The beauty of a car is determined by a paint job; hence, you need to take the necessary precautions to maintain the paint job to avoid fading or peeling. Maintaining a car’s paint job can be cumbersome due to the direct exposure to the weather conditions, but luckily, you can consider other precautionary details. 

Some of these details involve and cleaning, but these can only help for a while or are insufficient to protect against weather damage. 

For durability and ultimate protection, the best strategy is to use paint protection film spread over the original paint. Unlike other protection features, it is not vulnerable to most weather conditions and can be replaced regularly and affordably. 

An example of a reputable provider offering such protective solutions is AutoColor, showcasing how utilizing paint protection films can significantly extend the lifespan and vibrancy of your car’s paint, safeguarding it against the harsh effects of weather over time.

The application process is simpler; however, if you are unsure how to do it, leave it to the experts to accomplish the job. If you are open to replacing and adding a new protection feature, here are some guidelines to help.

Prepping for The Film

1. Selecting the Right Film 

There are different types of films you can use to protect the car; hence, you should choose the right suitable for your car. Some options to consider include self-healing, matter, and hydrophobic films. Each has its weaknesses and strengths, i.e., the degree to which they can withstand certain environmental conditions like heat. For example, if the paint is fading in certain areas and you wish to seal it without anyone noticing, self-healing films are the best options to consider. 

To choose the best film, you should also consider the type of car you are driving, i.e., RV, EV, SUV, sedan, etc. If you are unsure how to get the best one, you can seek expert help with the selection and other related services. 

Working with the best paint protection film installation experts is ideal for selecting the right film based on color preferences, car, environmental condition, and how you use the car. Besides the selection, you can also benefit from their unique installation skills and other coating services to protect your car.

2. Cleaning The Car and Surrounding

Clean the car and allow it to dry to avoid any water films being trapped underneath the protection film. The water trapped will be visible over time and can encourage peeling as it warms up. 

Also, ensure the car is dust-free by wiping it with a clean cloth or fiber towel after you are dry. The environment for the job should be dust-free to avoid any dirt coming into contact with the car while placing the film.

3. Tool Required

You should have the necessary tools like a squeegee, heat gun, spray bottle with soap and another one with water solution and a blade. For DIY, you can replace the heat gun with a hairdryer. 

Applying the PPF

If you want to protect a certain section of the car, you should measure and cut the film according to that size; however, include some extra adjustments to avoid incomplete filming. In case the film is too long, you can always cut it. Next, spray the soap and water solution on the surface you would wish to cover. Also, spray the water and soap solution on the adhesive side of the PPF. 

The water and soap solution will be critical for adhesion and also for forming a layer of protection to avoid the direct impact of heat and other conditions on the body paint. Next, spread the film on the wet car surface and ensure it aligns accordingly. 

When spreading the film over curved areas, apply some pressure but not too much to ensure the film straightens and fully covers these areas.

After that, you need a squeegee to remove any air bubbles that may be trapped between the surface and the PPF. Drag it on the surface to also eliminate excess water and soap solution. While using the squeegee, apply some pressure to ensure all the bubbles, including the tiny ones, are entirely expelled. 

Do not put the adhesive on the entire surface, then squeeze out the bubbles; instead, do it in stages until you complete the entire surface. Once done, you can proceed to trim the excess film using a blade. 

After you are done with an entire area, such as the bonnet, you can use an adhesive gun or hair dryer to blow on the surface to activate the PPF’s adhesive effects to stick and conform to the surface. Gently and patiently blow the entire surface; you can do this repeatedly until you are satisfied the entire surface is covered. 

After Application Guidelines

You cannot apply the film and use the car immediately; the film can easily peel off due to wind, air, heat, and water effects. Therefore, you need to ensure the car is protected or in the shade, allowing the PPF to cure and stick entirely to the car body before use. You shouldn’t drive it for about 24 hours. After which, it should take a few days before washing.

The PPF does not protect your car against all the conditions; remember, it is a film that will easily peel off when subjected to abrasion, friction, and other harsh conditions. Therefore, you should not use any harsh chemicals when cleaning the car, nor should you use high-pressure pumps to clean the car. It is not also the ultimate protection against UV; hence, you should avoid parking the car exposed to UV rays. 

Bottomline

PPF can be an excellent way to retain the car’s paint job and beauty since the aftermath is a bright and shining car. However, it is not the ultimate protection against harsh conditions like scratching, UV rays, chemicals, and other conditions that can compromise its quality and integrity. 

For an effective finishing, carefully follow these presiders and do not shy from starting afresh whenever you feel a surface is not fully covered.