Paint protection film is, as the name suggests, made to protect the paint it is covering, but are there any instances in which it can damage the paintwork? It may seem impossible, but the likelihood is that certain situations and mistreatment can reduce the effectiveness of paint protection film dramatically.
In this blog, we will answer the question ‘Does paint protection film damage paintwork?’
The UK automotive after market industry is thriving, ranking fourth in Europe and ninth in the world in terms of size, and turning over an annual £21.1 billion.
The sector supports 345,600 jobs and contributes £12.2 billion each year to the economy. And it is growing: the sector’s value is set to rise to £28 billion by 2022.
That’s why we at Car Specialist Customs are here to provide you with all the information you require to get the best car customisation possible, whilst being as informed as possible.
The basics of paint protection film
Paint protection film, or PPF, is an aftermarket accessory that you can have placed on your automobile. It is made from vinyl, and is commonly known as a clear vehicle wrap.
Paint protection film provides a thin film of vinyl over the body of the vehicle. This layer provides a level of protection against day to day scratches and scuffs, and other issues that you can experience in general driving situations on normal roads or motorways.
Vehicle wrap or PPF?
A simple way to think about this is that PPF is a kind of vehicle wrap, but not all vehicle wraps are PPF, let us explain.
- Paint protection film is another name for a clear vehicle wrap. Paint protection film, or a clear vehicle wrap, is a transparent vinyl wrap.
The following examples are the remaining categories of vehicle wraps.
- Coloured vehicle wrap – This is an alternative to painting a vehicle, placing a coloured wrap over the vehicle instead. This differs from paint protection film as it is not transparent.
- Custom wrap—A custom vehicle wrap is made to the specification of the client, this can be anything from shapes to advertising a business. This differs from paint protection film as it doesn’t have to be placed as one wrap, additionally, the custom wraps that are added are not transparent.
Can a leased car get PPF?
If your vehicle is leased, seek permission from the lease company before making any commitments to apply the film. That being said, as long as the applicator is a reputable customiser like Car Specialist Customs, it should be okay.
Can any kind of vehicle get paint protection film?
Yes, paint protection film can be applied on any type of vehicle, understandably, the size and amount of film required will affect the cost of application.
Does paint protection film damage paintwork?
Not exactly, as the name suggests, paint protection film is designed to protect the paintwork of the vehicle it is applied to. However, there are circumstances in which you can end up damaging the vehicle’s paintwork even with the PPF on.
Thankfully, these instances are rare and can easily be avoided by knowing key information, which we will share below.
Look out for the following signs before applying paint protection film, if your vehicle has any of them, you are at risk of damaging your vehicle’s paintwork.
- Dents and bad scrapes – Both of these negatively influence the paintwork, and as a result, the application of the paint protection film will be compromised. Be sure to repair ASAP if you have dents or scrapes on a vehicle you want to put paint protection film on.
- Old, fading paint – If you find that certain areas of your vehicle’s paint job are fading, paint protection film will stop this, up until it’s time to remove the film. At this point, it is likely that the remaining paint in the faded areas comes off with the film.
- A fresh paint job – If you have just had your vehicle painted, you should wait for an appropriate amount of days before putting on paint protection film. This is because using PPF on wet paint can compromise the paint job.
Our best guidance is to ask the person applying the paint how long it will take to dry, and give it an extra day, this way any possible miscalculations on the painter’s part are somewhat invalidated. So if they say it will take 7 days, give it 8 days, and get your PPF applied on any day after that.
- A non-expert application – Someone who is not well versed in applying PPF has every chance of compromising your vehicle’s paintwork by making mistakes during the application process.
Here are the situations after PPF application that can result in damaged paintwork.
- Cleaning chemicals – Certain cleaning products contain chemicals that can disintegrate the paint protection film. However, there are alternatives you can take, including cleaning products that are compatible with paint protection film.
- Faeces – In this instance, we are specifically referencing bird droppings. No vehicle owner has ever had a car that hasn’t had bird droppings on them. We tend to wipe it away if it lands on our screens, but don’t really worry if it lands on the body of the vehicle.
Surprisingly, certain chemicals in bird faeces can create an acidic reaction when it is left in contact with paint protection film for an extended period of time, so you should immediately clean it off upon noticing.
- Extreme heat – This is a very rare occurrence, but if your vehicle has PPF and is very close to an open fire, it could melt the PPF, which will likely also affect your paintwork.
When can I not get paint protection film?
The following circumstances can prevent you from getting paint protection film…
- No permission from the vehicle owner or company.
- Deep dents on the vehicle that have not been repaired.
- If the vehicle already has a fading or peeling paint job.
- Already has deep scratches and scuffs that have already impacted the paint job.
- If you want another layer on top of the paint protection film you already have.
Purchase paint protection film today
Our team members at Car Specialist Customs are extremely passionate and proud of the multiple services and products we provide for the people of Greater Manchester and beyond.
As a fully insured and approved installer, catering to the needs of vehicle owners of Greater Manchester and beyond, we are proud to let you know that we offer services for the following:
Personalisation:
Protection/Security:
Featuring the brands, Pandora, ScorpionTrak, Meta Trak & SmarTrack, we’ve included affordable, and premium products to suit the needs of our customers. With finance options available, and the option of installation, head to our website to get your quote!
We will always go above expectations to make your car feel special to you. With even more services and options becoming available in the future, Car Specialist Customs is the home of making any car unique, secure and special.
See what we can do for you today, we hope the details we shared have helped you decide to take a step forward in personalising your vehicle with our unique service.
We hope to have answered the question ‘Does paint protection film damage paintwork?’ whilst also providing supplementary information that can help you make an informed choice when it comes to investing in customisation options for your vehicle.
Want to get in touch? You can find us right here:
WORKSHOP:
Unit 30
Caldershaw Centre
Ings Ln
Rochdale
OL12 7LQ
OPENING TIMES:
Monday to Wednesday – 10 AM—7 PM
Thursday – Closed
Friday to Sunday – 11 AM—7 PM
TELEPHONE:
07523 971347 (Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm)
EMAIL:
info@carspecialistcustoms.co.uk