Category: Wraps

How to Maintain Car Vinyl Wrap in Good Condition

Are you looking for an affordable way to customize your car? Worried that a new paint job will take too long or be too expensive? Or do you have a fear of commitment? Don’t worry; we get it.

Wrapping your car could be the way to go. Vinyl wraps cost a lot less than custom paint jobs. Plus, they’re easy to remove. This makes vehicle wraps an excellent solution for people who love switching up their style. But is a vinyl car wrap easy to maintain?

Just like any other investment, vehicle wraps require regular cleaning and maintenance. This ensures you’ll get the most enjoyment from your wrap. We’ve created this handy guide to make vehicle wrap maintenance a breeze. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know to keep your vehicle wrap in tip-top shape. 

 

What is a Vehicle Wrap? 

Think of vinyl car wrap like a giant sticker. Car wrapping is the aftermarket practice of partially or entirely covering your vehicle’s original paint with vinyl wraps.

At GForce Films, we’re proud to use premium vinyl wraps from leading brands, including Orafol, Avery Dennison, 3M, Hexis, and Cheetah Wrap. These quality wraps feature unrivaled colors, patterns, and durability.

To extend the lifespan of your vehicle wrap, you need to maintain it properly. 

 

Why Is It Beneficial to Maintain a Vehicle Wrap? 

While vehicle wraps provide superior protection for the paint underneath, they aren’t invincible. Car wraps are prone to scratching and fading. 

Some of the top benefits of vehicle wrap include:

 

Endless Options 

Car wraps come in countless options. There are endless colors, textures, and materials to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a glossy purple or a matte black, there’s a wrap that suits your style! 

 

No Need for Commitment

An important thing to remember is that vehicle wrap is intended to be temporary. This makes car wraps the perfect option for people who lease vehicles or want to return their car to its original appearance before selling it.

Maintaining your vinyl car wrap allows you to enjoy it for as long as possible. 

 

How to Clean a Vehicle Wrap 

The first step to maintaining your vehicle wrap is washing it properly. You should wash your wrap once weekly or whenever your vehicle is exposed to dirt and grime.

Never, EVER take your wrapped car to an automated car wash. This is the quickest way to damage the wrap. Also, avoid using abrasive polishes, cutting compounds, and isopropyl alcohol. If you don’t have these products, a mild detergent auto-specific shampoo will do the trick.

Start by softening hard-to-remove contaminants, like bird bombs or bug splatter, by soaking them in hot, soapy water. Rinse these areas thoroughly and dry them with a clean microfiber towel.

Afterward, clean the rest of the wrap using the two-bucket method. Use one bucket for suds and the other for rinsing your sponge or mitt AFTER touching the car and BEFORE dunking the mitt into the suds bucket again. 

 

How to Repair a Vehicle Wrap 

You can’t repair vinyl wrap yourself unless you have the original design file, a multi-thousand-dollar large-format printer, and specialized software. It’s a job best left to the professionals.

Call GForce Films’ vinyl wrap specialists today if your vehicle wrap gets torn. We’ll seamlessly match the color and scale for a flawless fit. After we’re done, you won’t be able to tell your car wrap was ever damaged in the first place! 

 

How to Store a Vehicle Wrap 

Like paint, vehicle wraps will degrade from prolonged exposure to UV rays and outside contaminants. The most significant damage will be along horizontal surfaces, like the roof or hood.

If you can, park your car in a garage, carport, or shaded area during the day. We recommend investing in a cloth car cover if you don’t have a carport or garage. 

 

3 Tips for Prolonging the Life of a Vehicle Wrap 

Use these three tips to extend the life of your vehicle wrap.

  1. If you spill gas on your car wrap, hand wash the affected area immediately. Letting the spill soak will degrade the vinyl.
  2. Never use solvents, oil-based cleaners, kitchen and bathroom cleaners, engine degreasers, or orange oil to clean your vinyl wrap.
  3. Invest in paint protection film (PPF) to keep your wrap looking fresh as long as you have it.

 

25 Years of Automotive Detailing Excellence 

Want to customize your car? If so, consider getting it wrapped at GForce Films. Our specialists have provided stunning results to Savannah motorists for over a decade. We offer superior window tinting, PPF, graphics, and striping services. 

To learn more, contact GForce today by calling 912-655-2888. We look forward to hearing from you!

Is it Cheaper to Vinyl Wrap or Paint a Car?

At some point or another, we all just want to shake things up a bit. As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life. But when it comes to altering the appearance of your car, what should you do? You may just want to install window tint or get a fresh set of wheels. Or maybe, you want to change the entire look and feel of your vehicle. 

When it comes to changing your car’s appearance, you can either choose to wrap or paint it. While both of these options transform the look of your car’s color palette, which one is the more affordable choice?

Before you decide, it’s important to do your research. Luckily, the experts at GForce Films are here to help. Here’s everything you need to know about car wrapping vs. paint costs.

What Is Car Vinyl Wrap? 

Vinyl wraps are a great way to modify the look of your ride. With a wide variety of colors, patterns, and textures to choose from, you can easily pick a wrap that fits your unique style.

You can have wrap partially applied to your vehicle, including the roof or hood. Or, you can wrap the entire vehicle. The vinyl wrap is custom cut to seamlessly cover every inch of your car’s exterior paintwork. The vinyl wrap is applied directly to your car’s paint, and won’t damage its exterior at all.

Car Wrap Costs vs Car Paint Costs

Your budget plays a major role in finding the best solution for customizing your car. That’s why it’s important to find quality services that won’t break the bank.

When it comes to the cost of car wrapping vs. custom paint job costs, many factors will determine the cost of both services. However, vehicle wraps are almost always the more affordable option.

On average, a custom vehicle paint job can range between $3,000 and $10,000. And that’s just for a basic design. If you want more intricate patterns or designs painted on your car, you’re looking at $20,000 or more. That’s because painting a vehicle is a labor-intensive process. Not only do the technicians have to sand the car’s body and remove any rust, but they also have to apply numerous costs of high-quality automotive paint.

Car wrapping, on the other hand, will cost significantly less. The average price for fully wrapping a car will fall between $3,000 and $5,000.

At GForce Films, our car wrapping prices vary based on the design, the size of the car, the choice of vinyl, and the current condition of your paint. To get an accurate quote, we recommend bringing your car into our facility. To learn more, you can always give us a call at (912) 655-2888.

Car Wrapping Benefits

In addition to being more cost-effective than painting your car, automotive wrap offers tons of other valuable benefits, including:

  • Long lasting: Car wraps can last as long as 10 years.
  • Simple to maintain: When you wrap your car, you don’t need to wash or wax it as often. That’s because the paint underneath the wrap is protected. However, when the time comes to wash your wrap, it’s super easy to do. Simply wash it by hand using the two-bucket method.
  • Faster installation time: Unlike paint jobs that can take weeks to complete, a full car wrap can be completed in as little as just a few days.
  • Safer removal: Tired of your current wrap design? Changing your wrap is a breeze. Just be sure to take it to a team of professionals to have the job done correctly. This way, the paint won’t get damaged.
  • Superior protection: Vinyl car wrap can protect your paint from scratches, fading, and abrasions.
  • Limitless customization options: Car wrap offers endless customization options, such as gloss, satin matte or textured. There are also numerous colors, patterns, and designs to choose from.

Let Us Vinyl Wrap Your Ride 

Ready to wrap your ride? If so, call GForce Films today. We proudly serve the communities of Savannah, Pooler, Bluffton, and Hilton Head. We only use the best wraps from leading companies, including Orafol, Avery Dennison, 3M, Hexis, Cheetah Wrap, APA and Vinyl Frog.

To learn more, contact us today by calling (912) 655-2888.

5 Reasons to Vinyl Wrap Your Car Instead of Painting It

Sometimes, it’s exciting to shake things up with some new changes. But when it comes to modifying the look of your vehicle, should you paint or wrap it? While both of these options allow you to personalize your car’s appearance, there are some major differences between them.

Vehicle wraps offer a few advantages compared to painting, including more affordable costs, more design options, and greater protection. Wrapping might be a great option if you’re looking for cost-efficient ways to create a unique, one-of-a-kind look.

Here are five reasons why you should wrap your car instead of painting it.

1.Cost-Effective Customization

Automotive vinyl car wrap is an affordable way to completely customize your vehicle. While the typical price of a car paint job can range between $5,000 and $10,000, high-quality car wrapping solutions can cost half of that.

This is why many small businesses choose to wrap their fleets instead of painting them. They’re able to create an attractive marketing strategy while trimming their bottom line.

2. Higher Quality

Did you know that many vehicle wrapping services can be of better quality than paints? While an amateur auto paint job might look fantastic at first, over time it can crack, fade, and scratch. Even paint services that offer high-quality paints are more susceptible to damage than wraps are. Automotive paint can suffer wear and tear from sun exposure, hazardous weather, and road debris.

Car wrapping can keep your vehicle looking fresh for years to come. Here at GForce Films, we use only the highest quality wrapping products available in the industry. Our wrapping materials can withstand fading, cracking, and more.

3. More Personalization Options

When it comes to completely transforming your car into a vehicle that embodies your distinct personality, car wrapping offers an endless variety of options. Whether you want to change your car’s color or add enhancements, vehicle wrap offers much more design options that paint does.

When you choose to wrap your car, you can choose from different colors and details to match the precise color pallet of your unique vision. You can also add images, logos, lettering, and customized graphics to your ride.

4. Increased Resale Value

When the time comes to resell your vehicle, you will enjoy a higher resale value with quality wrap than with automotive paint. As we mentioned before, paint can chip and fade. This will diminish your car’s appearance and lower its value.

If you want to customize your car without compromising its integrity, car wrapping services are the way to go.

5. Installation Time

At GForce Films, we understand that your time is precious. That’s why we recommend wrapping your car instead of painting it. A  typical car wrap will take usually 5 working days and is much faster than getting your vehicle painted. No down time with ‘out gassing’. You’ll be ready to drive out and enjoy your vehicle. If you don’t want to be left stranded for days, or even weeks, get your car wrapped!

Superior Car Wrapping Solutions in Savannah

If you want to customize your vehicle, call the experienced car detailing team at GForce Films today! With decades of experience, we specialize in car wrapping, paint protection film (PPF), window tinting, and more.

To learn more about our vehicle wrapping services, call us today at (912) 655-2888. We can’t wait to hear from you!

5 Easy Tips You Should Know to Maintain Your Car Vinyl Wrap

When it comes to making your car stand out from the crowd, vinyl wrapping is definitely the way to go. Vinyl wraps enable you to truly customize your vehicle and showcase your unique personality. These personalized wraps partially or completely cover a car’s original paint with different colors, patterns, and finishes, such as matte, gloss, or a clear protective layer.

But while vinyl wrap effectively protects your vehicle’s surface from scratches, it can eventually suffer from wear and tear. So how can you maintain your car vinyl wrap to ensure it always looks fantastic?

The team at GForce Films is here to help! Here are five proven ways to increase the lifespan of your auto vinyl wrap and keep your ride looking sharp.

1. Listen to the Experts

Following the installation of your vinyl wrap, it’s essential that you follow the maintenance and care recommendations of the professionals that did the service. While many car owners can be DIY enthusiasts that have trouble following directions, it’s imperative that you listen to the advice of the experts. As a general rule of thumb, you should:

  1. Always hand wash your car
  2. Never take it to an automated car wash
  3. Never use harsh chemical cleaner
  4. Avoid prolonged exposure to outdoor elements
  5. Always use the recommended aftercare and cleaning techniques and products

Listening to the experts will ensure your vinyl wrap stays in great condition.

2. Be Mindful Where You Park

Most car vinyl wraps aren’t naturally hydrophobic, meaning that they cannot repel water. This means that rain, sleet, and snow are not your vinyl wrap’s friends.

As such, it’s important to be careful when parking your car. If you can, avoid parking your vehicle under trees because pollen, sap, and other sticky substances will harm the wrap. Moreover, birds love to spend time in trees, making shady areas prime locations for gross and damaging bird bombs.

If you have access to a garage or car port, park your vehicle inside. This will safeguard it from UV rays, which can cause your vinyl wrap to prematurely wear and fade.

3. Always Use the Right Cleaning Products

As we previously mentioned, harsh chemical cleaning products will damage your auto vinyl wrap. Some types of chemical cleaning agents to steer clear from include:

  1. Citrus-based cleaning solutions
  2. Solvent-based cleaners
  3. Bathroom and kitchen cleaners
  4. Oil-based cleaning products
  5. Engine degreasers
  6. High pH washes

Always wash your vinyl wrap with PPF or vinyl car soap.

4. Consider Ceramic Coating

Getting vinyl wrap installed on your vehicle is a big investment. Keep it protected by getting ceramic coating. This clear coating contains liquid polymer and creates a protective bubble around your car’s surface. This safeguards your vinyl wrap from water, oil, corrosives, UV rays, and more.

5. Wash Your Car Every Two Weeks

In order to keep your vinyl wrap looking its best, you need to take care of it. We recommend hand washing your car every other week. Use the tried and true two-bucket washing method to effectively wash your wrap.

Expert Vinyl Wrap Services in Savannah

If you’re on the hunt for an amazing vinyl wrap installation company, look no further than GForce Films! Since 2012, we’ve been Savannah’s go-to vinyl wrap company. Our team goes above and beyond to deliver superior results that will give your car the “wow” factor you’ve been looking for.

To learn more about what we can do for you, contact us today.