Guide to Paint Protection Film (PPF)
Introduction to PPF Car Wraps
Do you love your car’s aesthetic, but understand that it needs some protection? The roads provide a number of dangers that can chip and scratch even the coolest of cars. Luckily, a simple layer of paint protection film (PPF) can provide a self-healing coat of armor around your car, fending off rocks and debris, and leaving you to enjoy your car worry-free. Explore with us today as we dive into the world of paint protection films and how you can go about getting these incredible products on your car.
What is a Paint Protection Film?
At its core, paint protection film is a thin layer of thermoplastic, self-healing film that can be applied over a vehicle to provide protection against rocks, bugs, and other abrasions. PPF is usually clear or slightly tinted leaving the color underneath to shine.
What are the benefits to PPF car wraps?
Paint protection films are cost-efficient ways to provide protection to your vehicle’s exterior. PPF fights against chips, scratches, premature fading, insects, bird droppings, and many other small inconveniences that can eat away at a perfect vehicle appearance. PPF absorbs these damages, which allows for easy removal and replacement down the road to keep your car looking brand new for years to come. A simple layer of PPF is much cheaper than an ever increasing bill of small paint fixes/details that need to be addressed when you drive without protection.
Understanding the installation process
Installation of PPF starts with a thorough cleaning and detailing to ensure all paint is properly corrected and no dirt remains on the vehicle. Prior to your PPF appointment, be sure to give your car a thorough wash. However, avoid waxing and ceramic coats before your appointment; these details can be applied after PPF is installed.
Once clean, an expert can use liquids to activate the adhesion of the film and use a squeegee to press and seal the PPF to your vehicle’s shape. Air bubbles are pressed out and corners properly sealed in order to provide a clean look across the whole car.
Professional vs DIY installation
While PPF can be installed DIY, we recommend contacting a professional to carry out your PPF application. PPF isn’t the cheapest material; mistakes with cuts and seals can be costly. The attention to detail required to get a great looking, great working seal cannot be achieved by everyone, seek out someone with experience and certificates to ensure your car is in good hands.
Pros and Cons of Installing PPF
Pros
The self-healing layer of protection provides a barrier between the dangerous road and your car, which in turn keeps your car looking brand new for years to come. PPF is like wrapping your car in bubble wrap, but your car actually looks good! You can easily have PPF removed/replaced down the line to maintain a new car look as well. Sleep easy knowing your car is safe.
Cons
Most of the downside to PPF is the initial investment, some people don’t like separating from their money. There are cheaper options, like ceramic coats, but PPF is supposed to be a long-term investment into the self-healing technology and invisible look that provide great protection to your car. While PPF is more up front, the long-term savings from removing the need for paint corrections and scratch repair more than pays for itself.
PPF maintenance and longevity
With regular cleaning and without excessive accumulation of damage, paint protection film can look brand new for years. Wear and tear will affect the final longevity, but in general, you can expect 5 to 10 years from your PPF before removal/replacement is recommended. You can wax and wash your car after PPF is applied to help the protection against debris and other damages. For best results, we recommend hand-washing your PPF-wrapped car to provide a gentle, thorough cleaning across the entire thing.
Cost Considerations
Depending on how large your car is and how much you want to be protected with PPF, costs can vary anywhere from $1000 to upwards of $8000. This can seem steep up front, but in the long term, there is room to save money while your car looks great the entire time. This is because your average paint repair can cost anywhere from $10 to $9000 depending on the extent of paint damage. PPF can save you from 5 to 10 years worth of semi-regular paint repairs with its simple one-stop solution of protection. And PPF will keep your paint looking great that entire time!
Enter to Win a Free Wrap for your Vehicle!
Want to give your car a fresh new look without breaking the bank? Zach Wraps is here to help! We’re currently offering a chance for one lucky winner to receive a FREE car wrap for their vehicle. All you have to do is enter your email address into the form below. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity – enter now and let us help you transform your ride! Winner is drawn when 2,500 unique entries have been submitted. Void where prohibited.
Conclusions and Recommendations
While you may be hesitant at first to make the initial investment in PPF, you’ll quickly see why so many drivers are opting to have their car wrapped and protected. A simple layer of paint protection film can provide 5 to 10 years of paint protection against the various dangers on the road including but not limited to rocks, bugs, birds, and other drivers. Just like a screen protector on your phone, you can easily remove and replace PPF when damages inevitably accumulate.
Cars aren’t cheap and neither are repairs. Take away the need to annual costly paint repairs with a one-stop shop alongside a PPF expert like the experienced hands at Zach Wraps. Drive worry free and know that you look great the entire time.
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631-879-8355
498 Stephenson Rd, Benson, NC 27504
