Everything You Need to Know About Paint Protection Film

The paint protection film is also known as a “clear bra” or “wrap.” It is a flexible material with a thin protective layer applied to the body panels of your vehicle to help safeguard them from road debris and flying rocks. The paint protection film can also offer UV protection and preserve your car from low-speed scrapes and light hailstones that can scratch the car’s paint and finish.

Paint protection films are strong, resistant to degradation by UV exposure, and chemically stable. It protects the car’s painted surface from mechanical damage such as scratches, paint chips, dings, and chemical erosion.

The Paint Protection Film Installation Process

The paint protection film is a solid material, and due to its thickness, conforming to large surfaces such as the bumper of your car will require experience, skills, a clean environment, and thorough preparation.

You should understand the process to know whether the price you will pay for the paint protection film is fair in comparison to ceramic coating.

Wash and decontamination

The process starts with quality decontamination and paint correction. Your car is cleaned thoroughly with soap, tar, grease, and iron removers. It is crucial to wash around the corners of the car’s body as the paint protection film will tuck in. If the back side is left dirty, the paint protection film will not connect to the surface and can come out after PPF installations.

Paint correction

Paint correction will handle every defect, scratch, swirl mark, pitting, and other imperfection if you want to apply paint protection film on a used car. There might be rock chips and many other types of damage you may want to take care of before installing the paint protection film.

If you prefer to apply the paint protection film on the car partially. It is vital to consider paint correction because if you ignore it, you will notice a difference in the adjacent panels’ finish.

Paint Protection Film Installation

The installers will clean the body panels again. Any contamination can cause problems later, such as producing defects and reducing the film’s lifespan. They spray the body panels with a mixture of soapy water to help place the paint protection film and hold back the adhesive during the installation process. The paint protection film is disconnected from the liner, and they also spray on the two sides.

After they position the edges and stretch the paint protection film to cover the whole car, the experts will use different squeegees to remove the soapy water and put the protection film in place.

They begin in the middle of the body panel and move in every direction, removing the solution and air pockets and holding the paint protection film on the surface. They use a solution of isopropyl alcohol and water to assist the adhesion of complicated details and the protection film’s edges, where having a tight seal is paramount.

With the paint protection film placed on the panels, the experts will trim the film using a blade on every side of the edges.

Paint Protection Films

The paint protection film is invisible. The thin, glassy layer of matte paint protection film is nearly impossible to see on a car’s exterior. Present-day films offer long-lasting protection without immense thickness.

The paint protection film is custom-made for your requirements. It is easy to apply on the car areas with anti-chipping films, or on the body panels suitable for your project.

Hydrophobic properties: car paint protection film is usually hydrophobic. Contaminants and liquids will clump and runoff. It is much easier to maintain the look of your car’s paint if it repels mud, dirt, rock chips, oils, and streaks and can keep away chemical stains.

Increase the service of your car’s paint and life. Car value depreciates because of the wear and tear that devalues a car’s mechanical properties, look, and shine. Paint protection films will keep the car’s painted surface at its best by repelling rock chips, sand, debris, and other damage that may result in incidental scratches, chips, and abrasions. Other films are also self-healing.

The automotive paint protection film is easy to apply. It does not need expensive equipment, and the curing time for the process is shorter than in the case of ceramic coatings. The installation is quick, and it helps you to save and increase your bargaining power.

Disadvantages of Paint Protection Films

Upfront costs; The additional costs are mainly for the gain of long-term value, especially in the car’s high-risk areas. You can lower the expenses by installing ppf only on the parts exposed to contaminants like lower body panels, side mirrors, fenders, and front fascia.

The paint protection film may be placed incorrectly. The protection film is reliable if applied to your car’s surfaces more smoothly and free of wrinkles, bubbles, and ripples. Car owners can prevent the risks of improper application by using a professional and using a product that is easy to apply.

Some paint protection films need replacement. Paint protection film usually has a warranty of five, ten, or twelve years. This is a remarkable period of service life, and a paint job replacement can be expensive.

Is paint protection film on cars worth it?

Yes, it will maintain the new look of your car for longer periods. You will only require a little paint maintenance, and your car will have a higher resale value. A paint protection film has self-healing properties that keep scratches and swirl marks away. The paint protection film, together with a window tint, helps to protect your car against UV rays.

Do you want to learn more about paint protection films? Welcome to The Detail Lab

Paint protection films are a comprehensive and long-lasting solution to maintain your car’s youthfulness. However, you will require expert installers and products of high quality. The Detail Lab offers professional installation of paint protection films, paint correction, and other services in Dallas.

Our installers are dedicated to meeting customers’ needs. We can assure you it is the best, as our customers say how much they like our services, and we will ensure that we will not disappoint you. Visit us at The Detail Lab at 124 Rose Lane, STE 302, Frisco, TX 75034, or call us at (806-392-8436)