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PPF or Vinyl Wrap: What Should You Choose?

  • by admin
  • Apr 24, 2023
PPF vs. Vinyl Wrap- Which Is Better?

When it comes to protecting your car paint, you will many choices. There is paint protection film (PPF), ceramic coating, waxing, and vinyl wraps. Now, the question is: what would be the right choice for you? Car owners generally struggle to understand or make the difference between these protection methods because of their lack of understanding. Now, if you are confused about whether to protect your car’s paint with a vinyl wrap or paint protection film, you can just refer to this blog. Out top installers can help you learn about the different types of paint protection that you can avail for your car.

So, let’s check out what the differences are between a paint protection film and a vinyl wrap.

What is Paint Protection Film?

Paint protection film, or PPF, is an invisible film that is usually eight mils thick, and made of urethane. It is applied to the exterior surface of the car over the car’s paint. Paint protection films are designed to offer superior protection to the car’s paint and keep the body of the car in good shape. These films help to reduce the impact of scratches, scuffs, and rock chips. Also, it helps to keep the car’s surface shielded from the negative effects of the environment, such as bird droppings, oil spills, watermarks, UV rays, stains, and paint fading.

What is Vinyl Wrap?

Vinyl wrap is usually made of PVC, a thin and flexible material that is three to four mils thick and available in different colors, textures, and finishes. These wraps come with a special adhesive in their back part, which keeps the material adhering to the car’s surface and falling into its shape.

These wraps are mostly used to change the appearance of the car. One can choose any color of his or her choice as the options are abundant. It is also used by car owners to wrap only certain parts of the car.

Differences

Let’s now check out some of the differences between the two, which would help you understand which would be the better choice for you.

Protection

When it comes to car paint protection, paint protection film should definitely be your first choice. Not because the product’s name suggests that, but rather because of the protection features it comes with. Besides protecting the car’s paint from fading, which occurs due to exposure to UV rays, some of the best variants of these films come with several protection features, such as self-healing technology, urethane material prevents scratches; a non-yellowing feature; a wear and tear prevention feature; edge seal technology; great durability; and more.

On the other hand, the vinyl wraps are thinner in comparison to the PPF, and they are not designed in a way to offer tough protection to the car’s surface like the other. However, these wraps can still protect the car’s surface from bird droppings, rock chips, and UV rays.

Durability

Usually, the best-quality paint protection films, such as XPEL and 3M PPFs, come with a 10-year warranty. The cracking, staining, and fading of the film generally come under the manufacturer’s warranty, which ensures that the car’s paint stays preserved for many years.

When it comes to vinyl wraps, if they are taken care of properly, they can last for nearly five years.

Remember, to enjoy lasting protection, you need to buy the products of reputable manufacturers; otherwise, they may both fail your expectations.

Appearance

Paint protection films are just designed to offer car protection and enhance the car’s shine a little bit, so they are invisible and transparent. When they are applied to the car, the film does not change the look of the car except with matte PPF wraps which changes the appearance to matte finish.

With vinyl wraps, however, it is different. If the car’s owner wants to decorate the car by altering its look, then these wraps would be a great choice. You can go ahead and choose from options such as chrome, metallics, and more to customize your car.

Cost

When it comes to price, you can say that the price of both their vehicles usually depends on labor costs, vehicle size, installation costs, material costs, and many other factors. So, it would be best for you to consult the installers, understand what would be a more suitable option for you, and then invest.

Conclusion

Now that you have a clearer idea about both vinyl wrap and paint protection film, it will be easier for you to decide which one best suits your needs. In case you are still not sure, it would be best that you consult with a professional installer. They can provide you with suggestions after understanding your purpose and need, which would help you make a better decision. However, if you are looking for superior car paint protection and a long-term investment, then paint protection film would be the best choice for you. If you are based in Calgary and want to install PPF in Calgary, then it would be best to get in touch with Calgary Window Tinting.

1 comment

  1. PPF or vinyl wrap are both excellent ways to keep cars protected. However, which one is better? This is a question that haunts car owners. Thanks to the writer for covering the topic and clearing up the doubt.

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