The protective film for the car allows you to increase the protection of your car from accidental scratches and chips. Its main function is to preserve the appearance of the car for a long time. The film can be pasted over both the whole car and its part.

If you conduct a survey among vehicle owners, whether they use a film to protect the car, then most of them will answer positively. Every day, the body of the car is subjected to mechanical stress - from under the wheels of other cars, small stones and dirt fly out at high speed. They scratch the case imperceptibly. This type of protection can also protect against an accidental impact of small force, for example, from a collision with a trolley from a supermarket.

Pasting and tinting is becoming more and more popular among numerous vehicle owners. Let's take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of this protection option. Check out the current car wrap prices.

Protective films - advantages and disadvantages

The main function of the film is to protect the paintwork from scratches, chips and other mechanical influences. There are currently two main options on the market - vinyl and polyurethane. Vinyl films began to be sold earlier and therefore their popularity is higher. Outwardly, it looks like plastic and is heated to apply to the surface of the paint and varnish coating. After hardening, a reliable layer is obtained, which has almost the same properties as ordinary rubber.

The polyurethane film was made in America and used for military vehicles. Pasting one part with a polyurethane layer with a film can significantly reduce the level of surface wear. In the United States, it was used for helicopter blades, which quickly deteriorated due to the large amount of sand. As for vinyl, it was originally used for advertising structures so that they retain a presentable look in any weather.

What's the difference between vinyl and polyurethane? Vinyl protects the woodworking complex due to its thickness, and polyurethane has special properties. This is especially evident in winter, when in severe frost vinyl loses its strength, and polyurethane easily “survives” negative temperatures. In winter, vinyl is very easy to tear and must be handled carefully if two parts or the entire surface have been taped.

It is impossible to accurately answer the question of what to choose, vinyl or polyurethane? It's all about how much you are willing to spend. Vinyl is most often used for pasting the entire car body. However, it quickly fades and loses strength quickly when exposed to reagents. Polyurethane is stronger and more durable, but more expensive. Find out more at http://teckwrap.com/.

Varieties of films for a car and features of choice

Such a procedure as pasting with a film of three parts is performed using a decorative or protective film. Since we are talking about preserving the appearance of the car, we will only talk about the second option. However, there are films that not only create a protective layer, but also look good.

Let's start with an anti-gravel film - this is a great option for protecting paintwork. Protects glass from scratches, chips and dents. It is characterized by high density, and the material itself is rather difficult to tear. If you want to get protection that will be immune to temperature extremes and contamination of various kinds, then this is exactly the option. A distinctive feature of this type of film is its increased resistance to impacts. If the glass is hit hard, then it will not shatter into fragments, which will save the driver from cuts. An intruder will not be able to easily enter the salon, since the glass does not break immediately.

Next, we will tell you about the self-adhesive film, which is also divided into protective and decorative. Most often it is made from vinyl. You can order such a service as a protective film full pasting (Budget). The level of protective properties is lower than that of polyurethane films and is more often used for decoration than for protection from sand or gravel. Vinyl stretches easily and is therefore often used on uneven surfaces. The gluing procedure is best done in a warm room - negative temperatures spoil this material.

Tint film is used to protect against UV radiation and sunlight reflection. All this makes it possible to increase the comfort while driving the car. It can be painted in various colors and even "mirror". There is also a full sunscreen film for glass.

How to choose a protective film?

In order to choose a film, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:

Thickness, density and elasticity.  Thickness determines the level of strength and durability. The thicker the film, the more resistant the paintwork will be to mechanical stress. Anti-gravel films are the most shock-resistant. However, the higher the thickness, the less elastic. This material will be more difficult to stick to the car. For this reason, it is recommended to stick a thick film in a car service, and the vinyl version can be glued on your own. Usually, a material with a thickness of 100 to 200 microns is taken, and for glasses this figure is 50 to 100 microns.

The level of light transmission and ultraviolet radiation.  Vinyl film does not allow sunlight to pass through and thus protects the coating from fading. It is recommended to order such a service as full wrapping with foil (Premium Class). Otherwise, light spots will be visible after peeling off. As for polyurethane, it transmits light and can be used to cover certain areas of the body - it is also used for glass. There is also a variant of tint film, which can block from 5 to 80 percent of the light.

Price.  The buyer is naturally concerned about the cost of the service. It depends on the specific car service. However, the film itself is inexpensive, and any driver with a stable income can afford this service.

It is also possible to completely cover with transparent vinyl (Premium Class), which is of high quality and durability. If you decide to choose an anti-gravel film, then some types of this material can recover on their own. Small scratches fade over time due to the special structure of the polymers. This coating also protects the body from yellowing and increases the life of the machine as a whole.

The width of the product ranges from 0.45 to 1.5 meters, and the width reaches 30 meters. Complex pasting with a protective film (Premium Class) is the right solution that allows you to preserve the integrity of the timber industry.

It remains to decide how the pasting will take place. You can do it yourself or use the services of a car service. If you need to protect one part, then this can be done in your garage. But complex pasting of the entire body, including glass and headlights, is best ordered from professionals.