Guide on Vinyl Car Wrapping

A vinyl wrap on car gives it a completely different look and also, protects its paintwork. A car wrap vinyl film is thin and is applied to all the panels and curves encompassing each and every corner of the vehicle.  This gives a car a new finish and colour.

If you are interested in wrapping your vehicle, read on to learn in detail about car body vinyl wrap, application process as well as vinyl wrap car pros and cons.

WHAT IS VINYL WRAP CAR?

The car wrap vinyl film is a coloured plastic foil, quite similar to paint. A car body vinyl wrap is available in different colours and varieties that include matte finish quality, wild graphics and even special effects.

With vinyl wrap on car, you can add a touch of creativity via wild illustrations, matte finish, unconventional colour shades, and impressions, amongst others, that upgrade the look of your car. Apart from these superficial advantages, car wrapping does an excellent job at preserving the original paint. Taking it a step further, this means that with a careful vinyl wrap car removal process, you can easily peel it off without damaging the paint at the right time to reveal as good as new car underneath. Hence, when you sell your car in the Qatar, you might be able to sell it at the best rate possible.

While it is a great way to effortlessly appraise the net worth of the car by protecting the paint, full car vinyl wrap is doubly effective when you want to advertise a business or a service.

HOW DO YOU GET YOUR CAR WRAPPED?

Getting vinyl wrap on car is challenging, once you have decided on the design and wrapping. To begin with, the car has to be measured in detail so that the vinyl for wrapping is sliced according to the bodywork. This also ensures that any graphics or patterns you want to be imprinted on your car fit into their designated places.

Once the graphics are etched on the car wrapping, they are laminated to protect against harmful UV rays from the Sun that can eventually cause them to fade over time.

After lamination, the car is meticulously cleaned, scrubbed of dirt, dust, grit and even car wax that can obstruct the sticking of car vinyl wrapping. Like decorating a house, preparation is essential for car wrapping as well. Any company that provides this service will need a day to prepare it for the wrapping, after which it usually takes about another day to carry out the process.

HOW TO APPLY VINYL WRAP ON CAR

There are two options when it comes to applying vinyl wrap on car. You can either take your car to a professional car wrapping service provider or DIY. Here we have a detailed step-by-step car body vinyl wrap process:

STEP 1: PLANNING

The mandatory part of any process is planning and preparation. Start away by measuring every panel of the vehicle that you intend to wrap, such as the hood, bumper, quarter panel, etc.

After planning out how much wrapping you’ll need, order it at an extra to be on the safe side. You’ll need it to tuck the edges, as a replacement for mistakes, and when some part of the film gets damaged. Get high-quality products for full car vinyl wrap that do not damage the paint.

Make sure you buy automotive tools, necessary for applying vinyl wrap on car:

• Heat gun
• Cutting blade
• Cutting tape
• Squeegee
• Cleaning solution
• Measuring tape
• Gloves
• Infrared thermometer

STEP 2: CLEAN UP THOROUGHLY

It is extremely important that before you apply vinyl wrap on car, it is free of any kind of dirt, debris, grime, or wax to ensure smooth application and avoid damage.

Use a degreaser to remove residues on the car followed by 70% isopropyl alcohol. This application will ensure premium cleaning of the car.

Once you are done with the cleaning, put on a pair of gloves and run a hand on the surface. Better follow proper car cleaning tips to ensure that it is completely dirt-free.

STEP 3: MEASURE THE VINYL WRAPPING

Since it’s the first time you are applying vinyl wrap on car, start with a small, flat surface such as the quarter panel. Measure out the first piece of the car wrap vinyl film but make sure it’s sliced 4-inches longer and wider than the panel’s measurements.

You can always trim it if you have wrapped your car more than thrice. For beginners, however, keep the vinyl larger than what is required.

STEP 4: APPLY THE VINYL WRAP ON CAR

Again check your vehicle’s surface for dust and debris that might have stuck to the car’s surface when cutting or measuring the vinyl wrap. It is also best to get another person with you to help you in the process.

You need to apply pressure to the adhesive of the vinyl for it to adhere to the surface. Keep the tips off the surface so that air does not get trapped inside.

Start applying pressure from the middle and work your way out towards the edges. Using a squeegee, press down on the film with even pressure, ensuring that the vinyl is smooth at all places.

Once you have evenly pressed the wrapping, test your work using a heat gun on the flattened area. This will show whether any air is trapped underneath by producing bubbles that you can remove if the vinyl has air release. Another advantage of using a heat gun is that you can lift off the heated material if the trapped air is too stubborn to leave on its own.

STEP 5: TRIM DOWN THE EXTRA WRAP

Using the knife to cut the extra length of the wrap can also damage the paint of the car underneath. In that case, you will be forced to remove the wrapping and repair the damage before continuing.

Therefore, keep in mind to trim the vinyl with roughly ¼ cm overhanging at the edges so that your blade is safely away from the vehicle.

STEP 6: TUCK THE EDGES

Tuck the edges neatly so that there are no wrinkles or non-stickiness. At the same time, if there is too much stretch or tension in the car wrap vinyl film, the edges will not stick well.

Using a heat gun can help release stretch or tension on sharp curves of the vehicle. Heating vinyl wrap to 90 degrees will make it soft and smooth the wrinkles.

STEP 7: HEAT THE CAR BODY VINYL WRAP TO SET IT INTO PLACE

This is the final step in which you have to heat over the vinyl wrap on car application – whatever you have laid out, cut, tucked, and trimmed. This post-heating of the surface ensures there is minimal tension along with revealing any warning signs of failure beforehand.

WHICH IS BETTER – CAR RESPRAYING OR CAR WRAPPING?

Car wrapping is an easy and affordable way to maintain original paintwork in its first-class, premium form. Your tired-looking motor can come afresh when you peel off the vinyl wrap after five years or so. This helps you at the time of sale or when the car body vinyl wrap has gotten a bit tattered, and you wish to get the shiny look back.

Of course, in this sense, car wrapping is certainly cheaper than a full respray. A respray simply freshens the original look but does not protect the car’s surface from road, dirt, chipping, and corrosives like bird poo and salted spray.

WHAT ARE THE CONS OF CAR WRAPPING, IF ANY?

Let’s look into vinyl wrap car pros and cons closely:

From what we have learned here, it is easy to assume that vinyl wrap on car applications is an optimum solution for protecting car paint as well as getting a new look. The process is easy and fast, given it takes a few hours or days (in case of customised printed wrap). However, the point to be noted is that car vinyl wrapping is not at all a solution for cracked or rusted paintwork.

If you see signs of rust or cracks, think twice before sealing it under a vinyl wrap. In some cases, the damaged paintwork can get worse if an inexperienced person does car body vinyl wrap and end up leaving multiple scratches.

We assume you have learned pretty much everything about the vinyl wrap on car and how to apply it. Either you buy a used car in the Qatar or a new one, it is a viable way to preserve the actual value of your car for resale. Conclusively, always wash your car manually once you’ve had it wrapped because auto-car washes use brushes that may damage car vinyl film. Similarly, do not use abrasive polishes with acids and solvents for the same reasons. Rest assured; your custom vinyl car wrap is one of the best decisions on your part.

Stay tuned to Qatar’s top auto blog for more information about different vehicle parts, accessories, maintenance and more.