As you walk to your car, you see it. The peeling, scratched, cracked, and faded clear coat marring the exterior of your vehicle.
Not too long ago, your car was your most prized possession. It had a sleek body style and sported a handsome paint job. Today, you’re excited to replace it with something better.
Nothing is as annoying as that first scratch or ding on your new car’s perfect exterior. Fortunately, you can delay this situation with your new car. Before you leave the car lot, ask for a car paint protection film.
A car protection film is an added layer of protection for your car’s clear coat and exterior paint. Like the clear coat, it protects the exterior from the elements, dirt, dust, UV rays, and more. Remove the film and you’ll find your car’s clear coat is as smooth and perfect as the day you bought it.
Do you think car paint protection film is right for you? Here’s what you need to know about protection film and how it can protect your new vehicle.
What is Car Paint Protection Film?
Car paint protection films go by a series of different names including clear mask, clear wrap, car bra, and scratch protective film. All of these films and wraps have one thing in common: they protect your vehicle’s clear coat. Protecting the clear coat will keep your car’s exterior looking like new.
Where did car paint protection film start?
Let’s jump back to the Vietnam War and the first uses of protective films. During the war, shrapnel, debris, and trees would damage the helicopter blades. This lead to the creation of an incredibly durable, yet lightweight urethane film called helicopter tape.
The first uses of this film were purely functional. Today, this protective film underwent many changes making it suitable for protection and style on today’s automobiles.
Most auto paint protection films consist of durable transparent thermoplastic urethane. You can find these films in varying grades of thickness, colors, finishes, and textures based on your needs.
The film covers high impact areas of your car including:
- Lead hood edge
- Full hood
- Side mirrors
- Bumpers
- Door handle cavity
- Fender panels
- Rocker panels
- Trunk ledge
These items may vary depending on the type of vehicle you have and your exterior protection needs.
How does a thin material like paint protection film protect a vehicle? The film consists of four main layers with varying purposes.
Clearcoat
The top layer is the film’s clearcoat. The clearcoat is a protective surface but can bond with additional coatings such as ceramic coating or self-healing elastomeric polymer.
Polyurethane
The thickest part of the protection film is the polyurethane which gives the film its durability. It’s about 0.152mm thick and makes up the bulk of the film.
Acrylic Adhesive
The acrylic adhesive is the last layer of the film when installed on a vehicle. The acrylic adhesive is about 0.40mm thick and adheres directly to the surface of the vehicle.
Polyester Release Liner
This fourth layer is removable and designed to protect the acrylic adhesive before installation. When removed, it exposes the adhesive and allows the film to bond to the surface of a vehicle.
Benefits of Auto Paint Protection Film
Adding a paint protection film to your new vehicle is the perfect solution to maintain your vehicle’s great looks. Besides looking good, the best paint protection films offer several more benefits:
- Protects vehicle paint from mineral deposits (like salt), acid rain, and water spots
- Resists acidic corrosion from bird droppings, bugs, and other contaminants
- Protects from small rocks, gravel, tree branches, and other hard objects
- Prevents the vehicle’s paint from oxidation from UV light
- Resists high temperatures
- Doesn’t leave glue marks or an orange peel finish
- Enhance your vehicle’s finish
- Can last for 10+ years
- Many protection films are self-healing
- Removable and replaceable
Regardless of how well you care for your car, the clear coating and paint will experience scratches, oxidation, fading, and more. Adding a car paint protection film will prevent these issues while protecting your car’s exterior.
To ensure the protective film adheres and works properly, a detailing professional should always install it on your vehicle. This will prevent film bubbles, wrinkles, peeling, and other potential issues that will affect the longevity and purpose of the film.
Drawbacks of Paint Protection Film
Is paint protection film right for you? Before you purchase the first protection film you find, you should be aware of the disadvantages. A few drawbacks to paint protection film are:
- A variety of film grades and some work better than others
- Varying healing properties
- It’s not a cheap solution but rather a long-term investment in the protection of your vehicle
- Car paint protection film is not a DIY project
If you’re leasing a new vehicle or planning to keep it for a while, the protective film is a worthwhile investment to improve the protection of your car.
Paint Protection Film vs. Vinyl
How does paint protection film differ from vinyl? Since both protect a vehicle’s exterior, are they the same thing?
The main difference between film and vinyl is the film is transparent and the vinyl is not. Vinyl wrap is a thicker opaque material offering greater protection and easier installation. Vinyl typically has an aesthetic or marketing purpose versus protection.
The auto paint protection film is a transparent film that’s lighter and thinner than vinyl. It allows the paint and coating beneath to shine through. Its self-healing properties are also unique to the film.
Paint Protection Film Cost
As mentioned earlier, paint protection films are not cheap. It’s an investment. The type of film you choose, based on grade, self-healing properties, and brand will determine the overall cost of the material. Adding the recommended self-healing layer or a ceramic topcoat will increase the cost of the film.
The film takes several hours to install professionally and will add to the cost.
Is Paint Protection Film Right for You?
Buying a new vehicle is a major investment. You want to protect it, right?
Car paint protection film offers many benefits designed to protect your vehicle’s exterior and enhance its current paint and clear coat. It’s a long-lasting solution designed to keep your vehicle looking its best for years.
Do you have a vehicle in need of auto paint protection? Get a free estimate today from MI Paint Protection in Walker, MI and we’ll help you find the perfect paint protection film for your vehicle today! MI Paint Protection services all of West Michigan that include cities of Walker, Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Kentwood, Grandville, Rockford, Ada, Forest Hills, Traverse City, Cedar Springs, Cutlerville, Jenison, Georgetown Township, and Kent County.
