In our search for personalization and customization and to move away from current trend, we can change our car color. We have already seen that there are very cool paint effects, such as “matte paint”, but there are list of drawbacks especially the price.
Not only that, even if we only want to paint a standard white car, it’s still a little bit too expensive, but there is an interesting alternative: vinyl or what we called Autofoil. It can also be used as a form of personalization, such as the one that puts on a tattoo, but with much smaller side effects, or none at all.
For those who have never heard of vinyls, they are like giant stickers, which can cover entire parts of the car or the car completely. Comparing the costs of painting and vinyl, the latter option is usually cheaper. As we want something “cool” like carbon fiber or matte, we will save a lot of money. Unless you want your car to be painted on the sidewalk, you know what I mean.
The savings come from the raw material, since the vinyl is relatively economical (medium range) and does not require more chemical products. At the time of painting you have to use more products apart from the paint, for example, all the protections of the areas that are not going to be painted (like the headlights).
Regarding labor, it may have a lower cost, depending on the detail you want. The fundamental part of the process is to apply vinyl, adhere well to the body and eliminate the leftovers. You do not have to do a previous job of priming, just make sure that the body is solid, without gaps.
The fundamental steps installing a vinyl car wrap
Once we have chosen the vinyl we want, we must calculate how much we need. Indicative quantities (outside only) are 13 meters for small cars (about 4 meters in length), 16 meters for large cars (4.5 meters) or almost 20 meters for xlarge cars (almost 5 meters). That, of course, if we want to wrap your car whole. These, if you consider doing it on our own.
Or we take the car to a professional workshop, where we will have to pay for labor (it will depend on the car).The car to be wrapped must be well cleaned, with no traces of water or filth, so that the glue seats well. It also helps to remove everything that does not have to be wrapped, such as the license plate, moldings, mirrors. If we take the car to a workshop, that will save us money, to the operators time.
Then you have to measure the pieces and cut the necessary amount of vinyl for each one. You have to do it all at once, not “remnants”. Place the vinyl on the desired surface and go over the contour with the tools to eliminate any bubbles or imperfections. It is like tinting but on non-flat surfaces.
This is the most delicate part, the molding. When we have finished, we will have small leftovers, which we will eliminate with a cutter and / or spatula. Care must be taken that there are no split ends or finishing defects. It would only be left to rest he vinyl a few hours, and not wash it in a few days.
If the vinyl is of quality, it can last from five to 10 years. In the event that a piece is damaged for example when parking, it is enough to repair that piece, it would not be necessary to vinil the whole car to make it look good. Everything depends on the level of the battering.
Life after car wraps
Some types of paint are as delicate as damn, and more than washing, what they need is detailed (or detailing ). Costs and more costs. The vinyl is enough to wash it from time to time, better with just water but be careful not to strain water under the vinyl. In principle, it is not necessary to use special products.
If we want, we can apply a restorative / protective product so that it has a longer duration. You can also wrap near very hot areas, such as the engine bay or near the exhaust tip.
If we get bored with vinyl, it can be removed more easily than we imagine, and the painting will have been preserved because it has not had contact with external agents or sunlight. It can be done with a hair dryer, optionally soap, and some patience, without previous knowledge.
If we do not want an ordinary wraps, the options are diverse, such as carbon fiber, matte, gloss, metallic and more. We can also add some graphics to it. There is unlimited varieties and options to choose from.
Car wrapping can is a good idea if we buy a car that is not in the color that we like and we do not want to spend a fortune on it. If then we want to sell it, removing the vinyl will be the original painting in an excellent way, very presentable, which preserves the value in the market.
If we want to wrap interior pieces, in case they are rough, it will be necessary to apply a layer of primer or an adherent product, and that will leave traces when removing it. In the smooth areas there is no problem. The truth, after having seen advantages of disadvantages, I am more convinced with the vinyl than with the paint.