Repairing A Vehicle With Vinyl Wrap Or Paint Protection Film

Details Posted on 23 June 2022 | Share:

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Vinyl wraps and paint protection film (PPF) are becoming increasingly popular. These products are going to influence the overall repair planning and process. Let’s take a look at some considerations when creating a repair plan.

The first consideration is finding out what brand or what company created the wrap or decal, so that replacements can be ordered. This is an important step before performing any repairs. Just like any other part of the vehicle, repairs are typically not made until parts arrive at the repair facility.

If the decal or wrap has been on a panel for an extended time or has been exposed to a lot of weather and sunlight additional effort may be required for removal. When this happens, the vinyl products can become dry and brittle. The adhesive can become very hard and can become etched into the clear coat. In some cases, it will not peel or scrape off, and it may have to be sanded off.

After the vehicle is completely repaired and refinished, it is important to follow paint manufacturers guidelines as well as the vinyl manufacturers guidelines before wrapping the vehicle or putting a decal on it. To ensure proper adhesion, the paint must be fully cured, and the surface properly prepared before installing any wrap or decal. This means that a vehicle might be in the repair facility a little bit longer than a vehicle without wraps or decals, so it is important to plan accordingly.

In some situations, repair facilities may choose to sublet this work to another company who specializes in wraps, decals, and PPF. In the case of commercial wraps and logos, it may be necessary to sublet that work directly to the original installer to reproduce the original product.

Knowing how to plan for and repair wrapped or decaled vehicles can help ensure a complete, safe, and quality repair.

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