How to Maintain Long-Term Paint Protection to Your Car?

Paint Protection Film (Clear Bra) or Ceramic Coating is a familiar term among car owners these days. If you're wondering, Ceramic Coating is a clear coat that includes a liquid polymer that forms a chemical bonding with the factory paint. While PPF is a thin layer of flexible material places over a car. Both are a genius low-maintenance way of keeping your car's exterior in top condition!

Which one suits you the “best”?

Both are ideal for your car. However, if you want optimal protection for your car against scratches and rock chip damages, you should get a PPF. For cleaning ease, glossiness and hydrophobicity, a Ceramic Coating will work! For maximum protection, applying Ceramic Coating on top of your Paint Protection Film is advisable!

Even though we say that these are "low-maintenance", there are still some guidelines which you need to do if you want your Permanent Protection Film and Ceramic Coating to last a lifetime!

Guidelines to Follow for Long-Term Paint Protection of Car

If you follow these guidelines, you're investing not just on Ceramic Coating and PPF but to lifetime commitment as well!

Refrain from washing your car within 7 days of application

Allow the Pain Protection Film and Ceramic Coating to fully cure your vehicle otherwise, washing your vehicle may inhibit the curing process.

Keep a safe distance from film edges when using a pressure washer

Always keep a safe distance of 8-12 inches away from your vehicle when using a pressure washer (or, it depends upon your preference). It is also safe to note that you should avoid at all costs washing the edges of the film as it may cause the edges to lift which can damage your car and shorten the span of your coating.

Hydration is a must

When wiping your vehicle, make sure that the surface is hydrated. This could prevent your car from scratches or dirt residue.

Thou shall not use a powered buffer on paint protection film

This is one of the commandments of car cleaning that many people still try to commit. Please, avoid it. Or better yet, do not even dare try using it.

Be gentle with films and coatings

Prohibit using aggressive chemicals like bug and tar removers off your film coating to avoid damages. Always be gentle with your film or coating just like how you'd be gentle with factory paint.

Keep a keen eye with bug-spatter, bird dropping, or tree sap

Always keep a keen eye with dirt such as bird-dropping, bug-splatter, or even tree sap. The quicker you remove these stains the safer it is for your PFF or coating. In addition, always bring a quick detailer with you in case of dirt emergencies to minimize scratches and swirls.

Noteworthy Proper Car Washing Techniques

Even if you coat your car with PPF and Ceramic Coating it will not guarantee to keep your car well-protected and shiny for a long period of time if you don't know the proper washing techniques!

Regular Washing

Yes, regular washing is still needed and a must even if your car is now covered with Paint Protection Film, Ceramic Coating, or BOTH. Make it a point to frequently wash your paint exterior!

Do not wash your vehicle under direct sunlight

It is highly advisable to wash your car under a shed and not under direct sunlight to avoid water-spotting and reduce the effectiveness of the car wash chemicals.

Use only car wash product

Household detergents and other cleaning agents can possibly damage your finish. It is best to use products dedicated to car washing to loosen debris.

Premium wash media

This depends on your choice. You can either use a microfiber mitt or anything you can find on the market as long as you make sure it is CLEAN before using it.

The two-bucket method

The two-bucket method comes with two buckets one with car wash soap, and one with pure rinse water. This idea keeps the dirt on your mitt off the car wash solution by rinsing your mitt using pure water.

First, the wheels

The wheels are usually the dirtiest part of your vehicle! Cleaning them first is essential.

Wash one section at a time

To wash your car thoroughly, make it one section at a time. This will also reduce the possibility of getting debris in your mitt.

Avoid dry air

Air dry will result in water-spotting. Choose other alternatives in drying your cars such as a waffle-weave towel or an air-blower.

Invest In Paint Protection For Your Car Exterior

Rusts on your car is not only unsightly to look at but also means your vehicle’s value drops as the damage develops. If the area affected by rust is very small, repairing it on your own is still an option. But if the rust has eaten through the metal or if the damage is extensive, you’ll need to seek professional car repair services. But you can also do the paint job on your own provided that you prepare carefully and study the techniques thoroughly.

How To Do A DIY Paint Job

· Wash the exterior of your car using the bucket of soap and water. This will keep any dust and dirt from causing any more abrasion on your car’s paint or get in the way of a smooth paint job finish. Don’t forget to wipe it dry.

· If it's just the exterior you're looking to improve, then simply mask the areas you don't want painted.

· Sanding the area is an important step you can’t skip out because it smoothens the area you want to work on which allows a consistent look when you apply the new paint.

· Scuff the surface. To further break down the area you want to work on and prepare it for new paint, use a scuffing pad. Scuffing pads create a rough surface, which is easier for the paint to stick to. Rub the scuff pad along the surface back and forth until the surface feels rough to the touch.

· Wipe the whole surface down with a clean rag and thinners to remove dust, and wait until residue from the thinners evaporates completely before continuing.

· Apply primer. But don’t forget to mix the primer with thinners using the ratios recommended on the paint can instructions. It will vary for different paints. Let the primer dry overnight before you begin painting.

· Practice priming if you haven’t done it before. When you've got your technique down, start applying the primer on the car, working from the roof down. Apply the primer in thin, even coats. It will usually take two or three coats to cover the surface completely.

· Don’t forget to mix the paint with thinners using the ratios recommended on the paint can instructions. Apply the paint the same you did with the primer.

· Each coat will take about 10 minutes to apply per panel and between 20 minutes to an hour between re-coating for the paint to cure.

· It usually requires three to four coats of paint to cover the surface completely. Make sure you’re following the recommended drying time specified on the paint can instructions between coats.

· Before applying the last coat, remove any powdery residue with 2000-grit wet-and-dry sandpaper and wipe down with a clean rag. Repeat the last two steps with the clear-coat lacquer.

· While the clear coat is still wet, slowly remove the masking. Let the clear coat cure for the recommended time. Once that time is over, check for any imperfections. If you find any, use the 2000-grit wet-and-dry sandpaper to sand that area and respray.

· Buff paint in circular motions with a buffer, being careful not to burn the paint by holding the buffer in one spot too long.

It sucks to find that rust has slowly developed on your car right? Well, even getting an unsightly scratch on your car’s paint is never fun because touching up even the smallest one cost time and money. So why not invest in a paint protection film for your car and avoid paint damage in the first place? We can’t really help the kind of weather you’ll have in the place you live. Whether you have four seasons or two extreme weathers, all you can do is take extra step to protect your car from these. Paint protection in Singapore’s tropical weather will prevent your paint job from fading fast, it also keeps it from expanding and contracting which results to cracking where water or moist can seep through the cracks and create rust.

But for paint protection, it is highly suggested that you seek a professional to do it! Okay, maybe you’re a bit reluctant to avail custom installation because you know it costs more and you want to save money as much as possible. But, remember that smart investments, in terms of paint protection, are those where you spend quite a bit but offer better fit and best coverage which you know will last longer.

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7 Reasons To Invest In Ceramic Coating For Your Car