VEHICLE WRAP AFTERCARE
In this page you will find all you need to know to care for your recently wrapped, PPF'd or Ceramic Coated vehicle so you can get the most out of your investment.
Vinyl Wraps
Your new car wrap looks amazing, and it completely personalizes your vehicle. The question you now may have is, how do I care for my car wrap properly?
Even if you use the best vinyl wrap service, you still need to take good care of the wrap itself. With that in mind, here you have a few tips and tricks to help you with the entire process
Paint Protection Film
Installing paint protection film for your vehicle is a great way to keep it safe and away from minor scratches or damage and it does offer that additional safety you need for your car, helping your vehicle maintain its value.
But it does bring the question, how can you protect your paint protection film in general?
Ceramic Coating
A ceramic coating can do wonders for your vehicle. It can protect it from the elements, while also making sure that your car’s looks remain great at all times. It’s a great approach and one that does help push the experience to the next level every time.
The ceramic coating is one of those investments that you want to make if you’re looking to keep your vehicle safe. See how to properly care for your vehicle once the Ceramic Coating has been added,
Vinyl wrap aftercare: Things to do and what to avoid!
Hand wash your vehicle
Cleanliness is crucial if you want to protect your wrap. We suggest using the two bucket method to wash your wrapped vehicle. The reason is simple, using a drive-thru car wash can end up damaging the vinyl. Damages can range from lifting, peeling, scratches, and swirls. Hand washing is the best way to keep your wrapped car looking great and damage free.
Garage Kept Is Best
Vinyl is not a forever product, eventually it will start fading. Places that get a lot of sun, like Texas, can cause this to happen sooner. Keeping your car parked in the garage or carport is a great way to extend the life of your wrap. UV resistant products like ceramic coatings or PPF are also a way to protect the vinyl from the sun as well.
Avoid Saps or Tars
Try to avoid parking under sap producing trees. Saps won't damage the vinyl directly, but the process of removal could potentially cause damage. Same with tar from construction.
Get a ceramic coating
Ceramic coatings are a product that is both UV resistant and Hydrophobic. What does this mean? The UV resistant properties will help keep your wrap from fading, making your vehicle look fresh for much longer. Making the vinyl hydrophobic helps keep your vehicle cleaner, and easier to clean as well.
Install PPF
Paint Protection Film is a UV resistant, hydrophobic, clear film that can be applied on top of your wrap. It is the best protection you can give your wrap. Not only will it help with UV rays and dirt, it is tough, it will protect your wrap from rock chips and scratches.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, your wrap will keep looking great as long as you take care of it. With these tips and insights we're sure your wrap will look great for years to come.
How to properly care for your Ceramic Coating
Hand wash your ceramic coating
Hand washing using the two bucket method is the best way to keep your coating glossy as the it was installed. It will extend the life of your ceramic coating in the long run, and results can be amazing. You can wash it on a weekly basis or maybe 2 times per month
Dry the ceramic coating completely
Dry the car completely after washing. The idea here is that water has minerals that will leave deposits, and that can lead to water spots. It might not seem that much at first, but it can end up being a major problem. That’s why addressing the issue properly can bring you some amazing results.
Avoid waxing your ceramic coating
Wax doesn’t bond with the ceramic coating, and that means you are waxing without any benefit or effect. So you shouldn’t wax your ceramic coating at all, it’s a waste of time and resources.
Avoid washing in direct sunlight
Why is that a problem? Direct sunlight generates heat, causing your soaps and other product to dry faster. This can cause unwanted water marks or damage the coating. It’s very important to wash your vehicle while you’re in an area with less UV rays. Washing in shade or inside the garage is best.
Use automotive shampoo or car soap
This type of soap/shampoo is created specifically to protect your vehicle against any type of damage. That’s why it makes a lot of sense to invest in it. Doing that is always worth it, and it will eliminate many issues and concerns that might arise
Use separate mitts and wash buckets for wheels
Wheels and tires in general collect brake dust, so if you use the same water and mitts, you’re spreading pieces of metal shavings onto your ceramic coating. That can damage it, sometimes beyond repair. Which is why you need to pay attention and focus on protecting your ceramic coating the best way that you can.
Conclusion
We recommend you to use these tips and tricks if you want to protect your ceramic coating properly and without any issues. The more you focus on that, the better the results you can get. It’s important to wash your ceramic coating at least 2 times per month, since it can help remove dust, debris and any other things that might cause damage!
How to maintain your Paint protection film
Avoid touching after installation
Once the paint protection film is installed, avoid touching the film for at least 2 days. This includes washing. The reason being, is that the PPF needs around 2 days to cure and settle properly. Even if there are some bubbles here and there, they will go away, so there’s no need to worry about that.
Keeping it clean
Hand washing with the two bucket method is what we will always recommend, but if need be, PPF should be able to take the abuses of a drive-thru car wash. Make sure to use the proper cleaning products. Try to avoid getting harsh chemicals, such as wheel cleaner or acids, on the film as this can degrade the film.
Conclusion
PPF is pretty easy to care for. It's tough stuff, self healing as well. See a scratch? Heat it, or leave it out in the sun, it will go away. PPF is there to protect your paint or wrap, keep it clean and it will do that for a long time.
