The TRUTH about Paint Protection Film (PPF)

There are many misconceptions about what PPF is and what it isn't. In this blog post I will address some of these common misconceptions.

1.) PPF is invincible.

Answer.) PPF is a sacrificial layer that is susceptible to all the same damages as paint. If you allow bug guts to buildup and remain on the film for days/weeks the film will become bug etched just like the paint would have been if the PPF wasn't there. The same goes for water spot etching.

The top coat can also wear down over time and loose both its hydrophobic properties and self healing ability. The top coat of the PPF will self heal with heat from minor scratches and the usual swirl marks. Sometimes the sun is all that's needed and other times some hot water or a heat gun. The better the material is maintained the longer it will last. A loss of hydrophobic abilities and or self healing is not warrantable.

While PPF has a warranty against manufacture defects or premature yellowing.  This doesn't mean that the film can not degrade if its abused or not maintained. PPF is also susceptible to other damages like rock strikes. Minor small rock strikes may leave no marks. While larger rocks may tear the material and even larger rocks may tear the material and still damage the paint underneath.

These are not warrantable damages the goal is to minimize the damages as much as possible. The great thing is, under the PPF your factory finish remains as undamaged as possible giving you peace of mind.

2.) PPF installs should be flawless or perfect.

Answer.) We have a great saying in this industry "Its paint protection not paint perfection". While we always strive to do our best work. PPF is installed by human hands and as such is susceptible to human errors. Many shops will shy away from being honest about this because they are afraid of losing business. I however would rather be brutally honest and set realistic expectations, even if that means losing a customer.

Examples of major flaws would be 3 or more pencil tip sized contamination specks on one panel, a tear in the film. a large piece of debris the size of the tip of a pinky finger, a long hair or major work lines across entire panels. There are minor flaws in every PPF install we just hope we can minimize their appearance the best we can.

Examples of Minor flaws would be dust specks which are unavoidable, work marks near a corner or near heavy panel recesses, tiny fibres from a cloth, a random single arm hair or one pencil tip sized speck on a panel in a full front install. These would all be considered minor flaws and not warrantable. Water blisters and air bubbles are also minor and will usually disappear over time. After a while air bubbles can usually be pressed in gently with the tip of your finger wrapped in a micro fibre cloth. Air bubbles that persist after 10-30days can be pierced with a hypodermic needle. Once Pierced there may be a slight distortion in the film in the shape of the bubble. This distortion may go away over time or it may not. Polarized glasses will show distortions in the film where the film has been stretched or where tack solution was used. These distortions are not warrantable. The industry standard for inspecting window tint and PPF installations is to view the vehicle from 3-5ft away not 3-5 inches.

As a business we have to achieve a balance between an acceptable installation and profits to keep our business going. Customers that are expecting a flaw free installation and want even the smallest flaws redone. Should make these expectations known upfront and be prepared to either pay a premium for this level of service or for us to pass on the project due to risk. Quality PPF Materials are very expensive which means we can't just redo large panels over minor flaws. Lets be honest factory paint jobs are not flawless and we can usually identify a dozen or more flaws on every brand new vehicle. The manufacturers wont warranty these minor flaws in the paint of a brand new vehicle. Despite it being done in a completely controlled environment by robots. So the idea a PPF installation should be flaw free when done in an open air environment by a human is just simply unrealistic. PPF will also magnify any underlying paint flaws so small imperfections that were virtually invisible with out film can suddenly become visible after the installation.

3.) PPF should last forever and not degrade

Answer.) PPF despite it having a warranty period usually between 7 and 12yrs. PPF should always be removed long before the warranty expires. The warranty only covers manufacturer flaws like complete glue failure, severe yellowing and cracking. It doesn't cover things like adhesive residue removal or delamination upon removal which gets harder and harder as the years pass.

Like mentioned in point 1 the film is not invincible and will degrade over time as it takes on all the damage that your paint would usually be burdened with. If you run your vehicles threw car washes, use heavy degreasers or bug removers the film will degrade at a more rapid pace. If you plan on keeping your vehicle for many years then I would always advise to avoid car washes. The multi angle high pressure nozzles can lift edges and grinds surface dirt into the film causing premature wear. As professionals we know it when we see it and this damage is not warrantable.

To keep your PPF in the best shape and have it last a long time we recommend the two bucket method or the use of a foam cannon pre soak and then a contact wash with a microfibre mit. We also recommend a twice a year maintenance wash, decontamination and ceramic or wax coating. This allows us to see the vehicle and if any edges are lifting we can address them with a trim before they become a bigger issue. If you don't follow these guidelines that's ok too. You can allow the film it take the damages. When its degraded to the point it bothers you we can remove it and replace it. Just remember you take on the risk when you maintain the film. As professionals we know what abuse and normal wear and tear look like. We ultimately make the decisions on what's warrantable and what's not.

Always plan to have the film removal done around 75% of the films lifespan so a 12yr film should come off by year 9 at the latest. Even sooner if its showing signs of degradation. Another great time to remove it, is right before a trade in so the vehicle can be appraised at its highest value.

In our next blog post we will outline all the benefits of installing PPF on your new vehicle.