Category: Paint Protection Film

3 Reasons You Should Never Attempt a DIY Paint Protection Film Installation

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!

Paint Protection Film and Vinyl Wrap: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to preserving your car’s integrity for the long-haul, there are many options available, including paint protection film (PPF) and vinyl wrap. But how are they different and which one is best for you?

Luckily, the experienced and approachable technicians at GForce Films are more than happy to help.

Here is everything you need to know about PPF vs. vinyl wrap.

What is Paint Protection Film?

Also known as a clear bra, PPF is an invisible, urethane film with self-healing properties that is applied directly to the surface of your car. It offers supreme protection against most outdoor elements, including UV rays, bird bombs, and water marks. Furthermore, PPF will safeguard your vehicle’s paint from scratches, scuffs, and rock chips. When self-healing PPF comes into contact with heat, it will return to its base energy state, appearing seamlessly smooth. This allows it to “heal” any small dings or surface-level scrapes.

What is Vinyl Wrap?

Made from PVC, vinyl wrap is a flexible and thin material that comes in a wide array of colors, textures, and finishes. It features a specially formulated adhesive on the back which is safe to apply directly to your car’s surface. Most people choose vinyl wrap to customize their car. They can add images, colors, and patterns to their ride without having to completely repaint it. And despite being not as thick as PPF, vinyl wrap can still protect your car from scuffs and scrapes.

What’s the Differences Between PPF and Vinyl Wrap?

Now that you know what PPF and vinyl wrap are, let’s explore the differences between them.

Materials: PPF must be durable, flexible, and clear. Due to these requirements, the best PPF is made from polyurethane. Vinyl wraps are made from polyvinyl chloride, allowing them to be dyed and have different finishes.

Durability and Thickness: PPF is a lot thicker than vinyl wrap. In the automotive wrap and film industry, we use “mil” as the unit to measure the thickness of the material. One mil is one-thousandth of an inch. Your debit card is about 30 mil thick, while a piece of paper is 3 mil. PPF is typically eight to 12 mil, while vinyl wrap is about four mil.

Customization: No matter what type of PPF you choose, the outcome will always be clear. With vinyl wrap, you can customize your entire car to your heart’s content.

PPF vs. Vinyl Wrap: Which One is Right for You?

So, which one is right for you? This all depends on your intentions, your budget, and your paint condition.

If you’re simply looking to preserve your car’s paint, PPF could be the best option for you. PPF will last for about 10 years and can be applied much more quickly than vinyl wrap. While it does offer amazing protection for a variety of finishes, PPF is not customizable. Since it is clear, PPF will also show any paint imperfections your vehicle already has. We always recommend getting PPF as soon as you buy a brand-new car, or getting a paint correction before applying PPF.

Vinyl wrap is more forgiving since it is not transparent. It can also be used to completely transform your car’s look. Vinyl wrap lasts for about five years and takes much longer to install than PPF.

If you are interested in learning more, contact the friendly and knowledgeable experts at GForce Films today. We can be reached at (912) 655-2888 and can’t wait to chat with you!