LED strip lights consist of LEDs and other components fixed to a circuit board with the help of an adhesive. These lights are often used for a variety of purposes such as accent lighting, decorative lighting, backlighting and more. They are also used in costumes sometimes and even to help plants grow in enclosed spaces.
With LED lights having so many advantages, you may be wondering if it’s too good to be true. Perhaps you are worried that as these lights usually use a strong adhesive, that they might end up removing the paint on your wall. The short answer is that it probably won’t. In some extreme case scenarios, they might. However, there are a few preventive measures you can take to reduce any chance of it happening.
If you live in a rented apartment or own a small business, you might find yourself in a weird predicament over LED lights. As they are more efficient and cost-effective than traditional incandescent lights, you probably want to use LED lights as much as possible.
However, you don’t want to damage your walls either, especially if you live or work in a rented space. According to the law, landlords do have the right to deduct money from your deposit if you damage the walls.
To figure out how to prevent your lights from damaging the wall, we need to take a look at how they work first. LED bulbs, for instance, won’t have any effect on your wall but strip lights might as they come with a strong adhesive.
While the chances of it happening might be low, it certainly is possible, especially if you aren’t careful when removing or repositioning them. By understanding how LED strip lights work, you will be able to get rid of any unsubstantiated fear you may have regarding its usage.
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Adhesives and LED Strip Lights
LED strip lights come in different colors and sizes but they all use a 3M (gold standard) adhesive. This particular type of adhesive is the most durable tape available for purchase and is made out of high-performance multi-faceted acrylic.
What makes this tape so unique is that it behaves like a thick liquid and an elastic solid at the same time. This very property is what makes this tape able to slide into surfaces with irregularities and apply a strong bond to the object glued to it.
However, it is not without its faults. Over time, the adhesive loses its effectiveness and people usually buy various adhesives to apply on their strip lights. There is where the issue comes in. Some adhesives leave a mark on the surface while others may cause discoloration. If the surface of your wall is tiled, wooden, or plastic, you won’t face any issues. Unfortunately, that won’t be the case if the surface is a painted or wallpapered drywall.
Will LED Strip Lights Peel Paint When Removed?
This is probably one of the biggest worries that plague the owner of LED strip lights. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question as it will depend on many different factors.
One of the most important causes of paint being peeled when LED strip lights are removed is the quality of the paint used on the surface of the wall. Paint, like everything else, comes in many different types and qualities.
If your wall is painted with delicate paint, then removing LED lights with strong adhesives will leave a mark. If the paint on your wall is very old, then some peeling might happen too.
If you have a freshly painted wall, then it is important to note that the strip light adhesive will become a part of it due to the curing process. During this time, the bond between the strip lights and the paint will strengthen to the point where it is stronger than that of the paint and the wall.
Another thing to keep in mind is the surface on which the paint was applied. If the wall was not cleaned properly and had dust on it when the paint was applied, then you might see some damage occur on your wall from LED lights.
How to Safely Remove LED Lights from a Surface?
If you want to remove LED light strips in a safe way where any potential damage can be minimized as possible, you need to do the following:
- Shut off the power supply before you touch the lights. This is probably the most important step.
- Then take out a hairdryer and apply heat to the adhesive. The hot air will soften up the tape and make it easier to pull which in turn will minimize any marks on the surface. However, do not blow air for a long time. Make sure you stop after two minutes.
- Then you need a blunt but thin object such as a butter knife to wedge it under the strip.
- Slowly wiggle it to peel the adhesive gradually. Take your time and try to do it as delicately as possible.
- While you are doing that, pull the LED strip slowly using your other hand or ask your partner or friend to do it.
- With a little bit of effort, the adhesive should come off without leaving any marks. If there is any residue on the wall, use a rag soaked with a citrus-based cleaning agent and you should be able to clean it up easily.
How to Remove any Adhesive Left From the LED Strip?
This video shows a clever method of removing sticky adhesive messes left behind. In her case, she had a mirror, but the same thing applies to LED strip lights.
Conclusion
LED strip lights are a godsend for those who live in rented apartments and love to change up their ambiance from time to time. At the same time, the very same utility may also lead to some unwanted consequences.
If you are worried about damaging the wall, you can try sticking a 3 MM tape on an inconspicuous location such as a corner or behind a piece of furniture. If you pull the tape by following the above steps and see a mark, then the quality of paint used might be inferior, in which case you might want to refrain from using the lights. If there are no marks, then feel free to use the strips wherever you desire.