In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on paint protection film (PFF) for vehicles. A broad category that covers a few different areas, paint projection film is highly valuable for protecting several elements of a vehicle, from its paint coat and surface to tint and others.

At Pro Tint Utah, we offer a variety of paint protection film solutions to our clients, including products like ceramic coatings, Clear Bra and more. In today’s part two of our series, we’ll go over some additional areas to be aware of when it comes to paint protection film and its benefits, from how to maintain it for optimal longevity to why we strongly recommend you leave any PFF installation to our trained professionals.

PPF Maintenance and Longevity Themes

Like other elements of a vehicle, some basic care and maintenance will be required for any paint protection film you have installed on your car or truck. These areas include:

• Frequent washing: PFF protects the car, but this is not the same as keeping it clean. Wash the vehicle just as frequently as you would have otherwise, using only high-quality materials and avoiding abrasives or chemicals. Do not use a power washer, which might damage the PFF. We do not recommend using automated car washes, and we would advise against washing in direct sunlight. Finally, if your PFF was just recently installed, you should give it at least seven days to cure before washing.
• Removal: If you notice any oil stains, bird droppings or other stains on the vehicle, remove them right away so they don’t damage the PFF coating.
• Wiping: If wiping the surface, be sure it’s hydrated – wiping dry PFF often leads to damage.
• Wax: Waxing the vehicle around once a month will not only make it look great, but will make cleaning easier for both it and PFF.

Value of Professional Installation

In some cases among handy individuals, there may be a temptation to attempt a PFF installation on your own. Just because a YouTube video makes it look easy, however, does not mean this is reality. There are several variables that are specific to professional installers like ours, from correcting current paint imperfections to installation equipment you simply won’t have on-hand.

Our pros have experience with several related areas. Installation involves applying film on a perfectly even basis, which is tough for many who haven’t done it before. It also requires a squeegee being used to push out bubbles – this may seem simple, but it’s tougher than it looks without training. We strongly recommend you count on our pros for this installation, which is far more affordable than some of the issues often created by amateur attempts here.

For more on paint protection film for your vehicle, or to learn about any of our window tint, anti-fog devices or other services, speak to the staff at Pro Tint Utah today.

Vehicle aesthetics and exterior qualities are extremely important to many owners for both personal and long-term value reasons, and paint protection methods are a major resource available to those who place big value on this area. A vital way to keep your car in mint condition, paint protection – known more directly as paint protection film in many circles – keeps paint and other exterior areas looking pristine for years.

At Pro Tint Utah, we’re proud to offer high-quality paint protection film installation to any client in need, from Clear Bra products to several other paint protection varieties. What exactly does this area encompass, and what are some of the important variables (cost, longevity, maintenance) you should be keeping in mind when considering paint protection film? This two-part blog will go over several variables to keep in mind.

Paint Protection Film Basics and Terms

Generally speaking, paint protection is a relatively broad area. It can include a wide variety of products and terms, including ceramic coating and Clear Bra products but also including standard wax and others.

At Pro Tint Utah, we’re happy to primarily offer ceramic coatings and advanced Clear Bra products that provide excellent protection. Our ceramic coatings, for instance, involve liquid polymer nano ceramics that are applied by hand, creating extremely strong protection that not only block against physical damage, but also UV rays and oxidation. And of course, our products make your vehicle look fantastic and make it much easier to clean.

Similar Products

As we noted above, “paint protection” is a broad term that may include a few other products besides those we offer. Some of the primary products here are various forms of car wax, including carnauba wax – while this wax can provide a decent shell for some vehicles, it does not offer the same overall level of protection.

Down similar lines are paint sealant products, which often include wax plus other synthetic enhancements. Again, while these provide decent protection for a certain length of time, they are nowhere near as robust as true paint protection film and will require significant maintenance and re-application to keep them viable. Over time, such variables often lead to heavy cost burdens as well.

Cost Variables

What will paint protection film cost, and is it worth it? There are a few factors that will dictate the cost of paint protection film for your vehicle:

• Condition: If your car already has several cracks or other damage points, these need to be corrected before film is applied, which will impact cost.
• Smoothness vs. curves: Smoother vehicles are much easier to apply film to – those with odd shapes or curves make it harder, and installation may be more expensive.
• Coverage area: Do you want to cover the entire vehicle, or just vulnerable paint areas? The larger surface area covered, the more expensive installation will be.

Luckily, even higher-cost paint protection film installations tend to come with great ROI by allowing you to avoid numerous costly issues down the line.

For more on paint protection film, or to learn about any of our window tinting or other services, speak to the staff at Pro Tint Utah today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the damage UV rays can cause to both the interior and exterior of your vehicle. UV rays can create damage that’s harmful to both safety areas and aesthetics, including some that significantly lower your car’s value.

At Pro Tint Utah, we’re proud to provide numerous vehicle protection methods that limit the impact of UV rays and many other risks. We offer window tinting, paint protection, vehicle wraps and several other services to keep your vehicle looking and running optimally. In today’s part two of our series, we’ll discuss a few additional impacts of UV rays on vehicles to be aware of.

Weather Stripping Issues

In virtually every single vehicle on the road today, there is rubber weather stripping present around every door to keep the interior comfortable. This rubber creates a layer of protection against elements like moisture, dust, debris and even cold or warm air entering the vehicle space, meaning drivers and passengers stay comfortable and safe.

With significant exposure to UV rays, however, weather stripping may begin to experience what’s known as sun rot. Over enough time, it will become less useful and eventually even completely useless. If you apply window tint and protect the stripping with silicone, however, this will not be a concern.

Electrical Component Damage

Another high-risk area when it comes to UV rays is a broad one: Numerous electrical components within the vehicle. We’re talking radios, navigation systems, electrical connectors and many others.

When temperatures rise inside the car on a hot day, these exposed components may expand significantly under the heat. They also might crack or even melt away in some cases, or leave the actual electrical wires exposed as their coverings melt off. This makes it far easier for electrical systems within the vehicle to malfunction, leading to expensive repairs on your end – but once again, proper window tinting will limit the temperature rise in your car even on the hottest day.

Other Components

A few other vehicle components that can be impacted by UV rays include:

• Fluids: Enough heat may cause evaporation of some fluids within the engine, which can lead to overheating or other breakdowns.
• Antifreeze: One specific such fluid is antifreeze – you should have your levels and strength tested.
• Belts and hoses: In some cases, extreme heat from the sun can lead to breaking or detachment of belts and hoses within the vehicle’s engine.

If you’re concerned UV rays are beginning to damage certain components in your car, or even if you’re just looking for an upgrade to your vehicle’s aesthetic and theft prevention, speak to our team at Pro Tint Utah about window tint and many of our other vehicle protection services today.

Many vehicle owners are aware that prolonged exposure to the sun may damage a car’s paint, but fewer are aware of the numerous other impacts UV rays may have on a vehicle. There are several such potential impacts, both outside and inside a given car, and in some cases they are significant.

At Pro Tint Utah, we’re happy to offer several vehicle protection methods to keep your car safe from UV rays, from window tinting to paint protection film, wraps and numerous others. In this two-part blog series, we’ll go over several other ways UV rays may damage your vehicle during prolonged exposure, plus how many of our various products protect you from these risks.

Safety Risks

This isn’t the first area many car owners think about, but it’s often the most important when it comes to driver and passenger safety. High temperatures inside the car, generally caused by UV rays, can damage the airbags, for starters – they may be rendered inoperable in high enough temperatures, a major safety hazard.

In addition, consistent exposure to high temperatures and UV rays has been known to impact tire pressure. If you are not regularly checking your pressure levels, you might be driving unsafely without even knowing it based on over-exposure of UV rays.

Fading Dashboard

Between that same heat that builds up over time due and the actual UV radiation entering the space, dashboards are often at risk here. This combination can damage many dashboard materials – and these are often extremely expensive fixes due to the rarity of many of their components.

In many cases, the windshield only increases this exposure through reflection. Over a period of time, dashboards may fade and lose their shine, plus begin to crack or split in certain areas. Window tint, however, minimizes the dashboard’s exposure to UV rays – even if there are high levels of heat still present in the car, the combination needed to damage the dash will not be present.

Upholstery Problems

Another potential interior issue with UV rays is the risk of deteriorating upholstery. Leather, for example, is known to dry out and stiffen with enough UV exposure – even in cases where this leather is treated to resist sun damage, the upholstery itself will still be damaged by UV radiation with enough exposure.

In any situation where you’ve previously spilled liquid or food on the upholstery, the combination of these and UV rays could create even worse issues. They often cause permanent damage if they are baked into the material by UV rays. This is why it’s important for those with this sort of upholstery in their cars to strongly consider window tint that will block these UV rays from entering.

For more on the impact of UV rays on vehicles, or to learn about any of our window tinting, paint protection or other services we offer, speak to the staff at Pro Tint Utah today.