- Introduction: Personalising your vehicles
There is something very satisfying about driving a car that feels special and unique to you. The choice of car and importantly its colour are both reflections of your taste and lifestyle. For many years, paint was the only way to achieve individuality. Car wrapping which has evolved using sophisticated technology and car owners can now have their vehicles transformed – but without the permanence and risks associated with traditional respraying. Quality car wraps rival paint in depth, texture and choice of finish from superior glosses and soft satins, to modern metallics in vibrant colours. Colored car wraps completely transform the car’s appearance while protecting the original paintwork. Unlike paint, wraps can be installed with short downtime and decisions can be easily reversed. Today, personalisation means practicality and wrapping is proving the clever alternative.
- Painting Vs Wrapping: Key Differences
Choosing between painting and wrapping is not just a cosmetic decision, as there are technological and financial aspects to consider. New paint becomes an integral part of the vehicle, whereas a wrap sits on top of the vehicle’s original paintwork and acts as an expressive and protective layer that can be easily removed. The key differences are:
• Permanence
New paintwork is a permanent alteration to a car whereas wraps are fully reversible.
• The Range of Finishes
Wraps offer a more extensive range of finishes as they offer metallics, textures and customised graphics as well as a comprehensive range of colours.
• Paint Protection
Paintwork is exposed to damage from road debris and UV light, but Protect Paint Film shields and protects the factory finish of the paintwork.
• Application
Applying new paint involves several stages including sanding, priming and curing. In contrast, after the existing paintwork is thoroughly washed and prepared, a car wrap can be applied directly to the paintwork.
• The Time Factor
A top quality respray can take 2- 6 weeks to complete including curing and finishing stages. A car wrap takes 1-3 days for a complete transformation. As time is money, a quality car wrap is a cheaper option.
• Durability
Quality Car PPF Wraps can last 5- 7 years. Premium paint does last longer than this, but costs considerably more.
• Maintenance
The new paintwork on a vehicle needs to be regularly maintained as it can be damaged by stone chips, scratches and road debris. Wraps are resistant to this type of damage as well as UV fading and are easier to keep clean.
- When to Choose Car Wrapping
Choosing car wrapping makes sense when a speedy transformation of a vehicle is required such as new brand colours or for custom designs. As wrapping is totally reversible without any damage to the original paintwork, it can be removed for a model update or when the vehicle is to be sold.
Car wrapping is the ideal choice for those with prestigious or collectible cars and also for those with an older vehicle that has paintwork in good condition, as a PPF car wrap can freshen tired looking paintwork. Paint oxidation and minor scratches can also be successfully disguised with a car wrap. This contrasts with a paint respray that requires perfect bodywork as the paint accentuates any flaws.
Car wrapping is also proving a popular choice for leased vehicles or those on short-term ownership.
Car wrapping is an effective way to achieve forged carbon, brushed metal and textured finishes. Some of these finishes are impossible with car paint and even when they are possible, they take many hours to complete. With PPF, the desired effect can be achieved quickly and perfectly at a lower cost.
- Cost, Reversibility & Design Freedom
These are three key reasons why the car wrapping industry is really thriving. Car wrapping gives owners flexibility and true value for several reasons:
• Cost efficiency: Quality wraps cost a fraction of the cost of high-end car resprays.
• Reversibility: The Paint Protective Film can be quickly removed at any stage without damaging the original paintwork.
• Minimal Downtime: Most car wraps are completed in 1-3 days, whilst quality paint resprays can take several weeks.
• Preservation: Car wraps protect a vehicle’s original paintwork, and this preserves its value.
• Creative Freedom: Body wraps are far more versatile, and textures, finishes and colours can be used in a way that they cannot be with paint.
• Versatility: Car wraps can be easily used to refresh the aesthetics of a car – no need for long-term commitment. Car wraps can be used for seasonal branding and promotions – without any permanent alterations.
• Easier renewal: There can be costly problems when a resprayed car is damaged, whereas with a wrapped car, individual panels can be easily removed and replaced.
• Warranty: Top car wrap companies offer 5-10 year warranties covering colour, clarity and adhesion. Paint warranties vary and often contain clauses excluding micro-abrasions and environmental fading.
- Ultimate UV Paint Protection
High-grade car wraps definitely outperformout-perform paint when it comes to protecting the car’s surface, as many films contain UV inhibitors that significantly reduce UV damage. Many paints used by car manufacturers – especially older ones or lower-gradelower grade ones – fade faster than a premium quality wrap. This is particularly noticeable with the colours blue, red and yellow.
- Eco and Time Consideration
Many car owners today are eco-conscious and care about their global footprint and their vehicle’s efficiency. Car wrapping aligns with both of these desires for a variety of reasons:
• Car wraps do not use solvents and do not produce volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions that evaporate into the atmosphere during spraying and curing.
• Car wrapping produces minimal waste, and there are no residues from abrasive sanding, chemical stripping and painting, which all produce micro-particles and chemical waste.
• The shorter application time needed for car wrapping, reduces energy use in the workshop. In contrast, resprays take much longer and require high heat and constant filtration – both of these are energy-intensive.
• The faster turnaround needed for car wrapping with Paint Protection Film also reduces overall resource consumption.
• Quality car wraps are manufactured using sustainable materials and digital design proofing systems with great precision, so that there are few errors and fewerless vinyl cut-offs.
• Car wraps do not require harsh detergents to maintain their showroom look as only gentle pH-neutral soaps are needed, and these reduce chemical runoff into drains.
A well-installed wrap can make a car look exceptional and can really enhance ownership. A PPF wrap helps to protect and enhance factory paint and offers a myriad of creative possibilities that can successfully personalise the vehicle, – as many times as required. In the luxury category of automotive customisation, car wraps are the winners.
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