What Is Paint Protection Film?
Invented to protect helicopter rotor blades from shrapnel and debris during Vietnam, paint protection film is a transparent lightweight layer an expert can apply to body panels. Modern films are optically clear and can even self-heal light scratches.
This will allow you to avoid a lot of car washes and save time cleaning your vehicle. You can also keep it looking newer longer, increasing resale value.
How Does Automotive Paint Protection Film Work?
The main function of paint protection film is to keep the car’s clear coat looking fresh, and it does so by absorbing the damage that would otherwise impact the underlying painted surface. It is not to be confused with a ceramic coating or traditional carnauba wax, which are both very effective at protecting the paint, but do not absorb or smooth out impact damage.
While Opticle’s high-grade paint protection films are certainly not cheap, they can actually save you thousands in car maintenance costs over the course of its lifetime. They can also turn depreciation on its head, giving you a much higher resale value if you ever decide to sell your vehicle.
However, while PPF sounds like an invincible material, it’s important to remember that it will not repair or heal any scuffs or scratches that are caused by extreme forces. It is also not designed to protect the finish against organic acids, bird droppings, tree sap, bugs, and other things that can eat into the paint’s clear coat.
It Prevents Paint Damage
Although professionally-applied ceramic coatings and paint sealants help prevent the accumulation of dirt, grime, bird droppings, scuff marks, bugs, and other environmental elements that can mar your car’s paint job, these products aren’t able to stop gradual mechanical wear. Even the most careful driver can’t escape gradual wear from long commutes, frequent road trips, and other common driving activities that lead to abrasions and chipping on the front end of your car.
Paint protection film, also known as clear bra, provides a strong barrier that absorbs impact without altering the appearance of your vehicle. This protective layer is typically applied to high-impact areas of your car, such as the hood, bumper, and mirrors, although it can be trimmed and applied around corners and other areas as well.
The PPF is designed to be transparent, allowing the original paint color to show through, but there are now several colors available to match or complement your vehicle’s finish. The film has a self-healing property, meaning scratches and scuff marks will disappear on their own over time, rather than leaving behind unsightly scars.
It Prevents Fading
Paint protection film acts as a shield against harmful UV rays, which cause car paint to fade over time. It also protects against water spots, bird droppings, tree sap, acid rain, and other environmental contaminants that can stain or etch the clear coat on your vehicle.
Additionally, paint protection films prevent fading caused by sunlight exposure. This helps to preserve the original color of your car’s paint and keep it looking vibrant for years to come.
Finally, paint protection films help to minimize the need for extensive washing and waxing sessions. They repel dust, dirt, mud, and other contaminants, making it easier to clean your car and keep it looking new. This helps to save you time and effort, so you can spend more time enjoying your car! The slick surface of the protective coating makes it difficult for grime to stick, meaning that it will easily slide off when you wash your car. This will drastically reduce the amount of time and effort you spend on car maintenance.
It Prevents Scratches
Even if you’ve had multiple-stage paint correction done and regularly apply high-quality ceramic coatings or waxes, your car is still going to get scratched and scuffed by the constant wear and tear of driving. This can be especially bad for your resale value.
Paint protection film prevents these scratches and scuffs by acting as a layer of clear plastic over your paint job, essentially protecting the vulnerable areas of your car from other cars’ bumpers, rocks, road debris, or any other impact. PPF is also self-healing, meaning that minor scuffs and scratches will disappear over time without damaging the actual paint underneath.
If you get your PPF from a certified installer and take care of it properly, this will protect your car’s appearance for years to come and preserve its resale value. It will also make cleaning and maintaining your vehicle much easier, as dirt and grime can be wiped away easily without scratching the paint beneath it.
