LAST UPDATED ON: October 29, 2018Question: Will the rear window defroster affect the decal on the rear window?

It shouldn’t. Most rear car window decals on cars or trucks have an acrylic adhesive that should withstand temperature up to 180ºF (82ºC). Your rear window defroster, if functioning normally, is likely never to get near that temperature.

Question: Are vinyl car decals and stickers weather proof?

Vinyl stickers are 100% weatherproof, and if the ink is of good quality, then there really shouldn’t be any problem with water at any temperature, or snow either for that matter. Sun is probably the hardest on decals as it causes ink to fade.

What the Materials are Made of

Vinyl decals, also known as PVC or polyvinyl chloride decals, are a supple plastic material that is either hot cast or cold-rolled (calendared). The cast vinyl is more dimensionally stable as the calendared material has “memory” of its original shape and size and will tend to shrink over time (don’t worry, it will never get all the way back!).

Because cast vinyl is poured hot, the production process is costlier, the material is actually thinner than calendared, and it usually carries a longer warranty. However, most decal printers use calendared films, except for vehicle wraps or other high-end graphics that most often are printed on cast vinyl.

Either way, though, to answer your original question, yes, vinyl stickers are definitely weatherproof. And if you find whatever you stuck on your car is not weatherproof, … Continue Reading ...

Prior to traveling anywhere on vacation, taking a look at the weather is essential. There are certain locations where weather typically follows a trend, like the Jamaica weather, but it is still vital that you take the time to look into the future forecast. This can help you better prepare for the weather that you will face.

The weather in Jamaica is generally warm and sunny, which is one of the primary reasons that it is such a popular vacation spot. In addition to the gorgeous scenery, beautiful beaches and unique culture, Jamaica is the perfect place to go on vacation. No matter what the weather “typically” is, it is still crucial that you’re aware of the weather conditions.

The reason for this is the weather occasionally varies from time to time. There are times of the year when it is more likely to rain. The last thing you want to do is plan a weeklong vacation and have to stay in the hotel because of poor conditions. Although it may seem highly unlikely, the possibility exists for Jamaica weather to ruin your vacation.

Another reason to check the weather conditions is for extremely high temperatures. Many people plan vacations to Jamaica because of the warm climate in Jamaica. However, when temperatures are too high it can quickly become unbearable. Even by checking the temperatures for the various “seasons” you can get an idea for when to plan a vacation. If you’re going in the middle of summer, the heat … Continue Reading ...

Over the last 30 years, the companies that have been able to innovate effectively and make good use of their research and development (R&D) budgets have become coveted companies, but the market doesn’t value them accordingly. While the market can be quick to jump on the latest craze and push certain hyped stocks to new heights, the companies that innovate effectively aren’t always given their due until after the fact. Most of the time Wall Street, tends not to properly value the companies on innovation because of its relative difficulty to quantify. With innovation not being something that is universally measurable in the same way that profits, revenue, and cash flow can be, most investors tend to shy away from the analysis of innovation.

Innovation is often the most valuable asset that a company has when it pays off, think Apple over the past 15 years, but without proper quantification this value is rarely taken into account. Investors are uneasy by the possibility that R&D is uncertain, but analysts have found that using the track record over the previous five years as a relative guide, can predict the value. Within the companies that have a large R&D spend, that are generally considered to be more innovative, the past tends to be a very good predictor of their future success. Often these companies that have a proven record of innovation success over the previous few years will outperform their competitors by over 7 percent a quarter. This translates into big profits … Continue Reading ...

Did you know, or realize, that sheepskin is sold more often in warm climates, than in cold ones? Sheepskin (meaning the skin of the sheep with the fleece still intact) has a track record of being great in cold weather because of its insulating ability, which keeps the air around the covered area warm. That’s great for the cold–but the question above wants to know about hot weather.

Look at these facts about sheepskin: if you WEAR sheepskin, it will be too warm if the temperature reaches near 80 degrees. When the weather is over 80 degrees, everything becomes HOT! The exception is going to be your exposed skin–interested?

Find out why: Sheepskin is an excellent insulator from heat build-up on seats where you will be sitting. The fleece of sheepskin has air spaces around the hair fibers. In winter, warm air is trapped and circulates, keeping you warm. In summer, the hair fibers allow the air to circulate so you stay cool. The fleece breathes and wicks away any moisture from the body, so sweat is essentially eliminated. The sheepskin fibers can hold about 30% moisture, keeping the moisture away from your skin. This is how it works in BOTH winter and summer.

You may have been remembering sun-drenched places that usually scald you when you sit down, that, when covered with sheepskin, aren’t going to have that effect. Be thinking of not only vinyl seats, but also leather seats. These might include your car seats, your infant car … Continue Reading ...

Here in the U.S., spring has finally arrived. If you’ve had a cat urine odor problem since last fall or winter, and thought you’d cleaned up each puddle thoroughly, you may be discovering otherwise now the heat and humidity have returned.

This article briefly describes the different components in cat urine, and why it smells so much worse in warmer weather. This article also discusses the most effective cleaning solution to get rid of the odor and stain permanently.

Cat urine stains are tough to get rid of because it has five different bacteria strains. Two of these are associated with the cat’s marking scent. The others are in the cat spray, urine, and uric acid.

The sticky, tacky part of cat urine is urea. The pigment is urochrome, and then there are the uric acid crystals, which look like salt.

The first two components clean up rather easily. It’s the uric acid with it’s crystals and salt that linger, causing the continuous cat urine odor. These crystals are insoluble, and bond tightly to anything they land on. This is why you can’t successfully eliminate cat urine odor with common household cleaners.

The crystals are reactivated with moisture. And this is why the cat urine smell is stronger in hot weather – the humidity in the air reacts with the crystals, and you once again smell the cat urine stain – even though you’ve cleaned and cleaned that particular spot.

In order to completely eliminate the smell and stain, the … Continue Reading ...

“In this world,” wrote Benjamin Franklin, “nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

You might notice he made no mention of the weather.

With homes for sale all year round, you could find your moving day doesn’t quite grant you the perfect meteorological conditions you’d been hoping for. While in this part of the world we do know to be prepared for the worst, we don’t often find ourselves moving house in it.

With a little extra preparation however, a little rain or snow shouldn’t delay you from moving into your new home on the date you had planned.

Movin’ in the rain

Whether purchasing one of our homes for sale to live in or as an investment property, you’ll want to ensure both your belongings and your new home stay dry, undamaged, and show no ill effects from the move.

Anything that could be damaged by impact or water should be covered in moving pads and plastic sheets, while the removal vehicle itself should be checked for leaks that may allow water to damage your belongings.

If you are moving in a season where there is a high chance of rain, which is possible with homes for sale all year round, invest in removal cartons instead of using the old cardboard boxes you may have saved from previous purchases or have been tempted to pick up from the supermarket. When wet, these become soggy, weak, and cause more problems than they solve.

When you arrive … Continue Reading ...