Many things negatively affect the paintwork of our car. UV radiation from the sun, stuck insects, “juices” from trees, bird droppings, pebbles from the road, improper washing… Over time, the varnish loses its shine (mattes), “spider webs” appear, i.e. very shallow, almost invisible scratches, but and more serious scratches…
In order to delay “treatment” as much as possible, i.e. polishing or painting/varnishing, we should work on prevention in time. True, some of the ways to protect the paint can be very expensive, so much so that it is mostly worth it to the owners of more expensive cars or those that have some “exotic” color.
1) Regular and proper washing
It is important to wash the car regularly and properly. Regularly – in order not to allow various impurities and aggressive substances to affect the varnish. Correct – so that we don’t do more harm than good.
The longer the impurities are on the varnish, the more difficult it is to remove them, especially in summer when there are many insects, when everything and anything falls and leaks from the trees, and the sun then “bakes” it well. Remove bird droppings literally immediately – they are very aggressive. When it comes to winter, in addition to salt and dirty water from the road, there are also various particles in the (very) polluted air that settle on the paint over time and slowly but surely cause it to matt.
More harm than good when washing can be done in several ways – from removing mud with a cloth or sponge that we rinse in the sink, to removing dried insects with aggressive means. You can find washing tips in this text: How to properly wash the car?
2) Waxing
Applying wax to the varnish has a multiple protective role. It protects from the sun’s UV rays, from bird droppings and other impurities from trees, but also facilitates their removal, protects against the direct influence of all other substances that can damage the varnish or leave stains on it, generally facilitates the removal of all impurities during regular washing…
Wax repels water, so it helps to keep water less on the paint, which makes it easier to remove water after washing, which prevents limescale stains from remaining, but also reduces the negative impact of acid rain and dirty water that splashes under the wheels of other vehicles.
Since the wax fills in the micro-damages on the varnish, it also covers up the damage that has already occurred, i.e. it makes the varnish more shiny. Keep in mind that waxing is quite a complicated subject. You can do it yourself, but if you want quality, it will take a lot of time, money and effort. Mistakes in work and inexperience can “eat” a lot of nerves and even more money, time and effort.
There are various simpler versions of waxing in the form of quick and easy application of various means, from “real” liquid wax to shampoo for washing with wax. Their effect, possibility of protection, durability and all other characteristics depend on numerous factors (quality, method of application, quality of work, appropriate preparation…).
In general, high-quality waxing can provide very good protection of the varnish, but we must not forget that waxing should be repeated, which depends, as we have already said, on the type and quality of the wax, the method of application, and the like.
3) Protective films (transparent)
Transparent protective films (PPF – Paint Protection Film) can beautify the entire car, and only the “most vulnerable” parts can be covered, such as front bumper, headlights, hood, wings, mirrors, front pillars and roof.
A distinction should be made between “serious” protective films and those that are called so only because they are transparent. Namely, there are cheap foils, according to the unwritten rule of poor quality and thin, made of PVC, which do not provide very great protection and have a short warranty.
Films for quality protection are made of polyurethane, a material very resistant to wear and abrasion, scratching, high and low temperatures, UV radiation, etc.
Therefore, these foils significantly better cushion the impact of pebbles, protect the varnish, for example. from scratching with a key and the like. Of course, you can’t expect miracles, but even if the film breaks through and damages the varnish, the damage should be significantly less. Quality, i.e. the level of protection is followed by the price…
There are also the so-called “self-healing” polyurethane foils, where smaller scratches disappear at higher temperatures.
4) Ceramics
The ceramic protective coating has small ceramic particles that quite successfully repel various negative influences, including those that could cause micro-scratches. True, ceramics are not intended to protect against scratches and stones. Similar to wax, it protects against UV radiation and various aggressive substances, repels water, facilitates the removal of dirt, insects, etc.
The car will also have a nicer shine, which of course contributes to the mandatory polishing before applying the ceramic coating. It lasts up to two or three years, which depends on whether it is properly maintained. It can be applied to both lights and glass.
In case of damage to a part, it is possible to polish only that part and then apply ceramics only to that part.
You can do the ceramic protection yourself to apply, but this business is very sensitive to mistakes and you can end up with a very poor result compared to the money you paid for that product.
5) Combination of protective film and ceramics
There is also an option to first stick a protective film on the car, and then apply a ceramic coating over it. This provides double protection of the varnish against UV radiation, and the foil itself is also protected from various influences, so it will keep its shine longer. Of course, this combination can also be a serious additional cost, so you should judge for yourself how much protection you want in relation to the price.
Conclusion
In any case, be well informed before deciding which type of protection or product to use. Even when it comes to the same method, the differences can be drastic both in terms of price and quality.
Also, there is the issue of economic profitability. Does it make sense, for example, to pay 1,500 euros for paint protection for a car worth 7,000-8,000 euros?
Source: Polovniautomobili.com
Photo: Autoblog.rs archive / Toyota
Source: autoblog.rs
