LED strip lights are incredible choices for decorating home and outdoor lighting. These lights create great ambient task lighting in the kitchen, reading room, and others.
Also, you can easily install them on the wall for their sticky backing or clips beside any electrical outlet. But improper installation can damage the paint on the wall. So, we have discussed how to stick led strip lights on the wall without damaging the paint.
So, how will you stick the LED strip lights on the wall surface properly? To do so, take a putty strip and mold it into the shape you prefer. Then, push the mold onto LEDs’ back. Now, you can put the strip light on any surface.
You may also attach the strips to any object using cable ties. Hence, the LED strips have self-adhesive stuff for putting up on a flat surface. But the adhesion fails when you try to stick the lights on a shiny or oily wall.
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LED Strip Light Definition
LED strip lights are familiar yet small, linear lights used at home, restaurants, and other outdoor places. These strips have various size LED chips placed on flexibly printed circuit boards. Then, the backside gets a double-sided adhesive to mount on different surfaces.
You can use these LED strip lights for lucrative and mindful lighting in different areas. Even you can resize the strip by cutting it to produce versatile accents, tasks, and outdoor lighting. However, you can purchase LED strip lights in a wide range of brightness and color. Many strips also offer to change the colors of the light.
How to Hang Led Strip Lights without Damaging Wall?
LED strip lights are a cheap, adaptable, and flexible solution to create a playful environment anytime. You can hang or stick these strips to any wall by resizing them. But installation can damage the wall or the paint on it. Sometimes these strips may droop or peel off the wall, mainly when the adhesion is not functioning properly.
The self-adhesive back of LED strip lights is not a permanent type of adhesion. It can peel off the paint and is not suitable to stick to anything. Hence, experts suggest picking a solid, even (painted) surface to attach the light strips.
Again, you may need to change the lights’ alignment before leaving it last time. In such a case, clear and comprehensive tape works better. It enables easy reposition of the lights. Therefore, you can use a precut tale to save time and reduce the urgency of an entire tape roll.
Installation Processes of LED Strip Lights without Damaging the Wall:
Suppose you 5m roll of LED strip lights for decoration. Now, you can follow the bellow processes of how to install led strip lights without damaging wall:
First Step: Measure the area
You can collect a ruler or tape measure for any measurements during the installation procedure. After having it, measure the surface for sticking the strips on it. It will help you get ideas of how many or long strips you will need. However, avoid an educated guess in this step that may lower the quality of installation.
Second Step: Trim the Strips
Ignore this step if you prefer to hang up the lights throughout the area. But it may create a clumsy look. Also, you may not shape and design the lighting pattern well. So, cutting or trimming the strip to the required size is helpful.
Take a knife or scissors to cut along the marked cutting lines on the strips. The circuit may not work if you trim the strips except these lines. Also, some lights may not work if you do so. Once you cut the strips, you need a new connector cable to solder for further application.
Third Step: Prepare the Workspace
We hope you have already trimmed the strips of LED lights. Now, you should prepare the wall where you will hang the LED light strips. For this, you should clean the wall surface to keep it clean and ready for the next steps. Grease, oil, or dust do not let strips adhesive work well.
Then, the bond between strips and wall remains dull. So, you should clean the area. You can dampen a cloth in warm water or rub alcohol on the wall. Then, dry the wall using a lint-free cloth or paper towel. Otherwise, leave the area for some moments for drying.
Fourth Step: Reveal Adhesive Backing
After preparing the wall, you can peel off the plastic sticker from the strip. You can start from one end to another. It is better to peel the backing from a small strip length by every time. Otherwise, dust can cling to the sticky back of the lights.
Fifth Step: Hang the Strips
It’s time to hang the LED strip lights to the expected spot. You can post the lights in the correct position. Then, put some pressure using your hands to finish the adhesion. You can peel, position, and push the strips until you install them appropriately. It will need a minimum of time to align and press the strips.
Final Step: Test and Run the Lights
Connect the cord of the connector to a nearby electrical outlet. Then, switch on the lights and enjoy the illumination. You can test the lights using different functions of them.
How to Fix LED Lights that are Different Colors?
We have already shared that you have plenty of color options to light the room or outdoor using LED strip lights. Again, these colorful illuminations can impact the mood and why you are using the light strips. For instance, if you are in a party mood, you will love lights illuminating different colors.
But things may get wrong as LED lights are parts of technology. After all, technologies can get errors easily. Likewise, LED strip lights can show different colors instead of regular ones. We spend more money installing new light strips most of the time. But it is pretty easy to fix LED lights that are different colors.
Below are the ways of treating the wrong color LED strip lights:
First Step: Examine the Connection
It is the most common reason your lights show dimmed or different colors. Maybe the lights are not plugged in correctly. It can also happen if the wires are not labeled in right manner. So, ensure that the strip connector’s black wire is perfectly aligned with +12V in the same direction.
Then, check if the connector’s + end lines up with the strip’s positive side appropriately. Lastly, check that all the R, G, B wires are well connected.
Second Step: Reset the LED Strip Lights
Many people have found this method very helpful. Resetting may sound easy and usual, but trust us, it works so well. To reset the lights, you need to reset the bot lights and the controller. Remember, reset means the product has the same settings as they have just left the factory. It wipes out all the changes you have made to the light strips.
Therefore, you can find a dedicated reset button for factory reset. If absent, hold down the power button for a couple of seconds, like 5-15 max. Otherwise, you may read the product manual to know how the rest function works.
Third Step: Replacement of LED Strip
It is the best option when the above steps remain ineffective. In this condition, you are using LED strip lights with a malfunction. We are sorry that you have no cheaper solution now. So, you should replace the controller and LED strip lights. You may also use another controller to solve the issues.
How to Remove LED Light Strips Without Damaging your Walls
Suppose you want to paint the wall, or the LED strips peel from the wall. You shouldn’t rip the strips in a rush. It may damage the wall paint. So, you should follow the below ways to remove and reinstall the LED light strips:
First Step: Unplug Strip Connector and Heat the Adhesive
It is important! You may get electrocuted if the connection is alive. So, you should unplug the light strips to prevent any electrical shocks. Then, you can heat the strips’ adhesive to remove the strip easily without damaging the paint.
Second Step: Find Out an End and Corner
Find an end and start from the corner to remove the strip. We suggest you use a thin, flat thing to work in this process. A knife, credit card, or even a coin can slide underneath the corner quickly. You have already heated the strips; they will go off quickly after lifting the corner. Try to do this in a back-and-forth motion to prevent damaging the paint and wall.
Third Step: Clean the Residue
The surface becomes sticky (not damaged) when you remove the strip. You can use your thumb to clean the sticky residue. So, rub your thumb to pick the residue off the wall in a circular motion. If there is still any stubborn residue left, you can use a soapy solution with a soft sponge.
Final Step: Reinstall LED Strip Lights Without Damaging Paint
Once the surface is ready or you paint the wall for beautification, you can reinstall the LED strip lights. Follow all the steps we have mentioned earlier in this article.
Conclusion
So, now you are well aware of how to put up LED lights without ruining the paint. Make sure you follow the steps carefully. After all, these steps are easy to follow and take the least time. We hope you have found the best way to hang LED lights and get desirable illumination and be happy forever.