Your car’s paint is one of the first things that people notice about it and one of the most important parts of its aesthetic appeal. As most car owners know, however, a vehicle’s shiny new paint doesn’t always last forever.
To extend the life of a vehicle’s paint and protect it from numerous sources of damage, many drivers choose to apply paint protection film to their vehicles. This transparent film provides a protective seal designed to protect a car’s exterior from minor scratches, sun damage, and a whole lot more.
To help you decide if car paint protection is a worthwhile purchase for you, let’s take a look at some common reasons why a car’s surface incurs damage and how paint protection film works to guard against these common sources of damage.
Common Threats to Your Car’s Paint
Your car’s paint job can go up against a lot of different threats. Some of the most common causes of paint/exterior surface damage include:
- UV Rays: Exposure to direct sunlight can cause automotive paint to fade over time. This is due to UV rays in sunlight that break down the pigments in paint and cause them to oxidize. Unless you are able to keep your new car parked in a covered area at all times, sunlight is going to be one of the biggest threats to its paint job.
- Environmental Contaminants: Bird droppings, tree sap, acid rain, and dirt are just a few environmental contaminants that can damage a car’s paint. These environmental contaminants can contain acids that eat away at the paint they contact, leaving behind unsightly stains.
- Road Debris: Road debris such as loose gravel, rocks, and dirt can sometimes damage a car’s paint. Even a small piece can easily scratch your car’s paint when you are traveling at high speeds or if it accidentally rubbed into the paint during your next car wash.
- Scratches: Speaking of scratches, scratches to your vehicle’s exterior can come from a lot of different sources. Loose shopping carts, car dings, road debris, and having your cared keyed are a few of the ways that a vehicle can end up with a minor (or major) scratch in its paint.
Paint Protection Film: The Key to Long-Term Protection
There are a few ways to go about protecting your car’s paint job. Using a car cover is one option, but this can be a hassle and only provides protection when your vehicle is parked. Applying car wax such as carnauba wax on a regular basis is another available option, but this too can be expensive and time-consuming while only offering minimal protection.
The hands-down best solution for long-term protection is paint protection film. Once applied, paint protection film is able to last thousands of miles, and new self-healing technology is continuing to expand the durability of PPF. It’s also more affordable than alternative paint protection options such as paint sealant or ceramic coating.
Paint protection film allows vehicle owners to easily and affordably protect their car’s paint job without having to worry about putting a car cover on every time they park their vehicle or constantly applying expensive products. This makes it the most effective option for long-term paint protection and worth every penny.
How PPF Works
Paint protection film forms a durable, invisible barrier over the surface of your vehicle. If you’ve ever used a screen protector on your smartphone to protect the glass beneath, then it’s a little similar to that. Once applied, the film acts as a sacrificial barrier, absorbing impacts from small debris and other objects so that your paint won’t get scratched. PPF is also able to protect against fading and erosion by absorbing UV rays and preventing environmental contaminants from contacting your car’s paint.
To install paint protection, the film must be cut into custom-fit sections to fit specific areas of your vehicle such as its hood, mirrors, and bumpers. Each piece is then applied individually via an adhesive backing, and the technician installing the film will use a squeegee to work out any air bubbles and ensure a solid seal. Due to installing paint protection film, it’s typically best to let professionals handle the installation process.
Where PPF is Applied
When installed correctly, however, paint protection film can act as a protective layer for all of your vehicle’s external elements, including its hood, fenders, mirrors, bumpers, and door handles. This allows you to protect the entire exterior of your vehicle and leave no surface vulnerable to damage.
The Best Paint Protection Film Available: LLumar
There is a wide variety of paint protection films available on the market today. The best of the best is offered by LLumar. LLumar’s durable and long-lasting paint protection films are self-healing, extensively tested, and factory-backed. They also come available in multiple finishes and variations, making it easy to find a film that matches your preferences and budget.
LLumar’s Platinum paint protection film is one of the most popular, and this high-quality film comes available in both a gloss and matte finish. This film is built for maximum protection and offers hydrophobic properties designed to repel moisture and prevent stains. The Platinum Extra film is thicker and stronger for extra defense against chips, dings, and scratches. LLumar also offers self-healing Valor Paint Protection that has a ceramic coating built into the film to help with upkeep.
Learn More About LLumar Platinum Paint Protection Film
Paint Protection Film Cost: Is it Worth it?
How much it costs to apply paint protection film on your car depends on a few different factors. The biggest factors that determine the cost of paint protection film are the size of your car, the areas that you want to cover, and the quality of the paint protection film that you choose.
With so many variables related to cost, it’s hard to give an exact estimation, but generally, a simple strip across the hood and fenders is going to start around $250 while a full vehicle can get all the way up to $45,000. With all this in mind and such a wide range in price, you might wonder if paint protection film worth this price? There are a couple of good reasons why we think that the answer is yes!
To decide if paint protection film is worth the cost, you’ve got to compare it against the costly alternatives. Getting scratches and chips repaired isn’t cheap, and having to repaint your entire car due to stains or sun damage can be even more expensive. Repairing a scratch can cost anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars depending on how deep it is. Giving a car a new paint job can likewise cost either hundreds or thousands of dollars.
If you decide to skip these expenses and just live with the damage, you may end up paying for them anyway when it comes time to sell your car. It goes without saying that damage to a car’s exterior harms its resale value. So whether you’re paying for repairs or losing out on potential profits, damage to your car’s paint can be a pain in the pocketbook!
Compared to these potential expenses, the cost of paint protection film is a lot more affordable. Once installed, paint protection film is an investment that will last about as long as the car itself is likely to last. And along with protecting your car’s resale value from taking a hit, paint protection film can actually boost the value of a car when it is a high-quality film that has been properly installed.
For these reasons, paint protection film is typically well worth the cost and is one of the best investments you can make in your vehicle.
Atlanta’s Go-To For PPF Installation Services
At The Tint Guy, we specialize in installing paint protection film and are one of the top LLumar SelectPro dealers in the Atlanta area. Our expert technicians will be able to quickly and professionally install paint protection film over any area of your vehicle, and our partnership with LLumar means that we are able to offer a selection of the highest-quality paint protection films on the market today.
If you would like to ensure that you receive both high-quality film and expert installation services, The Tint Guy is able to help! To install LLumar paint protection film on your vehicle and protect its paint for years to come, be sure to schedule an appointment today.Or, if you need help choosing the right film for your vehicle or have any other questions, feel free to reach out! Our expert customer service representatives will be happy to answer your questions and help you choose the perfect paint protection film for your vehicle.