National Install Guide: What to Expect When You’re Printing and Installing Graphics Across Multiple Locations

Printing one wall mural is fairly straightforward. Printing and installing the same brand experience across 5, 25, or 200 locations is a different job entirely.

Multi-location rollouts succeed when the plan covers more than printing. You need consistent materials, consistent color, accurate measurements, clean packaging, and an installer network that can execute to the same standard in every city.

This guide walks through what to expect, what usually goes wrong, and how to run a national wide format rollout smoothly.

What counts as a “multi-location rollout” in wide format

A rollout is any project in which you produce and install the same type of graphics across multiple sites, often on a schedule. Common examples include:

• Retail window campaigns across multiple provinces

• Franchise interior wall graphics and feature walls

• Wayfinding and directional signage across facilities

• Fleet and vehicle graphics across regions

• Event and sponsorship signage shipped to different venues

• Corporate office branding across branch locations

The operational challenge is not the print. It is managing variables so every site ends up looking the same.

Step one: define the scope in rollout language

Before you request pricing or timelines, it helps to define the rollout in a way your print partner and installer network can execute.

Provide:

• Number of locations and cities

• Type of graphics at each location (windows, walls, rigid signs, floor decals, banners, etc.)

• Approximate sizes and quantities per site

• Target in-market date and any hard deadlines

• Whether existing graphics need to be removed

Any locations with special constraints (after-hours access, mall requirements, security, union rules, etc.)

Even if you do not have every detail, this level of clarity makes quoting faster and avoids scope surprises mid-project.

The measurement question: who is responsible and how it gets done

Measurements are the single biggest cause of reprints in national rollouts.

There are three common approaches:

Client-provided measurements

Fastest to start, but higher risk. If one location measures differently or uses a different reference point, you end up with fit issues.

Remote measurement using photos and templates

Works for simpler applications when you can standardize photo angles and reference points. Great for repeatable window zones or poster frames.

On-site survey and measurement

Best for wall murals, complex windows, dimensional installs, and anything where “close enough” will not be acceptable. A site survey also identifies wall texture, surface condition, and obstructions before printing.

If the graphics must fit precisely, invest in measurement consistency early. It saves far more than it costs.

Site readiness: the part nobody budgets for

Install success often comes down to whether the surface is ready.

Common site readiness issues:

• Fresh paint that has not cured

• Dusty walls or rough textures that prevent adhesion

• Glass cleaned with residue that affects window film

• Uneven surfaces or hidden wall repairs

• Temperature and humidity issues, especially in winter installs

A professional rollout plan includes simple site prep instructions so every location is ready before installers arrive.

Choosing materials for rollout consistency

One of the easiest ways to keep a rollout looking consistent is to standardize materials and finishes by application type.

For example:

• Use one wall film and one laminate for all interior walls

• Use one window film type for all storefront glass

• Use one rigid substrate for all signage panels

Mixing materials across locations changes color and appearance. Standardization also simplifies inventory, reorders, and future refresh campaigns.

Scheduling installs across cities without chaos

The best rollouts run on a predictable cadence.

A typical scheduling approach:

• Prioritize locations by deadline, access constraints, and complexity

• Group installs by region when possible

• Confirm install windows and access requirements early

• Build in buffer for shipping, weather, and approvals

• Create a single rollout calendar with clear owner responsibilities

If you are doing a time-sensitive campaign, align artwork approval, print production, and shipping cutoffs to your install dates. Most delays happen when approvals run late and everyone tries to compress production and shipping into the same week.

Shipping and packaging: where rollouts quietly fail

A wide format piece can be printed perfectly and still arrive damaged if packaging is not built for shipping and handling.

Common shipping failure points:

• Rolled graphics crushed at edges

• Rigid boards corner-damaged in transit

• Adhesive-backed films contaminated by dust or improper re-rolling

• Mixed site shipments that cause installers to show up without the right pieces

A rollout-ready packaging plan includes:

• Protection for corners and edges on rigid items

• Proper rolling and core sizes for films

• Clear labeling by site, by area, and by install sequence

• Drop shipping to each location or consolidated shipping with a sorting plan

• Tracking and confirmation so installs are not scheduled blind

If an installer arrives and the box is missing one critical item, the cost is not just reprinting. It is the lost install slot and rescheduling.

Install day: what a professional process looks like

A consistent installer network typically follows a repeatable process:

• Confirm surfaces and site conditions on arrival

• Prep surfaces properly

• Dry fit and position graphics to confirm alignment

• Install using the correct method for the material

• Finish edges, seams, and corners cleanly

• Photo documentation of completed work

• Clean-up and disposal of backing materials

For removal and replacement campaigns, the process also includes safe removal, adhesive cleanup, and surface inspection before installing new graphics.

Quality control: how you keep standards consistent across regions

National rollouts need a quality checklist so you are not relying on “everyone’s best judgement.”

A good QC plan includes:

• An install standard with photo examples of “acceptable” finishes

• Seam and alignment guidance for wall murals

• Rules for trimming, corner finishing, and edge sealing where needed

• A post-install photo package for each site

• A punch-list process for any fixes

This makes it easy to manage brand consistency, especially when different installers are working in different cities.

What usually goes wrong, and how to avoid it

Measurements differ between locations

Fix: standardize measurement methods or use site surveys for critical work.

Sites are not ready

Fix: provide simple prep instructions and confirm readiness before scheduling.

Color looks different across materials

Fix: standardize materials and approve a proof on the final substrate.

Packaging leads to damage

Fix: rollout-specific packaging, labeling, and site-separated shipments.

Install windows change

Fix: build buffer and schedule with realistic lead times.

FAQs: common rollout questions

Can you coordinate installs across Canada?

Yes, with the right installer network and a clear rollout plan. The key is standardization, scheduling discipline, and proper measurement.

Do you need a site survey for every location?

Not always. Simple, repeatable installs can often use client measurements or remote templates. Complex walls and windows benefit from a site survey.

How far in advance should we plan?

The more locations and the tighter the deadline, the earlier you should start. The most important factor is not printing time, it is approvals, measurement, and scheduling.

Can you remove old graphics too?

Most rollout programs can include removal, disposal, and surface cleanup. It should be scoped per site because conditions vary.

Planning a multi-location rollout?

If you are rolling out window graphics, wall murals, signage, or branded environments across Canada, the fastest path to success is a standardized plan that covers measurement, materials, print production, packaging, shipping, and installation.

Share your location count, target dates, and the types of graphics involved, and we can help map out a rollout approach that keeps quality consistent from city to city.