Paint Protection Film (also known as clear bra) is a self-healing film that protects any applied areas from rock chips, scratches, stains or swirls caused by road debris, bug droppings, and other environmental factors. The XPEL PPF we use is an 8 mil thick, clear polyurethane film. The self-healing aspect can make surface scratches and smaller nicks from rock chips melt away with exposure to direct sunlight. This virtually invisible film will not alter the color or design elements of your vehicle. However, we do offer a matte/satin variant of the film known as XPEL Stealth, for those that looking for a new look. XPEL Stealth will offer the same level of protection as the clear film, but additionally transforms the usual glossy finish of your paint into an exotic satin finish – making your car stand out from the rest.
Next to a home, your vehicle is often the second largest investment you will make. Keeping your vehicle looking new and protecting it with a company you can trust is important in maintaining its appearance and improving the resale value. After years of ownership, you can proudly drive your “still-new-looking” vehicle and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that your paint is perfectly preserved.
Yes! The material was originally designed to stop chips on rotor blades and airplane propellers. It is much easier for the product to protect your vehicle’s paint than a propeller moving at nearly the speed of sound. That being said, you will always get the best results with PPF when the car is brand new. It will prevent new damage from occuring, but it will not undo existing damage.
It is a common misconception that our shop installs wraps to change the color of a vehicle. That type of wrap is known as vinyl, and is produced by companies like 3M and Avery Dennison. While vinyl is a great way to give your vehicle a new look, it can be likened to getting a new paint job – where the exterior of your vehicle still remains vulnerable to rock chip damage, sun damage, and all other environmental factors that degrade its appearance over time. Additional factors to consider are that the lifespan of vinyl is limited to only a few years, and that the product does not offer any self-healing characteristics or long-term warranties.
The solutions we provide at AP3 are geared toward preserving the condition of the vehicle, so that it stays looking brand new throughout the entirety of the typical ownership period. For those looking for a unique new look, we highly suggest asking about XPEL Stealth. This variant of PPF will offer the same long-term protection, while simultaneously shifting the appearance of your paint from a standard glossy look to a frozen matte/satin finish. Both versions of PPF preserve the original color and luster of your factory paint.
For those determined to change the color of their car with vinyl, PPF can be applied on top of vinyl to keep it safe from damage – the same way it would protect paint.
This question is best answered by getting rid of the words “Coating” and “Film” and replacing them with “Liquid” and “Plastic Barrier”.
Ceramic Coating is a liquid, and is applied from a 50mL bottle onto the surface of a car. It can be applied to any surface – paint, plastic, rubber, glass, and fabrics. The liquid is smoothed, buffed, and eventually hardens into a shell over the surface. While the coating will help resist fine scratches, this hardened shell is approximately 100 times thinner than Paint Protection Film. The main objective of a Ceramic Coating is to enhance the shine of your paint and take all of the hard work out of washing it and keeping it clean. A Ceramic Coating will not stop rock chip damage or deeper scratches from reaching the paint on its own.
Paint Protection Film is a dense plastic barrier that can only be installed on painted surfaces. It cannot adhere properly to plastics, rubber, glass, or fabrics. PPF is so thick, that it becomes a sacrificial skin for your paint – stopping the vast majority of damage caused from rock chips, scratches, swirls, and other forms of wear from ever reaching your paint. If a panel of PPF needs to be replaced from rock chip damage, the cost to do so is a fraction of the cost of otherwise repainting and unprotected panel – and it still allows you to maintain your original paint in perfect condition.
Installing PPF in conjunction with a Ceramic Coating will allow you to reap the full benefits of both services.
We want to work with you to identify your needs, and recommend the right solutions.
If rock chips and paint scratches are your primary concern, then PPF is the solution.
If ease of cleaning, smooth feel, and shine are your primary concerns, then Ceramic Coating is the solution.
Many new vehicles owners desire the benefits of both products. It is a very popular project in our shop to do a combination of Paint Protection Film and Ceramic Coating.
In our order of operations, the Paint Protection Film is installed first to seal in the condition of the paint. A Ceramic Coating is applied after the fact, so that you can experience the full effect of the coating on the true exterior of the vehicle.
Before ceramic coatings were introduced to mass market, keeping your vehicle clean was a major chore. The cleaning process is greatly simplified with a coated vehicle.
Regularly rinsing the exterior with a pressure washer (below 2000 PSI) and drying with leaf blower is a 15-minute process that will melt away dirt and debris with minimal effort.
Every 4-6 weeks, it is advised to perform a full wash with a silica-infused soap. When applying a microfiber wash mitt to the surface, you’ll find that you no longer need to do any hard scrubbing – and that the mitt will effortlessly glide across the surface to easily remove dirt and grime. We have a full rundown of our wash process in this YouTube Video.
The warranty of a ceramic coating is maintained through an annual inspection where we perform an exterior wash, an inspection the work performed, and an enhancement the coating through the application of a ceramic boost treatment. This annual inspection can continually be performed even beyond the warranty period to further extend the life of your coating.
Detailing technicians at AP3 have experience installing Cquartz, Opticoat, Gtechniq, CeramicPro, and Gyeon Quartz coatings. We would like to emphasize that the brand of ceramic coating is infinitely less important than the experience and technique behind the installation. Proper prep work and application methods are crucial for getting the best results from your coating. That being said, we find XPEL’s coating to have the best luster, durability, robust installer network, and most responsive warranty system. For several years in a row, AP3 has earned the XPEL’s national award for Ceramic Coating.
A ceramic coating is similar to glass, and can be cleaned with almost any usual cleaning product. Common cleaning chemicals will not damage the coating, but AP3 recommends using silica-infused wash soaps and cleaners for the best results. These products are pH-neutral, and help maintain the performance and extend the lifespan of your coating.
XPEL offers a 10 Year Limited Warranty from the date of purchase, while most of the traditional Paint Protection Films offer a 5 – 7 year warranty. The manufacturer’s warranty includes coverage against things like defects, yellowing, bubbling and cracking – and can be honored by the global network of XPEL installers. This warranty is valid only if the film is installed by a Certified Installer. Additionally, the warranty is transferrable if the vehicle is sold.
We strongly recommend that Paint Protection Film be installed by a Certified Installer. Years of practice and technical knowledge are required to achieve exceptional results. Our team has the training and experience to make sure you receive an installation that meets that expectation. Also worth noting, the warranty is valid only if the film is installed by a Certified Installer.
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