scratch – pardon the pun.

As soon as your design is approved, we pre-press the files and pass the project on to our Production Manager. His first job is to make sure all the necessary materials are available and on-hand, then he’ll contact to you to schedule an installation data and time that suits us both. If you have a deadline or preferred date in mind, please just let our team know at any stage and we’ll do our best to meet your needs.

It’s really helpful if you have cleaned the vehicle on the day prior to installation, Please make sure its clean from bugs, mud, dust, tar, water. Do check that your paintwork is all sound (no flaky or chalky paint). Our guys will carry out the final cleaning step with the appropriate solvents before applying your graphics.

Our installers are certainly very good at removing vinyl from vehicles and we do a lot of it! It’s tricky to quote a fixed price, however, as the time required varies greatly for different vehicles.  We charge our standard hourly rate for this service. You can always have a go at DIY removal – it’s not rocket science but can be time consuming if you’re not experienced.  Just search YouTube if you want a demo before giving it a go, or contact our workshop to book it in for professional removal.

Absolutely, forever! We have a database full of every layout we’ve ever installed. We’ll keep your new artwork securely filed away too so if you need another one rolled out or have it adapted to a new vehicle,  it’s no problem. As the client, you own the rights to the designs once you have paid for the work to be done. However, Mountain Signs PTY LTD will retain ownership of all pre-press files (production files) so we don’t pass these onto our customers unless a fee is negotiated.

We’d love to give you a precise answer, but the reality is, it’s impossible to state exactly how long you can expect the vinyl to last on your vehicle. In our experience we find that your graphics should still be looking fresh and bold for anything up to 5 years, and in some cases much longer. It really depends on a variety of factors, such as how you use the car, where you park it during the day and overnight, and how you clean the vehicle. One important note here is that any graphics applied to a horizontal surface, such as the bonnet or roof, will not last as long as the sides (2 years max). This is due to a combination of the sun’s UV rays impacting more directly and the constant gathering of pollutants and moisture (dew) from the atmosphere which degrades the vinyl.
Care and Maintenance Advice – Vehicle Wrap After Care Good quality, properly installed vehicle wraps and vinyl graphics should last for many years, however diligent care and maintenance is essential to getting the most life out of them. It is a good idea to always adhere to the following:

It’s very important to keep the vehicle clean as dirt and pollution left to sit on the surface will speed up possible degradation. We recommend cleaning approximately once each fortnight. Always remove as much dirt and grit as possible initially with a hose. Then use a mild, non-abrasive detergent and water, with a sponge. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry with a quality Chamois or microfiber cloth. For stubborn spot stains such as tar, bird droppings or tree sap, use a citrus-based cleaner. Do this as soon as you notice the contaminant, as they may cause permanent damage to the clear overlaminate. Always test your cleaning product on an inconspicuous area first.

Cleaning products made by 3M Avery Dennison specifically for vehicle wraps are available through Mountain Signs. Although hand washing is the preferred method, it is ok to use a hand-held pressure washer if care is taken. Be sure to keep the nozzle at least 1m from the surface and directed straight at the surface, rather than at an angle. NEVER spray your perforated window film with a high pressure washer as the laminate is fragile. Never use automatic brush-type or Laser Wash machines. These can be very harsh and will likely tear the edges of the vinyl, and destroy the perforated window films.

Your vinyl wrap or graphics (just like paint) will react negatively to prolonged exposure to the sun, atmospheric pollutants, and moisture (i.e. morning dew).

Keeping the car garaged will help protect the films protected from these and extend the life of the wrap. Avoid bore water at all times. If your reticulation system uses bore water, ensure your car is not subjected to being sprayed with this if parked near lawns or gardens. Even short-term exposure to bore water can permanently stain the film.

Check over your wrap on a regular basis, and if you notice any lifting, peeling, fading etc., let us know immediately. Catching a problem in its early stages leaves us more options for resolving them before it’s too late.

A gloss overlaminate may have lost some of its lustre after a while, and swirl marks and imperfections can become apparent. It’s possible to rejuvenate the finish with a liquid wax polish. Again, always test your product on an inconspicuous area first.

Supplying Artwork – General

We have provided you these handy guidelines to help save you time (and headaches!) when supplying us artwork for your project. Our designers are on-hand and always happy to assist if you have any questions.

Our Guarantee
At Mountain Signs, we value quality and workmanship, taking pride in all that we create. Using only premium-grade materials that are made to suit the Australia climate, you can be confident that you are investing in the best signage for your business. We guarantee our products will perform as advertised, free from defects in materials and workmanship, with a limited warranty on most signage and vehicle graphics. Any damage to signage caused by vandalism, extreme weather/storms, accidents, abuse or misuse are not covered by this warranty. Mountain Signs PTY LTD recommends that you read our care and maintenance advice, and add your signage to your business/property vehicle insurance policy to cover any accidental damages. The warranty period begins at date of purchase, and if you do have a claim, it should be made within the specified warranty period. Please note that all claims are subject to approval by a Mountain Signs authorised representative.

Our Commercial & Retail Signage carries a 2 year limited warranty against:

• Paint peeling from backgrounds, edges, lettering, framing, supports and all visible surfaces.
• Fading colours.
• Vinyl peeling, curling, shrinking or cracking.
• Substrate cracking, de-laminating or rotting.
• Letters/graphics detaching from surfaces.

And a 5 year limited warranty against:

• Breaking welds on metal framing, structures, and supports.
• Concrete footings of freestanding signs.

Any concerns about the condition of your signage should be brought to the attention of the Mountain Signs team as soon as possible so that we can address the situation appropriately and promptly.

We only use premium-grade 3M & Avery Dennison vehicle wrapping films that we guarantee will perform as advertised and be free of defects with a limited warranty. This warranty applies to all vehicles including cars, vans, trucks, trailers, boats & motorcycles. Due to the nature of vehicle design and usage, the limited warranty period is for 6, 12 or 24 months – depending on the signage type. During this period Mountain Signs will address any issues relating to defective materials or installation issues. Our Warranty does not cover incidental damage caused by pressure washing, mechanical washes, scratching, negligence or any other physical or chemical means.

Our Vehicle Signage carries a 24 month limited warranty against vinyl peeling, curling, shrinking, cracking, and colours fading, on all vertical surfaces. This warranty is valid only where the vehicle’s painted surface is in sound, original and clean condition, and a regular cleaning regime is adhered to. Due to the increased exposure to UV and pollutants, horizontal surfaces such as bonnets, roofs and window sills, carry a 12 month limited warranty. Our one-way vision window films are 50% solid and 50% perforated materials, and therefore may limit the driver of the vehicle’s vision. Due to the fragile nature of the perforated materials, our one-way-vision window films carry a 6 month limited warranty. It can take up to 3 weeks for the glue to dry completely on these films, and for the pressure beneath the laminate to equalise, thus optimising clarity. Streaking in the media will be normal during this drying period.

The warranty period begins at date of installation. All claims must be made within the specified warranty period and are subject to approval by a Mountain Signs PTY LTD authorised representative. Our Warranty does not cover incidental damage caused by pressure washing, mechanical washes, scratching, negligence or any other physical or chemical means. Your vehicle may be required at our premises for installation – Mountain Signs will make every effort to ensure it is safe, and if kept overnight, it will be locked in our workshop.

If a section of your wrap needs to be replaced at any time within the guaranteed period, or outside of the warranty period (at the customers cost), we will do everything we can to ensure that the replaced sections match the original design. However, some fading should be expected over time. This slight fading is hardly noticeable and is generally considered acceptable. Also, changes in printer and ink specifications could limit our ability to colour match the panels exactly. If your vehicle has had any after-market body repair (including dent removal, panel beating, re-spraying) please note that this will void all warrantees and guarantees. During the installation process, vinyl is often placed, removed and replaced more than once. It is possible for the adhesive backing to pull off the repaired paint or body work. Please be aware that Mountain Signs PTY LTD will take no responsibility for damage that may occur during the installation process with after-market body repair and for painting.