It’s hard to avoid scratches and scuffs if you drive your car daily. However, a paint protection film can help to protect the surface of your car from environmental damage caused by salts, oils, bird droppings, UV rays and acid rain.
Having a proper installation done is crucial to ensuring that every part of your car is protected. Read on to find out the reasons why you should engage a reliable specialist, some key considerations when evaluating a service provider and the difference between a professional and less experienced installer!
Reasons Why You Should Engage A Professional Paint Protection Film Specialist
Installing a paint protection film seems like an easy task that can be undertaken by anyone. However, the right equipment, experience and expertise is, in fact, needed to ensure that the film is installed correctly and accurately.
Customisation of paint protection film
A professional paint protection film specialist will customise the film and modify it so that it fits perfectly onto each part of the car. This ensures that all edges are covered so you won’t have to worry about any scratches.
On the other hand, a less skilled installer may not customise the film to match the contours of your vehicle. This may result in gaps and misalignments, which can subsequently lead to an accumulation of dirt and dust along the exposed areas or even scratches.
Proper pre-cleaning process
Dirt and other particles can easily get stuck onto the adhesive during the installation process. Hence, an experienced specialist will ensure that the exterior surface of your car is cleaned and disinfected thoroughly before installing the film.
If your vehicle isn’t cleaned before the installation, particles that get trapped under the film are easily noticeable. Some installers may simply remove those sections of the film, leaving parts of your vehicle exposed.
High-quality paint protection film
A reliable paint protection film specialist is likely to use high-quality films from trusted brands such as STEK, XPEL, Suntek or Llumar. These films are usually glossier and thicker, giving your car better protection. Additionally, they tend to be more flexible, allowing for an easier application and smoother finish.
Paint protection films that are poorer in quality may result in issues such as stretch marks and an orange peel texture, where the surface reflection of your vehicle is blurry and distorted.
Key Considerations For Choosing A Paint Protection Film Specialist
In order to ensure that the paint protection film on your car is installed well, it’s important to choose a professional and reliable specialist. Some considerations you may have when choosing an installer include:
1. Brand and type of paint protection film used
Choosing a specialist who offers good quality film is important as it can affect the texture, durability, presence of discolouration (yellowing), and extent of protection your vehicle receives.
Currently, the top paint protection films in the market are STEK DYNOshield, XPEL Ultimate Plus, LLumar Platinum and SunTek Ultra.
2. Installation facility at which your car is serviced
Paint protection films are made of a sticky material so that they can adhere to your car paint easily. Thus, it’s important to evaluate the cleanliness of the facility where the installation takes place so that dirt and dust are less likely to be trapped underneath the film during installation.
3. Prep work before the installation of the paint protection film
It’s crucial to ensure that pre-cleaning is included as part of the application process. Before attaching the film, the car grooming specialist should clean and rid your car of all stains, dirt and smudges. This will allow the film to rest perfectly atop your car’s paintwork.
4. Installation method used by paint protection film specialist
There are 2 installation methods that paint protection film specialists may opt to use — a computer-cut film or bulk sheet.
Computer or pre-cut films allow for greater efficiency and less wastage as it’s cut to fit the model of the car. Additionally, there are cleaner cuts around the edges. However, the film may not always be perfectly aligned to the shape of your car and parts of the paintwork could remain exposed.
On the other hand, a bulk sheet requires a skilled installer to manually cut the film according to the shape and contours of the vehicle. This is often required for older models that don’t have pre-cut patterns. While this method can offer a more flawless finish, it’s often more complicated to install and poses the risk of scratches on your vehicle.
A professional paint protection film specialist will usually be skilled in both installation methods. They may use pre-cut patterns for the majority of the car and use the bulk sheet for areas such as the hood to avoid any large seams on the film.
5. Ability to inspect completed work
You may want to choose an installer who will allow you to inspect the paint protection film after the work is done to ensure that the installation was done correctly. If you have any doubts about the work done, you can enquire with the specialist before leaving the workshop.
Paint Protection Film Installation at New Age Polish
New Age Polish is a professional and reliable paint protection film specialist with a decade of experience. We use quality paint protection films from STEK for all our cars including clear bra, fashion and window films.
They’re designed to create a glossy, smooth finish on your vehicle and have a self-healing top coat with superior UV resistance and hydrophobic properties.
Clean and well-lit workshop
Our facility is equipped with an air filtration system that flows at 1,450 CFM and circulates air approximately 7 times every hour. In addition, we use SwissTrax flooring which traps dust and dirt.
LED lighting is also used in our workshop so that we’re able to spot and rectify even the most minor imperfections.
Professional and detailed installation process
At New Age Polish, our car specialists are highly professional and detail-oriented, especially with regards to the installation of paint protection films.
This is the typical installation process that’ll take place at our workshop:
Step 1: Wash the vehicle
After your car arrives at our workshop, it’ll be sent to a washing bay for a decontamination wash. This will get rid of any dirt on the surface of your vehicle.
Step 2: Smoothen the surface
Washing may not be able to remove impurities that are invisible to the naked eye. Thus, we’ll use a clay treatment that will help to get rid of these contaminants from the exterior surface of your car.
Step 3: Install the paint protection film
To install the film, we’ll first spray a slip solution and place the film in the most accurate position possible. Once the film is in place, we’ll use a squeegee tool to remove any excess solution.
At New Age Polish, we use 2 methods to ensure that the paint protection film is installed properly onto your car. Firstly, we’ll use computer-cut patterns for areas that are subject to high wear and tear such as the front and rear bumpers. This also allows for easy removal when it’s time to replace the film.
Next, we’ll use bulk sheets for the remaining areas to achieve a smooth and virtually invisible finish.
Step 4: Final inspection
Lastly, your car will go through a thorough quality control step where we’ll inspect all of the film edges to ensure that it’s in place and covers all parts of your vehicle.
These images illustrate the result of our paint protection film installation as compared to a less experienced installer:
Frequently Asked Questions
Which car paint protection film is the best?
There are numerous brands of paint protection films in the market.
At New Age Polish, we offer STEK’s paint protection films, which are a durable, high-quality solution with a glossy finish. They have hydrophobic and UV resistant properties with a self-healing surface that’s resistant to punctures.
How long does a paint protection film last?
Paint protection films have a lifespan of 5 to 7 years, depending on the driving circumstances, wear and tear, and overall care. If you’re looking for an installer to help you with this task, get in touch with our product specialists today!
Professional Paint Protection Film Installation Services
A reliable paint protection film specialist is able to install the film correctly and accurately onto your vehicle. They’ll also be sure to prepare the surface of your car properly before the installation. Give your car the best care possible by investing in a professional installation today!