FAQs

Decal-Related Questions:

What are wall decals?

Wall decals are adhesive artworks – mainly quotes from the Quran, Hadith, Islamic Poetry, aphorisms of the Pious, and other sources – of various sizes that can be applied directly onto the wall. They look like the artwork was painted directly on the wall. Irada’s decals are a beautiful way to turn you home, office, or school into a place of inner worship and reflection.

What are the decals made from?
Irada’s decals are made from an ultra-thin, high quality, self-adhesive vinyl film.

How long will decals stay up?
Our decals generally last 6–10 years with a minimum life expectancy of 4 years for black and white and 3 years for other colors with 7 years being a common life expentancy. They however can last decades in some environments.

What temperatures are Irada decals able to withstand?
Once installed, our decals can withstand an approximate temperature range between -20°F and +150°F (-7°C and 66°C)

I got my decal. What do I do now?
Mabruk! Although Irada's decals are easy to apply, reading the instructions will save you time and potential errors.

How easy is it to install decals?
With step-by-step instructions, the decalsare fairly easy to install. Note: Some of the larger decals (namely 3XL and larger) come in several pieces sections that will seamlessly overlap during installation. We have designed them so that they are easier to install with assistance from another person.

How long can I store my decal? Do they ever expire or “go bad”?
For the best results, we strongly recommend that you apply your wall decals quickly (within a few weeks of receipt) but they can last several months if kept in their original packaging in a room that doesn't fall below freezing. Once wall decals have been applied, they usually last for several years, depending on the environment where they are applied.

Will the decals work on all walls?
Unfortunately, decals do not accommodate all types of walls. They are meant for flat, smooth surfaces. If your wall is rough, bumpy, or newly painted, Irada Arts are difficult to apply and may not adhere properly. However, many customers do occasionally report success with slightly textured walls but we would advise against it. Irada is not responsible if the art was applied to a bumpy texture and does not adhere properly. Please consider your wall type before placing an order.

What other surfaces can Irada decals be applied to?
Our decals can be applied to other smooth surfaces such as ceilings, glass, sealed concrete floors, smooth metal, tile, plastic surfaces and finished wood furniture. Keep in mind that the less porous the surface, the more effort it will take to remove it.

Are there surfaces for which decals are NOT recommended?
Irada Arts are not recommended for textured surfaces like stucco. Not only will the Irada Art not stick, but also a rough texture will most likely puncture the Irada Arts. Irada Arts will also not adhere to fibrous materials (fabric), not even unpainted canvas. You can apply Irada Arts to paper-based materials but we do not recommend it unless you want a permanent application. Irada Arts are not removable from paper or wallpaper. However, since wallpaper can vary widely in texture and quality, Irada Arts can be applied to certain types of wallpaper. Please contact us for more information.

I recently painted my walls, how long should I wait before I apply my new decal?
We strongly recommend that you wait 2 weeks (or 3 if you live in a humid environment) before applying your Irada Art, with a bare minimum of 1 week. This allows enough time for the surface to completely cure, thus allowing the decal to stick better. If applied too soon, one of two thinngs may happen: the decal will either have trouble adhering and may become permanently damanged or the wall may get damaged. Allah is with those who are patient so just wait about 2 weeks after you paint and everything should be fine.

Do decals adhere to all paints?
Irada decals install easily on most common types of home interior paints, such as latex- and oil-based paints. They will also work on other paints, though some highly textured paints or paints with additives (e.g. faux, magnetic, sand, and suede paints) can make application difficult. Also, many brands of new Eco-paint don't allow decals to stick on them. If you are not sure, contact us to confirm that our decals are compatible with your walls.

Can you put artwork in the bedroom?
You may do this as long as there are no sacred texts in the bedroom. Scholars mention that because of the private nature of a bedroom, sacred texts (e.g. Quran, hadith, any of Allah’s names) should not be placed there out of respect and reverence.

Can you put artwork in the bathroom?
Firstly, Arabic letters and/or sacred texts are absolutely prohibited in bathrooms. For artwork other than these, e.g. ornaments, they can be put up. Decals should be applied in a non-humid, dry condition and can withstand the heat and humidity generated in a bathroom environment. However, please be aware that prolonged exposure to heat and humidity will weaken the adhesive over time. If you do decide to apply Irada Arts in your bathroom, you should do so when the bathroom is completely dry and will remain dry thereafter for several days. We do not recommend applying Irada Arts in bathrooms due to the humidity that accumulates there.

Can decals be used outdoors?
Yes, decals can be used outdoors. Make sure the surface is clean, dry and free of dirt and debris. Some examples of successful applications are automobiles; exterior windows and doors of homes; exterior home decorations, such as treated boards or metal objects like mailboxes; exterior signs; and so on. However, when applied to exterior surfaces, expect a shortened product life due to exposure to weather and other elements. If you intend to use some for outdoor use we recommend you submit a customization request so that we can prepare your order with material that is better suited to handle the outdoor elements.

Can decals be applied on my car?
Yes, but we recommend you place them on the inside of the car as direct exposure to the sun and rain will effect how long your artwork will last. If you want to be able to read the calligraphy from the outside simply leave a note in your order comments box during checkout asking us to reverse the decal(s) you want for your car.

Are decals safe for apartment walls, dorm room walls, or rented halls?
Yes, decals will work for apartments, dorm rooms, and rented halls (for weddings, receptions, parties, events, etc) as decals can be used for temporary occasions or more permanent ones. This will work as long as the surface is smooth and hard: a general recommended list of surfaces been mentioned previously.

If my walls are too textured, what other options do I have for displaying my wall decal?
If you have heavily-textured walls, you can choose from other options such as prints and canvas. If the artwork you want is not currently available in other formats please tell us what artwork you want and we’ll do everything we can to help you out. Another way to solve this is to install a decal on a flat, smooth surface that you can then hang on your wall such as a board, glass, or a mirror. You can also display decals on tiles, metal, and blocks, among other surfaces.

DURING DECAL APPLICATION:

My decal won’t stick! What do I do?

READ – Carefully read our application instructions: contact us prior to installation to make sure that all criteria are met. Be sure that the walls or surfaces you are using are clean, dry, and haven't been freshly painted or otherwise sealed. If your Irada Art isn’t sticking, try wiping down the wall or surface with a dry cloth, then try again.

NO HUMIDITY – Avoid applying the decal when the room is very humid, this can sometimes make it difficult to release the art from the transfer tape.

NO RESIDUE – Make sure there is no residue on a wall surface such as grease, smoke, or soot.

NO MOISTURE – Make sure there is no moisture on the surface before applying the Irada Art. Often, a wall surface feels dry to the touch but moisture has been absorbed into the wall material beneath. This moisture is released onto the surface as the wall continues to dry, breaking the adhesive bond and pushing the decal off the surface. Wipe the wall and wait until the wall is completely dry.

ROOM TEMPERATURE – Make sure the surface and wall decal is at room temperature. If a surface is too cold, it may not stick properly. Gradually heat it to room temperature with a blow dryer on low setting.

NOTE: Please be careful to not overheat the decal or the wall, as this will disfigure the art and damage the wall.

CONTACT US – If your decal is still falling off the wall, and you feel that you followed the instructions correctly, contact us and we will help you out as much as possible.


AFTER DECAL APPLICATION

I installed a wall decal but it is starting to peel off. What do I do?
If part of the decal starts to come off a surface, use washable glue, such as a glue stick or wallpaper paste or glue, to reattach it.

Can I clean my decal?
Yes. We recommend that you use a soft cloth or sponge dampened with cool water to clean your wall decal. Avoid using cleaners that contain alcohol, abrasives, citrus additives, or ammonias.

Remember, however, that many of our declas are Arabic and/or from sacred texts, making them sacred. As such, care and respect should be taken when handling or cleaning them.

How do I remove my decal? Are decals easy to remove?
Removal is easy. Peel up an edge with your fingernail and slowly peel the decal off the wall. If you’ve applied decal to a less porous surface like glass or if it has been applied for a long time, we recommend that you use a hairdryer (set on low heat) to warm the decal. This releases the adhesive and makes it even easier to peel off. Use care to avoid damage and overheating the wall.

IMPORTANT NOTE: When removing Arabic letters and/or sacred texts, handle with care and respect. Before you throw them away in the garbage, with a pair of scissors, you must cut the letters apart. In doing so – according to the Sacred Law (Sharia) – they are not considered Arabic nor sacred and can be disposed of.

Will my decal leave a residue when removed? Or take off the paint with it?
No, Irada Arts shouldn’t leave any residue on your wall when removed. However, several factors can affect this and since we cannot guarantee the condition of all wall surfaces, we cannot say across the board that some paint flecking will not occur. You may notice paint flecks on the back of the decals when removed and some minor paint touch-up may be required. Irada is not responsible for any damage that occurs.

Can I reuse decals after I take them off the wall?
Because of the high quality of the material that we use, our decals are not reusable. They may still retain some of their ‘stickiness;’ However, because the material is so thin (and quite often so detailed), they most likely will not retain their shape or design once removed from their surface.

Note: If you do remove a decal because you are moving homes or apartments within a year of purchase, we will replace the same exact decal at a 50% discount of the retail price is (regular shipping charges will be applied).