Protecting your vehicle’s paint is an important step to prolonging its life. Although washing and waxing can help to prevent damage, they cannot guarantee the protection against rock chips, scratches, or other mechanical flaws that may happen during your daily commute and regular use.
Is it worth paying for car paint protection?
The best way to avoid these problems is by having a high-quality ceramic coating applied, or a protection film for car. However, before you decide to have any type of protective product installed on your vehicle, it’s important that you do your research. You want to ensure that you work with a professional that has experience with the specific product you’re interested in, and can answer any questions that may come up.
One of the most common options is paint protection film (PPF), also known as clear bra. PPF is a transparent thermoplastic urethane, often with self-healing capabilities. It’s designed to safeguard your car against road debris, bug splatter, stone chips, and other minor abrasions, as well as prevent fading from UV exposure and chemicals.
Unlike paint sealants and ceramic coating, which create a chemical bond with the vehicle’s exterior, PPF is optically clear and can be removed at any time. This makes it a great option for people who are leasing a vehicle and don’t want to risk permanent paint damage, or those who plan to sell their vehicle in the future.
Before installation of PPF, the body panels are thoroughly cleaned with soap, iron removers, and potentially tar and grease removers to ensure a clean surface. The paint protection film is then loaded into a plotting machine and cut into 2D layouts that correspond with the shapes of the vehicle’s body panels. Before applying the film, it’s sprayed with a mixture of water and soap to help position it and inhibit the adhesive during installation.
