We Want to Answer All Your Questions About Paint Protection Film.
We get a lot of questions about paint protection film here at Polished Protection Signal Hill. We thought this would be a good time to create a comprehensive guide for answering all the common questions on paint protection film. With paint protection film being unique in its class, we will always recommend it for a couple reasons. Not only do we find it to be the ultimate way to protect your vehicle’s paint, we also find it to be the best way to protect your investment in your vehicle. Let’s take a look at the ins and outs of this amazing protection film.
What is PPF?
PPF, or paint protection film, also known as “clear bra,” is a thin, clear film that is applied to your car’s paint to protect it from the abrasive elements. Scratches, debris, and the sunlight are all things your paint is susceptible to when driving on the road. Paint protection film acts as a shield from these harsh elements. PPF is made out of polyurethane and is specially made with an adhesive backing that will stick to your vehicle’s paint without damaging it.
Why should I purchase PPF for my car?
PPF serves a multitude of purposes for many people, but the main reason we believe you should purchase PPF for your vehicle is peace of mind. If you want to protect your investment in your vehicle, paint protection film is the best way to do so. In the same way a jacket protects you from the outside elements, PPF protects your vehicle’s paint from the harsh elements that could potentially damage the health of your vehicle’s paint. Besides the apparent scratches and rock chips that hit your paint and damage it, elements such as the sun are abrasive to your paint every time you drive it. Unseen to the naked eye, the sun’s ultraviolet rays penetrate your paint on a molecular level, breaking your paint’s compounds apart and resulting in chipping and flaking. PPF protects your paint from these ultraviolet rays reaching it. In cases of scratches or rock chips, paint protection film is specially formulated with self-healing properties, which can allow freshly scratched paint protection film to absorb the scratch and make it invisible on the outside. Want to learn more about paint protection film? Visit our blog here!
How is PPF installed?
There are two ways to install paint protection film, one is by laying a large piece of film across a panel and hand-cutting the piece to fit your vehicle’s shape, and the other way is by rolling the film through a cutter or plotter to cut out the exact shape of your vehicle’s panel before applying it. In our PPF shop, we use cutters and plotters before laying the PPF onto your car. While we do offer both methods, we prefer this method over the traditional way for a couple reasons: If we can avoid using a knife closely on your paint, we will do that! Although this is not usually an issue with professional PPF installation shops using a knife close to your paint, there is still that small risk of accidentally scratching your paint with a sharp knife. The other reason we like to use cutters and plotters to cut our films before laying them is how precisely the cutters and plotters cut the shapes! We use a huge database with the measurements of virtually every car to tell the plotters what piece to cut. This takes the inconsistencies out of cutting material, making it a higher-quality job for you, and it allows us to use the right amount of material.
When should I apply PPF to my car?
As soon as you want the ultimate protection! We recommend the sooner the better. You never know when a rock on the road will skip up and chip the paint on your new car, or when someone in a parking lot will scratch it. Applying a paint protection package to your vehicle as soon as possible will allow you to worry less every single time you get in your car and drive!
Who should I trust to install PPF on my car?
Paint protection film manufacturers offer certification programs for shops that want to become experts on their products. This should be the gold standard when finding a PPF installer. Polished Protection is a certified PPF installer for XPEL paint protection films. A certificate is important for a PPF installer because it gives them ultimate credibility. These certification programs are courses taught by PPF manufacturers to make sure the PPF shops are up to date on the technology that goes into creating these products and how to apply them safely and precisely. See what kind of work we have under our belt as an Xpel-certified PPF installer here.
Which brand of PPF should I go with?
There are a couple major brands in the clear bra industry, but our number one choice is Xpel paint protection films. We found that no other PPF company was as well-rounded as Xpel. Technology matched with unparalleled customer service and support makes this our go-to choice for our paint protection shop.
How much PPF should I apply to my car?
When we are asked this question, we first look at two factors: what environment is your car used in, and what type of driver are you? Polished Protection provides four PPF packages based on the answers to those two questions. From a basic package that offers front bumper and headlight coverage to a full car package that covers all painted surfaces on your car, If you are a weekend warrior and enjoy offroading in your 4×4, then full coverage is what we would recommend to combat the abrasive elements of dirt, gravel and branch scratches. If you daily commute to work 1 mile away, maybe a basic or standard package is right for you, providing front end protection against those short street miles. Call to talk to one of our professionals today about which package is right for you and your vehicle.
How long does PPF last?
Depending on where you live and the kind of usage you put your car through, you can determine how long your PPF will last. However, if properly applied and maintained, PPF will last 5 to 10 years. Like any item you purchase, the more you take care of it, the longer it will last, and PPF is no exception!
How do you maintain PPF?
When maintaining and cleaning your car with paint protection film on it, we have a couple tips and tricks to help you. For starters, we recommend that you never use abrasive polishes or sealants on the PPF; this could result in the film losing its clarity or high protective properties. If you can help it, you should always use soft water to clean your vehicle with PPF on it; soft water will combat harsh water spots. For home washing, you should always use the correct soap, we recommend our Polished Car Care Cleanse Soap for the ultimate PPF wash. After washing we recommend applying our quick ceramic detailer Elevate to ensure protection and ease of maintenance next time you wash. Plush and soft microfiber towels for drying and wiping any excess water. Have a question about home maintenance? Call now to talk to one of our professionals about how you can maintain your new PPF.
Does PPF come with a warranty?
All of our Xpel PPF packages are backed by a manufacturer’s warranty of 10 years. To learn more about Xpel’s manufacturer warranty please visit their warranty page here. Our PPF shop offers a warranty for any discrepancies in our installation work, to combat any issues, we offer check up appointments after installation to double check our work and get your feedback on the products we installed or serviced.
OUTRO:
We hope you found this article to be informative and enlightening on the world of clear bra. If you would like to learn more about our PPF packages please visit this page or call us today!
