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Does Paint Protection Film Damage Paint?

Does PPF Damage Paint
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Does Paint Protection Film Damage Paint? Short Answer – No

The paint protection film is a revolutionary product for your automotive – you can know more about PPF via our last blog (What is PPF)- but the questions here are: Does paint protection film damage paint? or does PPF damage paint? Does removing PPF damage paint? Let’s find out the truth about the paint protection film below.

The paint protection film is the upper tier of exterior automotive solutions. It’s the only product available to protect a vehicle’s surface from rock chips and scratching and maintain the factory finish.

However, it’s exceptionally strong – with adhesion that is far superior to vinyl. This raises the commonly asked question – does paint protection film damage paint over time?

Does PPF damage paint?

To be honest, the right answer here is it depends! There are times when applying a clear bra can lead to paint damage, and situations where removing the film can be just as troubling.

Like many other protective paint products, the quality of the product, prep work completed, and the installer’s experience is multiple factors that can accelerate or reduce the potential of short or long-term damage. So Does Paint Protection Film Damage Paint?

The simple answer is no. Paint protection film installation will not cause damage to your car’s paint or window tinting. But there is a catch. Paint protection film should be applied by a certified professional who has the expert knowledge to safely apply and remove PPF without damaging the car’s paint to ensure the lasting protection you need.

Does Removing PPF Damage Paint?

Top-quality PPF like XPEL is easy to peel off at the end of its lifespan, and it does not cause lasting harm or compromise the paint of your car when it is properly removed. It’s recommended to have the film removed by a professional, especially if you’ll be replacing it with a new film.

Common Concerns About Paint Damage

If you’ve done some reading around the Internet, you may have encountered individual concerns that have appeared in their Clear Bra after a certain amount of time. In particular, some people who have purchased an after-market Clear Bra have noted yellowing, blistering, and peeling. It’s important to know what’s behind each of these degenerations and what you’ll need to do to avoid them:

Blistering

The blistering effect has everything to do with the quality of the application. Typically, an air bubble occurs because a contaminant is trapped under the film, creating separation between the body of the vehicle and the Clear Bra. Over time this can lead to growing bubbles under the film. A proper application process includes hairsplitting attention to the vehicle’s surface before any film touches the paint.

This includes washing, claying, and polishing. Moreover, a professional application center like TINTIX creates a controlled environment where the air can be filtered to remove contaminants that could potentially get trapped underneath the film. Thus, a sub-par film and unprofessional application can lead to blistering. But when an experienced technician properly applies a quality film, the risk is very high.

Yellowing

An early complaint against Paint Protection Film was that after time it began turning yellow, which, of course, has a significant impact on the look of a vehicle’s paint, especially for white cars.

This complaint was particularly prevalent when Clear Bras first started applying to consumer automobiles. After researching the matter, film manufacturing companies found that the yellowing effect came from the adhesive that was used to bind a film to the body of a car. UV exposure was oxidizing the adhesive, which led to discoloration. Upon this discovery, companies began researching alternative adhesives and began using the acrylic adhesives that are found on most Clear Bras today. This newly developed adhesive is UV resistant and will not oxidize or discolor. This effectively resolved the discoloration concern for Paint Protection Film.

Today, if you put a sub-standard film on your car, it may use an inferior adhesive and lead to discoloration. But all quality professional film manufacturers, like XPEL, use a more recently developed adhesive that does not discolor due to UV exposure.

Peeling

Peeling is, of course, when the edges of a film begin to peel away from the paint. It can result from a sub-standard film or unprofessional application, but it is often the result of improper care.

Specifically, if you are using a pressure wash to clean a car with Paint Protection Film,
it is important to stay at least 12 inches away from the film and particularly from any exposed edges.

If a pressure washer is directed at the edge of a Clear Bra,
it can begin lifting the film, which leads to peeling.

Is Paint Protection Film Worth It?

Yes, it is worth considering because of the money it can potentially save you down the road. If your car is protected, you won’t have to worry about getting it painted before reselling it.

Paint protection is a good, low-maintenance way of keeping your car’s exterior in top condition. It means it will be easier to clean, and you won’t have to worry so much about polishing it or small bits of damage.

Paint Protection Film protects your car from scratches, chipping, rock chips, road debris, pebble abrasions, corrosion, etc. It has a clear coat and is virtually invisible when installed properly. Car paint protection film forms a barrier between your car’s exterior and the outside harsh elements, debris, and contaminants.

If you want to know more about Is it worth getting paint protection film? you car read our latest blog:

Is paint protection film worth it?

How Much Does Paint Protection Film Cost?

If you intend to have your vehicle professionally painted, the cost may range from $1,399 (for a clear bra) up to $7,000 for the whole car. If you want to know more about the cost of PPF, you can check our article below, where we explain in detail the cost of PPF for cars:

How much is paint protection film for a car

Summing it up

Paint protection films, or PPF, are an outstanding way to shield a vehicle’s surfaces from damage caused by the world’s most abrasive debris.

So when it comes to keeping your new vehicle looking new,
Paint Protection Film is the most comprehensive and longest-lasting solution.

If you are ready to apply paint protection film, we recommend contacting our professional paint protection film experts at TINTIX in Brentwood, California. We will keep your vehicle in pristine condition and ensure you receive PPF installation without the aggravation of paint chip repair or scratch repair. We will shield your vehicle with the top-of-the-line automobile clear protection film.

Give TINTIX a call for safe, effective, and long-lasting paint protection film installation. We are a local business that cares for your car as much as you do!

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