Floor Graphics & Decals in Colorado Springs
Printed floor decals for retail aisles, event spaces, wayfinding lines, and sidewalks, produced with textured slip-resistant laminates and matched to the floor they go on.
APG: Advanced Printing and Graphics produces floor graphics in Colorado Springs for retail promotions, trade shows and events, wayfinding lines, line and spacing markers, and outdoor sidewalk graphics. Each floor decal is printed and covered with a textured overlaminate that is tested for slip resistance, commonly to UL 410. Smooth sealed floors such as tile, sealed concrete, and finished wood take standard floor films; carpet, rough concrete, and sidewalks need films made for those surfaces. Outdoor sidewalk laminates are often rated for about three months. Indoor floor graphics typically last from a few weeks to several months depending on traffic and cleaning.
A floor graphic gets stepped on thousands of times. The laminate on top is what decides whether it stays safe, readable, and stuck down.
Floor graphics put a message where people are already looking: down at the path in front of them. Retailers use them to pull shoppers into an aisle. Event venues use them to guide crowds. Clinics, warehouses, and offices use them to mark lines, spacing, and routes. They are also easy to get wrong, because a decal that works on sealed tile can fail in days on carpet or rough concrete.
This page covers the slip resistance ratings to ask about, which floors take which films, how long floor graphics last by traffic level, and how they come off. For graphics on walls and glass in the same space, see our window graphics and wall vinyl page.
- Provider
- APG: Advanced Printing and Graphics, Colorado Springs, CO
- Uses
- Retail promotions, events and trade shows, wayfinding, line and spacing markers, logo floor decals, outdoor sidewalk graphics
- Construction
- Printed adhesive film plus a textured slip-resistant overlaminate
- Slip resistance
- Laminates are commonly tested to UL 410; ask for the rating on each product
- Floor types
- Sealed tile, sealed concrete, finished wood, vinyl flooring; carpet and rough concrete need specialty films
- Typical life
- A few weeks to several months indoors; outdoor sidewalk laminates are often rated about three months
- Removal
- Designed to remove from sound sealed floors within the film's rated period
- Service area
- Colorado Springs, Monument, Fountain, Falcon, and El Paso County
Where floor graphics work
Floor graphics work best where people walk slowly and look down: aisles, lines, entrances to a display, and routes through unfamiliar buildings. The common uses:
- Retail promotions. A product launch or seasonal offer printed in front of the display that sells it.
- Events and trade shows. Logos at booth entrances, sponsor graphics, and paths from the door to registration.
- Wayfinding. Colored lines or footprints that lead to a department, a clinic room, or an exit in a large building.
- Lines and spacing. Queue markers at counters, pharmacy privacy lines, and stand-here markers.
- Warehouses and production areas. Walkway markings and zone labels where forklifts do not cross them.
- Sidewalks. Outdoor graphics in front of a storefront, made with films and laminates designed for concrete.
Floor graphics are short to medium term by design. For permanent wayfinding, see our wayfinding signs page.
Slip resistance and the laminate
The laminate is the safety layer of a floor graphic. A plain glossy print on a floor is slippery, especially when wet. Floor graphic laminates have a textured surface designed to give shoes grip.
What the ratings mean
- UL 410. The rating floor graphic film makers cite most often in the United States. UL 410 measures the coefficient of friction of a surface under set test conditions, and products that meet it can be listed as slip resistant. 3M, for example, lists UL 410 slip resistance for its sidewalk graphic overlaminate.
- ANSI A326.3. A dynamic coefficient of friction test used mainly for hard flooring such as tile. A trade publication summary notes that ANSI specifies a minimum dynamic coefficient of friction of 0.42, wet or dry, for that test.
- Other national standards. Some films carry European or Australian slip ratings instead. These test different things and are not directly interchangeable with UL 410.
Ask each provider which laminate is included in the estimate and what rating it carries. A slip rating on the laminate does not make a floor safe by itself. Edges that lift, standing water, and graphics laid across a wet entrance can all cause trips and slips.
Matching the film to the floor
The floor surface decides which film will stick, which will lift, and which will leave residue. Most floor graphic failures come from the wrong film on the wrong floor.
| Floor | How floor graphics perform | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Sealed tile, vinyl, and sealed concrete | Best surface for standard floor films | Must be clean, dry, flat, and free of cracks and loose tiles. Edges should not land on grout lines. |
| Finished wood and coated floors | Good when the coating is sound | Fresh finishes need to cure first. Waxed or heavily polished floors can weaken adhesion, so we test a sample first. |
| Carpet | Needs a film made for carpet | Standard floor films do not hold on carpet fibers. Carpet films suit short events and low pile commercial carpet. |
| Rough or unsealed concrete | Needs an aggressive or conformable film | Dust and texture reduce adhesion. Warehouse floors often need cleaning and testing first. |
| Sidewalks and outdoor concrete | Needs an outdoor sidewalk film | Conformable films are heated into the concrete texture. Weather and snow shorten life. |
Avery Dennison's floor graphics bulletin calls for a surface that is "well secured, level, and free from cracks," with no silicone, and advises keeping graphic edges off tile edges, grout, and joins. We follow the instructions for the specific film we install.
How long floor graphics last
Floor graphics last weeks to months, not years. Traffic, cleaning, and location decide where in that range a graphic lands.
- Laminate rating. Floor laminates are sold by expected life. Avery Dennison's bulletin describes laminates rated for 60, 90, or 180 days, and 3M lists its sidewalk overlaminate at up to a three month expected life.
- Traffic. A graphic in a quiet corner outlasts one at the main entrance. Doorways carry grit and moisture that wear graphics fastest.
- Cleaning. Mild soapy water is fine for most floor graphics. Scrubbing machines, harsh chemicals, and standing water shorten life.
- Carts and equipment. Shopping carts, pallet jacks, and forklifts tear edges. Keep graphics out of their main paths.
- Shape. Rounded corners resist lifting from scuffs better than sharp corners.
Snow, ice melt, and gravel tracked in from parking lots wear entrance floor graphics quickly from November through April. Place winter graphics a few steps past the entry mat, not on top of it.
Outdoor sidewalk graphics in Colorado Springs also face plows, shovels, and freeze-thaw cycles. They are best for warm-season promotions.
Installation and removal
Installation is quick but strict about prep. Removal is designed to be clean when the graphic comes up within its rated life.
Installation
- The floor is cleaned with a detergent that leaves no residue, then wiped with isopropyl alcohol and dried.
- The graphic is hinged, positioned, and squeegeed from the center out, with edges and corners re-pressed.
- Film makers typically ask that the floor stay free of foot traffic for several hours after installation; Avery Dennison's bulletin calls for at least 8 hours.
- Many installs happen after hours so stores and offices stay open.
Removal
- The graphic is lifted at a corner and pulled back slowly at the angle the film maker specifies.
- Any adhesive residue is removed with a cleaner approved for the floor surface.
- The floor under a long-term graphic can look slightly different from the floor around it, because the film shielded it from wear and light.
- Graphics left down long past their rated life get harder to remove and more likely to leave residue.
Designing floor graphics people notice
People read floor graphics from above, often while walking, so simple shapes and big type work best.
- Size for the view. Type read from a standing height, several feet away, needs to be larger than most people expect.
- Orientation. Text faces the direction people walk.
- Contrast with the floor. A graphic that matches the floor color disappears. Light floors need bold colors; dark floors need light ones.
- Shapes over rectangles. Die-cut circles, arrows, and logo shapes stand out more than a rectangle.
Once the estimate is approved and the deposit is received, our team will begin the design and proofing process. Proofs show the graphic at real size, and we can show it placed on a photo of your floor.
How a floor graphics project runs
- Floor detailsSend photos of the floor, the surface type, the area for each graphic, and how long it needs to stay down.
- Estimate and depositYou receive a written estimate by graphic, film, and laminate. Once the estimate is approved and the deposit is received, our team will begin the design and proofing process.
- Design and approvalEach graphic is proofed at real size with placement shown on your floor when photos are provided.
- Print and laminateGraphics are printed, covered with a slip-resistant laminate, and die cut to shape.
- Installation and walkthroughThe floor is cleaned and the graphics are installed, often after hours. We handle the installation, including equipment coordination when needed, through the final walkthrough.
Are floor graphics right for your space?
Floor graphics work well for temporary and seasonal messages on smooth floors. A few situations call for something else.
A good fit when
- A retail promotion, launch, or seasonal campaign that runs weeks to months
- An event or trade show that needs a branded path or booth entrance
- A building that needs temporary wayfinding during construction or a move
- Lines and spacing markers at service counters
- Smooth, sealed floors in good condition
Look elsewhere when
- You need a permanent marking that lasts years, which floor coatings or permanent signs handle better
- The floor is cracked, dusty, or recently refinished and not yet cured
- The graphic would sit in a forklift lane or a wet entrance
The Short Version
- APG produces floor graphics in Colorado Springs for retail, events, wayfinding, lines and spacing, and sidewalks.
- Every floor graphic gets a textured slip-resistant laminate; UL 410 is the rating cited most often.
- Sealed tile, vinyl, and sealed concrete take standard films; carpet, rough concrete, and sidewalks need specialty films.
- Indoor floor graphics typically last weeks to months; outdoor sidewalk laminates are often rated about three months.
- Keep graphics off grout lines, entry mats, and cart or forklift paths to extend their life.
- Floor graphics remove cleanly from sound sealed floors when they come up within their rated life.
Where this information comes from
- 3M Scotchcal Matte Overlaminate 3647 product page (UL 410 slip resistance for sidewalk graphics, up to 3 month life): 3m.com.
- Avery Dennison Instructional Bulletin 1.11, Converting and Applying Floor Graphics: averydennison.com.
- GRAPHICS PRO, Floor Graphics Certifications Explained (UL 410, ANSI A326.3, ASTM E303): graphics-pro.com.
- APG installation records for floor graphics, Colorado Springs office.
Common questions
Floor Graphics FAQ
Who makes floor graphics in Colorado Springs?
APG: Advanced Printing and Graphics produces floor graphics in Colorado Springs for retail promotions, events, wayfinding, line and spacing markers, and outdoor sidewalk graphics.
Are floor decals slippery?
Floor decals should not be slippery when they are made correctly. They are covered with a textured overlaminate designed for slip resistance. Many floor graphic laminates are tested to UL 410, which measures the coefficient of friction of a surface.
What is UL 410?
UL 410 is a slip resistance standard from UL Solutions that measures the coefficient of friction of a walking surface. Floor graphic laminates that meet it can be listed as slip resistant.
How long do floor graphics last?
Indoor floor graphics typically last from a few weeks to several months depending on traffic, cleaning, and the laminate's rating. Outdoor sidewalk laminates such as 3M's 3647 are rated for up to about three months.
Can floor graphics go on carpet?
Yes, with a film made for carpet. Standard floor films do not hold on carpet fibers, and carpet graphics are best for short events on low pile commercial carpet.
Can you put graphics on a sidewalk?
Yes. Outdoor sidewalk graphics use conformable films and laminates designed for concrete. In Colorado Springs they are best for warm-season promotions because snow removal and freeze-thaw cycles shorten their life.
Do floor graphics damage the floor?
Floor graphics are designed to remove from sound sealed floors when they come up within their rated life. The floor under a long-term graphic can look slightly different from the surrounding floor because the film shielded it from wear.
How soon can people walk on a new floor graphic?
Film makers typically ask that a new floor graphic stay free of foot traffic for several hours after installation. Avery Dennison's floor graphics bulletin calls for at least 8 hours.
How do you clean floor graphics?
Mild soapy water and a soft mop are fine for most floor graphics. Avoid scrubbing machines, harsh chemicals, and standing water, which shorten the life of the graphic.
Send a photo of the floor
Put the message where people are looking.
Send photos of the floor, the surface type, where each graphic goes, and how long it needs to stay down. Our team will recommend the film and laminate and send a written estimate. Once the estimate is approved and the deposit is received, our team will begin the design and proofing process.
From the guide library