Installation Overview / At a Glance

  • Difficulty:

    Easy–Intermediate. A facilities or maintenance crew can handle it — no specialty equipment required.

  • Typical time:

    Small decals go down in minutes with the dry method; large decals and multi-decal layouts take longer because positioning and seam work dominate. Whatever the size, plan around one hard rule: the graphic can't be scrubbed or polished for at least 12 hours after installation.

  • Tools needed:

    Squeegee, spray bottle of clean water (for large decals), large straight edge and sharp utility knife (for multi-decal seams), and standard floor-cleaning supplies. (Full list below.)

  • Surfaces:

    Clean commercial tile floors in good condition (the system was developed for them); also sealed concrete, sealed wood, and ceramic tile. The floor finish must be firmly attached to the subfloor.

  • Floor temperature:

    40°F – 90°F at installation.

  • Best for:

    Indoor floors — gyms, locker rooms, hallways, retail, offices, schools, event spaces.

Rather have it done for you? BigSigns has a national install network — mention installation when you request a free mockup and quote.

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Before You Begin: Surface Check & Floor Prep

Floor decals live or die by what's under them. GatorAd™ indoor decals must be applied to clean floors in good condition — and a few minutes of surface inspection now prevents a lifted edge later.

Check the surface type. The system was developed for commercial tile floors and may also be used on sealed concrete, sealed wood, and ceramic tile. (Putting graphics on a sealed concrete gym floor? Read our companion post on concrete gym floor graphics for design and placement ideas.)

Check that the finish is solid. The floor finish — concrete sealer, wood sealer, coating, paint, or tile — must be firmly attached to the subfloor. A finish that doesn't adhere well can separate and release, which means premature lifting of the graphic and possible floor damage during removal. If the finish is flaking or failing, fix the floor before you brand it.

Skip uneven tile. Do not apply floor decals to uneven tile — the high spots take all the foot traffic and the graphic wears out fast.

Check the temperature. The floor must be between 40°F and 90°F at installation. (An infrared thermometer makes this a two-second check.)

Clean — then rinse — then dry. Wash the application area with commercial cleaning products, then rinse with clean water and allow it to dry as the final cleaning step before application. Don't skip the rinse: cleaner residue left on the floor gets between the adhesive and the surface.

Waxed floors are fine — with one condition. The system works with most waxed surfaces as long as the wax does not contain silicones. Silicone waxes prevent proper adhesion.

Tools & Supplies You'll Need

Everything here is standard facility equipment:

  • Squeegee

    The only application tool you need. Firm, overlapping strokes do all the work.

  • Spray bottle of clean water

    For the wet method on large decals.

  • Large straight edge + sharp utility knife

    Only needed for multi-decal installs (the overlap seam cut) and for removing large decals in sections.

  • Commercial floor cleaner, clean rinse water

    For the prep wash described above.

  • Putty knife

    Not for install day, but handy at removal time if wax has built up over the decal edge.

  • Optional: infrared thermometer

    To confirm the floor is in the 40–90°F window.

Step-by-Step Installation

GatorAd™ indoor floor decals go down one of two ways depending on size: the dry method for small decals, or the wet method for large ones. Both end the same way — squeegee from the center out, and make sure every edge and corner is firmly attached.

Method 1 — Dry Application (small decals)

1. Prep the floor as described above: wash with commercial cleaner, rinse with clean water, and let it dry completely.

2. Line up the decal on the cleaned floor so you know exactly where it lands before any adhesive touches down.

3. Remove the liner and position the decal.

4. Squeegee from the middle out to the edges with firm pressure to avoid trapping air. Overlap every stroke, and keep the edges from contacting the floor until they're firmly pressed — letting an edge grab early is how air gets locked in.

5. Finish the edges. Go around the perimeter and make sure all edges and corners are firmly attached. Edges are where floor decals fail, so this last pass matters most.

Method 2 — Wet Application (large decals)

Big graphics are hard to position dry — one touch and the adhesive grabs. The wet method buys you positioning time:

1. Remove the liner and spray clean water onto the adhesive.

2. Position the decal on the prepped floor. The water film lets you fine-tune placement.

3. Squeegee the water out from the center to the edges with firm, overlapping strokes, working it out from under the graphic.

4. Finish the edges — confirm all edges and corners are firmly attached, exactly as in the dry method.

"The 12-hour rule: whichever method you use, do not scrub or polish the floor for at least 12 hours after installation. Schedule your install so the cleaning crew's rotation doesn't hit the new graphic that night."

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Installing Multiple Decals: The Overlap Seam

Oversized layouts — a center-court logo, a long hallway graphic — go down as multiple decals seamed together. Don't try to butt the edges against each other; the system is designed to be overlapped and cut for a perfect seam:

1. Line up all the graphics before applying anything, with each decal overlapping its neighbor by half an inch (½").

2. Apply the decals (dry or wet method as size dictates), keeping that ½" overlap at every seam.

3. Remove the overlap using the Overlap Removal Method:

- Lay a large straight edge down the center of the ½" overlap.

- With a sharp utility knife, cut along the straight edge with enough pressure to cut through both layers. If the decal run extends past your straight edge, keep the knife in the decal while you slide the straight edge down, and continue the cut to the end.

- Peel off the top layer of the cut strip, then lift the seam edge and remove the bottom layer.

- Match up both sides and press them down for a perfect seam.

Maintenance & Care

GatorAd™ indoor floor decals are made to live under real foot traffic and normal cleaning:

  • Clean normally.

    The graphics can be cleaned and maintained with normal commercial cleaning procedures and equipment — after the first 12 hours.

  • Wax before buffing.

    If your floor program includes buffing, the floor graphic must be waxed before it's buffed. Never run a buffer over an unwaxed graphic.

  • Watch the edges.

    If any edge lifts from the floor, remove and replace the entire decal immediately — a lifted edge underfoot is a tripping hazard, and it won't re-seat. Build a quick edge-check into your cleaning routine.

  • Expect minor edge chipping.

    Some minor chipping at the edges is normal wear. What shortens a decal's life fastest is heavy equipment — avoid rolling or dragging heavy items across the graphic.

Removing Floor Decals

When the season ends or the sponsor changes, removal is straightforward:

  • Start at one edge and lift it. If floor wax has accumulated over the edge, use a putty knife to get it started.

  • Pull back with smooth, consistent force.

  • Large decals may need to come up in pieces: slit an edge with a knife — the slit will continue to tear as you pull, giving you manageable sections. Repeat section by section.

  •  Plan on re-waxing. Removal may take some wax off tile floors — clean and re-wax that area afterward and the floor is back to normal.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Nearly every failed floor-decal install traces back to one of these:

  • Skipping the rinse.

    Washing with commercial cleaner but not rinsing with clean water leaves residue that undermines the adhesive. Rinse and dry is the final prep step, every time.

  • Installing over a failing finish.

    If the sealer, paint, coating, or tile isn't firmly attached to the subfloor, the graphic lifts prematurely — and removal can damage the floor.

  • Applying to uneven tile.

    Accelerated wear, guaranteed. Pick a flat section or fix the tile.

  • Silicone wax.

    Most waxed floors are fine, but silicone-containing waxes prevent adhesion. Check what your crew uses.

  • Squeegeeing from the edges inward.

    Always work from the middle out with overlapping strokes — inward strokes trap air under the graphic.

  • Letting edges touch down early (dry method).

    Keep the edges off the floor until the field is pressed, then set the edges firmly last.

  • Scrubbing or polishing too soon.

    Give the adhesive its 12 hours before any scrubbing or polishing.

  • Buffing an unwaxed graphic.

    Wax first, then buff — in that order, always.

  • Ignoring a lifted edge.

    It's not cosmetic; it's a tripping hazard. Remove and replace the decal immediately.

  • Butting seams instead of overlap-cutting.

    Multi-decal layouts need the ½" overlap + Overlap Removal Method — butted edges leave gaps and lifting points.
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Slip Resistance & Safety: The Certified Numbers

The first question every facility manager asks about floor graphics: will people slip on it? With GatorAd™, the answer comes from certified independent testing, not marketing copy.

GatorAd™ material was tested with an English XL Variable Incidence Tribometer (VIT) in accordance with ASTM F-1679, by a Certified XL Tribometrist — with the material tested both dry and wet, in four cardinal directions. The results, reported by High Safety Consulting Services, Ltd.:

• Coefficient of friction: >0.97 dry / 0.92 wet — the same figures published on both GatorAd™ indoor product pages.

• The material is slip-resistant, providing high-level slip resistance for general applications on both wet and dry surfaces.

• It meets ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) specifications and exceeds the safety threshold based on tribometric standards and practices.

• Slopes: safe on sloped surfaces up to 6.7° — and should never be applied to slopes greater than 24°.

Two install-side safety rules complete the picture:

• A lifted edge is a tripping hazard. If any edge lifts, remove and replace the entire decal immediately (see Maintenance, above).

• Respect the slope limits when choosing placement — flat floors and gentle ramps (≤6.7°) only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install indoor floor decals myself?

Yes — this is an easy-to-intermediate job most facility and maintenance crews handle in-house. Small decals need nothing more than a clean floor and a squeegee; large decals use the wet method, and multi-decal layouts add a straight-edge seam cut. If you'd rather not, BigSigns has a national install network — just mention it when you request a quote.

Are floor decals slippery?

Not these. GatorAd™ material was independently tested per ASTM F-1679 by a Certified XL Tribometrist and measured a coefficient of friction of >0.97 dry and 0.92 wet — high-level slip resistance on both wet and dry surfaces. It meets ADA specifications and exceeds the applicable safety threshold. It's safe on slopes up to 6.7° (never above 24°).

What floors can I put decals on?

The system was developed for commercial tile floors and also works on sealed concrete, sealed wood, and ceramic tile — as long as the floor is clean, in good condition, and the finish is firmly attached to the subfloor. Don't apply to uneven tile (it accelerates wear).

Can I apply floor decals over a waxed floor?

Yes — the system works with most waxed surfaces, as long as the wax doesn't contain silicones. Silicone waxes prevent proper adhesion, so confirm your floor-care products first.

When should I use the wet method instead of the dry method?

Size decides it. Small decals go down dry — position, then squeegee from the middle out. Large decals use the wet method: spray clean water on the adhesive so you can position the graphic precisely, then squeegee the water out from center to edges. Both methods finish the same way — every edge and corner firmly attached.

How soon can the floor be cleaned after installation?

Routine cleaning is fine after the adhesive has set, but do not scrub or polish for at least 12 hours after installation. After that, normal commercial cleaning procedures and equipment are fine — with one standing rule: the graphic must be waxed before buffing.

What do I do if an edge starts to lift?

Remove and replace the entire decal immediately. A lifted edge is a tripping hazard and won't reliably re-seat. Note that minor edge chipping is different — a little chipping at the edges is expected wear and isn't a safety issue.

How do I install a graphic bigger than a single decal?

Multi-decal layouts are designed in: line up the graphics before applying, keep a ½-inch overlap at each seam, then cut down the center of the overlap with a straight edge and sharp utility knife, peel out the top and bottom cut strips, and match the sides for a perfect seam. Full steps are in the seam section above.

How do I remove floor decals — and will they damage the floor?

Start at an edge (a putty knife helps if wax has built up), pull back with smooth, consistent force, and take large decals up in sections by slitting an edge and letting the tear run. On tile, removal may take some wax with it — just clean and re-wax that spot. Applied to a sound, firmly-attached finish, the decal comes up cleanly; a failing finish is the one thing that risks floor damage, which is why the surface check comes first.

Do GatorAd™ decals work outdoors on concrete or asphalt?

That's a different product: GatorAd™ Concrete & Asphalt Decals are built for outdoor pavement and have their own application process — don't use this indoor guide for them (a dedicated outdoor installation guide is coming). For wood gym floors and courts, also see FloorSkin™ Athletic Floor Graphics.

Put Your Brand on the Floor

GatorAd™ Indoor Floor Decals give you the highest-visibility surface in the building — with certified slip resistance underfoot and an install your own crew can knock out with a squeegee and an afternoon.

• Request a Free Mockup & Quote — see your logo on your floor before you commit, at no cost.

• Call 800.790.7611 to talk through sizing, placement, and multi-decal layouts.

• Shop the product: GatorAd™ Athletic Indoor Floor Decals for gyms, locker rooms, and athletic facilities, or GatorAd™ Commercial Indoor Floor Decals for retail, offices, schools, and venues.

• Every order ships with free ground shipping, and our national install network is ready if you'd like us to handle the install.

More BigSigns installation guides: Windscreen & Fence Screen · DuraTrac™ Banner Track System · BlockWrap™ Concrete Wall Graphics