Whether your car is fresh off the showroom floor or has racked up 30,000 miles on the odometer, you take pride in your ride. That’s why you take the time to thoroughly wash, wax, and detail every inch of your vehicle to make it shine like new. But daily driving can take a toll on your car’s pristine paint, leaving unsightly scratches, scrapes, and swirl-marks.
Paint protection film (PPF) is an effective way to preserve your vehicle’s integrity for the long-haul. Also known as a clear bra, PPF is a flexible, invisible thermoplastic-urethane film that seamlessly adheres to any painted surface of your car’s exterior.
There are numerous advantages of clear wrapping a car, including protecting it from damage caused by bird bombs, UV rays, and watermarks. A clear bra provides up to seven years of supreme paint protection.
If you’ve ever detailed your car before, you might be tempted to try a DIY PPF installation right in your driveway. While this can save you some money up front, a DIY paint protection film installation can actually do more harm than good.
Here are three reasons why you shouldn’t attempt to install PPF yourself.
1. You Need the Perfect Environment
Your garage or driveway may seem like a great place to install PPF. However, you need an enclosed, controlled environment to effectively perform a paint protection film installation. Professional technicians use large rooms that are specially designed to help the chemicals to bond flawlessly with your car and prevent dust and dirt from sneaking under the film.
If you try a DIY clear bra installation in your dirty driveway or dusty garage, it can ruin the entire process.
2. The Right Tools and Techniques
Installing paint protection film isn’t as simple as buying a kit and slathering your car’s exterior with chemicals. You must be using the right tools and techniques to achieve the best results possible.
For example, do you know how to use a polisher? Do you even own one?
Furthermore, you need to precisely cut PPF before you apply it to your car. Experienced technicians typically use computer generated precut films to guarantee the perfect fit. If you try cutting the clear bra with a razor, you could end up damaging the film or your vehicle’s paint.
3. The Proper Amount of Time
Installing paint protection film on your vehicle cannot be done in one afternoon. It can’t even be accomplished in a day. PPF installations require tremendous amounts of time and effort. It takes professionals at least three or four days to complete the job.
If you want to do a DIY clear bra installation, you’re going to need at least a week. The process will take even longer if you plan on doing it during the winter months, as the film will take longer to cure.
During this time, you shouldn’t drive your car. If you drive your car regularly, this could be a huge inconvenience.
Pros and Cons of DIY Paint Protection Film Installation
If you’re still thinking about attempting to do a DIY paint protection film installation, it’s a smart idea to weigh the pros and cons.
The biggest benefit of doing a PPF installation yourself is that it’s more affordable. However, if the process goes wrong, you could end up spending even more money to fix the damage.
The disadvantages of DIY paint protection film applications are that it requires the right environment, tools, and techniques. If the process is lacking any of these components, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
Trust Your Car to the GForce Films Team
If you want to protect your car for years to come, you need to have a PPF installation done by a team of seasoned professionals.
The experienced technicians at GForce Films have been providing quality detailing services to our customers for over 10 years. We have the tools, techniques, and training to complete a perfect PPF installation on the first try.
To learn more, call us today at (912) 655-2888. We’ll keep your car looking great for years to come!
