Car Wrapping VS Spray Painting

Car wrapping and spray painting have their own advantages and disadvantages. But what’s guaranteed is that they can both deliver the same result that you want. But if you’re trying to decide which procedure is best for you and your car, it will depend on your requirements.  Car wrapping is cheaper and may take less time to perform but it may not be feasible if your car if the base paint has started to peel.  On the other hand, spray painting may be best for your vehicle once such problem arise because the procedure does fix such damage before coating it with a fresh color. To help you decide, here’s a comparison of what you can get from both procedure.

Spray Painting

Variety

With spray painting, you can choose to paint your car in more than one color. So whether you like to stick with one solid color or express your creativity with different ones, spray painting can definitely do that.

Time

Spray painting requires a bit of prepping. The exterior of your car will have to be washed using the bucket of soap and water. This will keep any dust and dirt from causing any abrasion on your car’s paint or get in the way of a smooth paint job finish. Also it needs to be wiped it dry completely.  After that, sanding the area is an important step that can’t be skip out because it smoothens the area that will be worked on which allows a consistent look when applying the new paint. To further break down the area that needs to be worked on and prepare it for new paint, a scuffing pad will be used. Scuffing pads create a rough surface, which is easier for the paint to stick to. The scuffing pad will be rubbed along the surface back and forth until the surface feels rough to the touch. And then they’ll have to mask up areas where you don’t want the paint to get onto like the headlights. This could be done by using the masking tape and newspaper or plastic sheet.

All of that is just the prepping of the car prior to the actual spray painting which requires a first coating and then a re coating. All of that would most likely take about a week to finish before your car will be handed back to you.

Price

Prices may vary on different locations as well as different car servicing shops. But generally, this process is on the pricier side considering the amount of effort and time that it requires to do this job properly. But the thing is, that price delivers you a smooth surface, brand new looking and rust-resistant vehicle.

Durability

The effect of spray painting should last you a long time provided that you drive cautiously and maintain your car accordingly. As long as you put in the effort to wash and polish your vehicle on a regular basis then you’d be able to enjoy a brand new looking car for a long time. However, the environment that you live in can play a big role in its durability too. Plus, you should know that spray painting your car also affects the base color of it which makes it impossible to revert it back to its original color. So that’s one thing to keep in mind.

Car Wrapping

Variety

With car wrapping, you also have the freedom to wrap it in more than one color. You can even choose between gloss and matte finishing. Aside from that, you can also do intricate and detailed designs which allows you to truly create a unique color customization for your vehicle.

Time

Now, unlike spray painting, car wrapping doesn’t take as much time because before and after prepping needed. But if you do choose an extremely complicated design, the process may take longer than usual.

Price

The cost of wrapping differs greatly depending on how complex the wrap job is. For basic wrapping, it only cost a fraction of a paint job, while for more complex wrapping, it can be more expensive than a paint job. So, again, it lies heavily on your choice of design.

Durability

Like a paint job, how long a wrap job is able to last depends on the owner and the environment. Based on review, a good wrap job can last between 4 to 10 years.

One thing to note is that if the base paint starts to peel, it is not advisable to wrap the car as the cracked paint or rust will still be visible. Also, if the wrapper is inexperienced, the base paint may be scratched or damaged by sharp razors, which are used during the wrapping process to tailor the foil. If done properly, the wrapping process is reversible and the wrap can be removed any time.

Things Your Car Encounter Daily That Can Damage Its Paint Job

Paint doesn't just give color to your car and make it look like new, but it also protects it from premature rusting and corrosion. This is why it is very important to protect your paint from things that causes premature damage and fades it sooner than it should like ultra-violet rays, chemicals, and natural pollutants. More importantly, car repainting can be expensive! The thing is, sometimes it’s not those things that causing damages on the paint but the car owners mistakes and carelessness.

If you don’t like to spend a huge amount of money trying to fix your car’s paint, then better do a better job at protecting your car’s paint and watch out for these everyday things that could lead to serious paint job damage like nasty blistering and rusting as well as a huge car repair bill.

Splatter Bugs

Splattered flying bugs and car fronts just seem to go together, especially during the summer.  Those dead bugs might appear harmless, but they actually can do serious damage to your vehicle’s paint due to their bodies’ acidity.  Not removed immediately, bug body imprints can actually become etched permanently into the top layers.  Experts advise washing them off right away using a bug and tar remover, soft wash cloth and old-fashioned elbow grease.

Bird Droppings

Parking in a covered lot or a spot with shade is good as it keeps your car away from direct sunlight that can damage your paint job. However, if the shade that you can find is under a tree, forget it. You’d be risking bird droppings and that can be just as damaging. This is why you should have a car cover in your trunk at all times.

Coffee And Soda

People tend to use the roof of their car as a table and puts drinks on it that often lead to spills. Coffee and soda contains acid in them, spilling them on your car’s paint can definitely cause damage. So start kicking this habit from now on.

Sunlight

While you may not have to worry about slippery roads driving which can be dangerous, it’s the heat of your car that you should be worried about when the sun is out. This is why aside from preparing thick towels to place on the seats, and windshield cover, it’s also important to try to park your car in the shade as much as possible and invest in paint protection especially in such a sunny country like Singapore. Unless you’re fine with your car paint blistering and peeling as well as premature fading and cracking of your car interior.

Small Stones And Rocks

You might want to avoid driving on rough roads if possible since small stones or rocks may hit the surface of your ride which can result to scratches. Or if there’s no other route, just drive more carefully.

Top 5 Tips To Ensure A Smooth Spray Painting Finish

Cars wouldn’t look as good as they look now if paint weren’t spray painted on them. However, even by spray painting your car; it can still turn out bad if you don’t know how to go about it the right way. Here are some tips to help you achieve the smooth finish we all love when it comes to our vehicles paint job.

1. Check The Weather

You can dismiss this if you have a spray booth where the outside temperature isn’t likely to affect the paint. But if you’re doing this in your garage or anywhere that’s open area, take note of this. If it’s too hot the paint will dry before it reaches the surface, and it will end up balling and attaching to the surface, creating an orange peel effect. Do not spray paint in hot or humid weather. The ideal temperature to spray paint is between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius, for a smooth, even application.

2. Prepare The Surface

Wash the exterior of your car using the bucket of soap and water. This will keep any dust and dirt from causing any abrasion on your car’s paint or get in the way of a smooth paint job finish. Don’t forget to wipe it dry.  After that, 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. 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. Mask up areas where you don’t want the paint to get onto like the headlights. You can do this by using the masking tape and newspaper or plastic sheet.

3. The First Coat

If you haven’t done this before, it’s best to practice your spraying technique. Get a cheap used car panel from a salvage yard, or use any piece of scrap steel you have lying around. Hold the spray gun approximately 6 inches from the panel and spray in a side-to-side sweeping motion. 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 and then wait for at least 24 hours before you proceed with the first coat.

4. Re-coating

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.

5. Keep The Nozzle Clean

Spray nozzles can easily become clogged and cause you to stop mid-way through your slow, even spraying strokes. Before you start re-coating, clean the spray nozzle, that way, the paint does not have time to build up and create sputtering and spitting. You want the paint to come out in a soft mist, not spitting out blobs of paint onto your newly prepared surface. Remember, when using a spray can, always shake the can between each slow back and forth motion, this keeps the paint nicely mixed and it produces an even color.

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