| Paint protective film is gaining more and more | | | | professionals do all their work by hand. Anyone |
| popularity as a way to protect valuable paint jobs | | | | choosing this route should be patient and expect to |
| against road debris and other hazards. Many | | | | make some errors in the beginning. |
| professional installers are available to do the job and | | | | Now comes the car preparation. The paint must be |
| are often the best option for many people. But for | | | | spotless. Any dirt or debris left on the paint will be |
| those of a more do it yourself nature, the film can be | | | | trapped under the film and impossible to remove. It is |
| applied with great success by anyone with patience | | | | recommended that the procedure be performed inside |
| and a little common sense. Here is the basic | | | | a garage or other enclosed space to prevent |
| procedure. | | | | contamination after the vehicle is clean. Also, any paint |
| Paint protective film is a thermoplastic urethane | | | | imperfections should be repaired using touch up paint |
| laminate that generally comes in rolls. The film adheres | | | | at this time. |
| to the vehicle's surface by means of a pressure | | | | Now it is time to apply the film. Use the application |
| sensitive, acrylic adhesive. Anyone who has worked | | | | solution to thoroughly wet the area the film will be |
| with window tinting film will immediately recognize the | | | | applied to. Begin to remove the backing from the film |
| similarities between tinting and paint protective film. In | | | | and position it in the desired location. Spraying the film |
| fact, the two are virtually identical other than paint | | | | as you remove the backing also helps. An assistant will |
| protective film being transparent. | | | | greatly simplify this process and is highly |
| The first step in the application process is to gather the | | | | recommended. As you apply the film, be careful not to |
| paint protection film supplies. The required items are | | | | apply pressure to it since the adhesive is pressure |
| the film, application solution, squeegee, and exacto | | | | sensitive. Once the film is perfectly in place, begin to |
| knife. | | | | use the squeegee to remove the water and bubbles |
| The next step is to measure and cut the film. Several | | | | from under the film. Work from the center outward. |
| manufacturers offer custom designed kits that come | | | | The final step is to use your exacto knife to trip the |
| with the film pre-cut to fit a particular model car. This is | | | | edges to fit perfectly. Be careful not to cut into the |
| the recommended option since the pieces must be cut | | | | paint. If the initial measurements were correct, there |
| very exactly in order for the film to be applied | | | | shouldn't be much paint protection film to trim. |
| correctly. However, hand cutting is possible and many | | | | |