Applying paint protective film (PPF) to your car is an excellent way to guard against scratches, chips, and wear from daily driving and environmental elements. This nearly invisible layer helps maintain your vehicle’s pristine appearance.
At our Los Angeles collision repair center, we specialize in professional application of protective film to ensure maximum durability and a seamless finish. Below are the steps involved in applying a protective film to your car.
Before applying the film, our technicians conduct a thorough inspection of your car’s surface to check for existing damage like scratches, dents, chips, or paint imperfections. These are repaired as needed to ensure the PPF adheres properly. Additionally, we might have to remove parts of the vehicle to apply a perfect PPF. Next, the car is washed and dried to remove dirt, grease, and contaminants.
A clay bar treatment is often used to eliminate any embedded particles on the paint’s surface (if the manufacturer approves). This ensures that the paint is perfectly smooth, allowing the protective film to adhere without trapping debris underneath.
Using precision software and tools, the protective film is custom-cut to match the specific dimensions of your car. This ensures a perfect fit for complex areas like curves, edges, and corners. Some films are pre-cut for popular vehicle models, while others are trimmed to exact specifications during installation.
The protective film is carefully laid onto the car’s surface. Starting from one section, our technicians align the film with the car’s panels, ensuring it fits snugly around curves, edges, and openings. This process is done where the vehicle is held still in a specialized lighting bay.
A squeegee is used to press the film onto the surface. This step requires precision and expertise to ensure the film adheres smoothly without wrinkles or imperfections.
Any excess film is carefully trimmed to ensure clean edges. Our technicians ensure the PPF wraps around corners and edges for a seamless, professional finish that blends perfectly with the car’s design. In specific situations, sometimes a heat gun is used to activate the adhesive to secure the PPF around tight corners or dry edges. Otherwise, a steamer is the preferred heating method to activate the adhesive.Â
After application, we have a technician perform a thorough final inspection to ensure all parts that were removed for the application and then reattached are functioning properly, and there are no imperfections with the film. The vehicle is then wiped down and presented to the owner with a gleaming, flawless, protected exterior.
A professionally applied protective film acts as a shield against everyday surface damage while enhancing your car’s aesthetic appeal. Whether you want to safeguard a luxury vehicle or protect a family car from wear and tear, Eli’s Collision Repair offers expert service and top-tier products. Contact us today to schedule your protective film application!
