Installing a vinyl wrap is a terrific method to change the appearance of your vehicle for a limited time. Whether you want to spice up your ride with small graphic changes, brand or promote, or go full chrome wrap, current vinyl decals or vehicle graphics provide you the freedom to do it at a reasonable price. But how can you keep a vinyl wrap from fading too quickly?
Vinyl is a long-lasting substance that may last three years in most circumstances. However, UV rays, acid rain, bird droppings, insect splatters, and general road filth may age the vinyl wrap prematurely. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to rain or water (even basic vehicle washes) may degrade the adhesive by penetrating the top vinyl layer.
If you’re spending the money on a vinyl wrap, it’s only natural to want to preserve it so it lasts longer – right? That’s what we’ll talk about in the following content. We’ll look at the best techniques for keeping your vinyl wrap clean, protected, and improved in today’s CeramicPro.com blog.
What Is the Most Effective Way to Clean a Car Wrap?
PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) is used to make vinyl automobile wraps. Plasticizers will be added by manufacturers, giving them more freedom. This property enables the material to bend, flex, and bend easily to smooth, rounded edges. Additional chemicals like stabilizers and UV absorbers assist protect against UV radiation and common natural elements.
Although a drive-through vehicle wash is handy, it is not the greatest technique to clean a vinyl wrap. The high-pressure sprayers may damage the exposed automobile wrap. Furthermore, the soaps are often pH positive degreasers.
However, the rest of the information is rather simple. Its main function is to provide a cosmetic layer of protection to the vehicle’s paint finish. However, it is not protected by a protective finish such as automobile wax, paint sealant, or ceramic coatings. This causes water to soak through or penetrate the car vinyl wrap on occasion, causing harm to the adhesive glue or paint job.
However, a vinyl vehicle wrap needs to be washed every few weeks to keep it looking good. So, what kind of vehicle wash do you suggest for a car wrap?
Car Washing with Two Buckets
Professional detailers and automobile and truck enthusiasts worldwide choose this tried and proven hand cleaning method. It requires at least two buckets, one filled with vehicle wash shampoo and water and the other with fresh water and a grit guard (although many advocate a second or third bucket solely for cleaning wheels and tires).
This cleaning approach aims to remove any dirt and debris from the wash mitt before spraying the car with new soapy water. This helps to keep the vinyl car cover from scratch.
Is It Possible to Pressure Wash a Vinyl-Wrapped Car?
Many installers of gloss or matte wraps are wary about pressure-washing-covered automobiles. The primary reason for this is that high-pressure water may rip vinyl. If you’re going to use a high-pressure sprayer to wash your vinyl-covered car, start with the pressure drop nozzle and pressure setting.
Using a foam cannon to apply the vehicle shampoo in an ultra-suds generating way is one variation of regular high-pressure car washing. Allow the soap to sit for a few minutes before rinsing it away with a low-pressure nozzle with this washing procedure. You may combine this procedure with the two-bucket method for extra cleaning.
What Is the Most Effective Way to Dry a Car Wrap?
A vehicle cover is not water-resistant. It’s even known for absorbing water into the substance, which may leak into the glue. The need to cure the vinyl wrap as soon as possible is discussed in this issue. There are two techniques for drying a vehicle cover that is advised.
Using High-Pressure Air to Dry
Non-touch drying procedures, such as utilizing a leaf blower to dry newly washed automobiles, are popular among serious detailers and car lovers. The trouble with this procedure is that it’s commonly used when the substrate or vehicle surface layer has a ceramic coat. If your wrapped car doesn’t have a ceramic finish, you may still utilize the leaf blower procedure, followed by a high-quality microfiber cloth.
Using a leaf blower to dry a vehicle
A leaf or industrial blower will be used to dry a vehicle by the hardcore auto enthusiast and many professional detailers. This is more difficult if the vinyl wrap is not covered with a hydrophobic surface protectant.
Microfiber Drying Towel with a Purpose
The ideal option is to use a specialist drying towel to dry a glossy vinyl wrap or one with a matte finish. Most experts recommend a terry weave, 70/30 microfiber mix with a GSM of at least 800. Our innovative drying towels can remove all water from your normal car or SUV in minutes with only one drying towel.
What are the best products for protecting vinyl wraps?
It’s important to decide how you’ll safeguard the vinyl covering from further harm after it’s clean and debris-free. A few paint protection products may be used to offer a sacrificial layer of protection for vinyl.
Carnauba Wax is a kind of wax that has been used for centuries.
Applying a standard auto wax is the most popular and simplest vinyl protectant for the DIY enthusiast. The principle is largely the same whether you use paste or liquid wax. Apply the liquid or paste wax, let it ‘flash’ or dry, and then buff it away with a microfiber cloth or buffing pad.
Car wax hardens after it’s been cured, providing a sacrificial level of safety that blocks UV rays and improves hydrophobic characteristics. When applied on vinyl, a vehicle wax will last for a few months.
Sealants for Paint
A synthetic wax or paint sealer is an enhancement of normal automobile wax. Many detailers, however, question the usefulness of paint sealants on vinyl wrap since they are designed to adhere to a clear coat on original paint, not soft vinyl materials. As a result, you should avoid using straight paint sealants to preserve vinyl.
Spray Ceramic Wax at Home
The hybrid ceramic wax, available in spray or paste form, is one substance that will adhere to vinyl and factory paint. The injection of ceramic elements such as silicon dioxide or Teflon distinguishes this product from conventional wax. This contributes to the material’s hydrophobic qualities, which cause water to bead on the surface rather than penetrate the substance.
These items, however, only contain a tiny fraction of “ceramic” elements and do not harden effectively. As a result, they only give protection for six months.
Nano Ceramic Coatings (DIY)
The DIY clay coat is your first step if you’re searching for the first degree of hardness for longer-lasting protection. For simpler applications, this is a concentrated nano-ceramic with fewer carrier solvents. The product may reach a hardness of 9H, making it one of the toughest surfaces available. The difficulty with these products is that the formulas are inconsistent.
While one DIY nanocoating may last for up to two years, another identical product may not. Furthermore, due to the decreased carrier solvents in the formulation, these products can only be applied in a single coat. Furthermore, all DIY ceramic coatings are “one-size-fits-all” formulas, which means they aren’t designed especially for vinyl or protective film materials.
Furthermore, they are not as simple to use as they claim. It’s not practicable for most automobile owners if they don’t have a garage or the patience to apply in certain temperature and humidity conditions. Ask any expert vinyl wrap installation company, and they’ll tell you that DIY coatings aren’t a good idea since there are too many factors that can’t be controlled.
Vinyl Wraps with Professional Nano Ceramic Coatings
Professional-grade nano ceramic coatings, which are particularly developed for vinyl and PPF or clear bra, are the top tier of vinyl wrap protection. For example, ceramic Pro PPF and Vinyl are created with nanotechnology to enable the coating to penetrate those microscopic defects on the vinyl’s top layer. This serves as a foundation for the coating to adhere to the wrap and then harden flat on top.
A vinyl-wrapped automobile with PPF
On top of Ceramic Pro Kavaca paint protection film, this dazzling chrome red wrap is covered with Ceramic Pro PPF & Vinyl. It provides the ultimate shield of defense.
After the base coat has been placed, you may apply additional coats for more protection in the future. This may considerably prolong the life of your vinyl wrap while also providing several protective advantages, such as:
Water is prevented from penetrating the adhesive.
Water exposure – especially when it penetrates the glue adhered to the car’s paint – is one of the key reasons a vinyl wrap wears out prematurely. When this occurs, the glue loosens, making the vinyl more prone to tear away from the paint. It does, however, leave a sticky mess below.
When it comes to removing the vinyl from your automobile, the clean-up costs are a big factor to consider. You may avoid this problem by applying a professional ceramic coating to your vehicle wrap.
Produces an Extremely Hydrophobic Surface
The pro-ceramic coating is currently the most hydrophobic coating available. Dirt, dust, pollen, tree sap, bird droppings, insect splatters, and road grime are less likely to attach to the surface when fitted on top of your vehicle cover. This keeps the wrap cleaner for longer and does the washing and drying easily.
UVA/UVB/UVC/UVA/UVB/UVA/UVB/
UV radiation is the primary cause of premature aging and fading of car wraps. Ceramic Pro coatings for vinyl and PPF are designed to resist UV rays and give outstanding protection.
Vinyl Wrap Paint Protection Film
Installation of transparent PPF on top of vinyl is one of the fastest-rising trends in vinyl protection. PPF is formulated differently from the vinyl and is primarily meant for protection. It protects against UV rays and damage caused by tiny pebbles, tree branches, and other road debris.
It might be claimed that PPF is the ideal option for safeguarding a vinyl wrap because of its ability to resist scratching and damage caused by road debris.
Which Ceramic Coating is Best for a Vinyl Wrap?
If you’re considering having a ceramic coating placed on your vinyl wrap, it’s good to use a professional-grade solution designed for these materials. The optimum option for these scenarios is Ceramic Pro PPV with Vinyl coating.
Ceramic Pro 9H nanocoatings are listed below.
Ceramic Pro PPF & Vinyl is designed to work with specified substrates and surfaces. We have a solution for automotive paint, windows, maritime applications, industrial applications, wheels, and, of course, vinyl wraps.
