UV/Sun Damage On Cars
UV Damages On Cars
The damages of UVA/UVB rays can cause to your vehicle are serious and irreversible
Cars, Suv’s, Trucks and everything in between is highly prone to aesthetic damages from sun exposure since more often than not, your vehicle is parked outside in the sun.
Other than your vehicles paint fading and losing its original colour/finish, the aesthetics of your vehicles interior can also fade and also start to crack/wither due to oxidation.
The average person doesn’t notice it until it’s too late for their paint job to save which is why we highly advise exploring a protection avenue.
UV damage occurs very at a greater pace for cars with darker or more saturated colour finishes.
Don’t be discouraged to buy a car with a darker colour as their paint protection options out there so you can enjoy whatever paint colour you desire with the peace of mind.
No paint colour is immune to UV fade, so it is still advised to get some type of protectant for your paint.
What are the most popular long-term options to protecting your vehicle from UV damages?
Ceramic Coatings
A great option for protecting your cars paint job from UV light damages. The versatility of where this protectant can be applied to comes in handy when you’re looking to add a protective layer over places film cannot be easily applied to. Feynlab Ceramic makes great products for all areas of the vehicle from textile, to plastic to standard paint application ceramic coatings.
Highlight: Applicable in Speciality Areas
Paint Protection Film
Another great option when it comes to protection your cars paint job not only against UV light damages, but also provides protection against road debris. Paint protection film is one of the best options on the market when it comes to protecting your cars paint finish as it protects against small road projectiles along with the harmful effects of the sun damage on your paint.
Highlight: Projectile Protection Along With UV Fade Protection
Ceramic Window Films
Yes that’s right, going for the ceramic option for your window tints really pays off. Not only does it style and keep your car cool but also prevents your vehicles interior from fading by blocking out UVA/UVB rays. SunTek Ceramic tint is a great option for protecting your vehicles interior against harmful UVA/UVB rays from the sun and also adding style/privacy to your vehicle.
Highlight: Interior Fade Protection, Added Style/Privacy
Summary
The harmful effects of the sun are detrimental towards the longevity of your vehicle’s aesthetics, so consider one of the options above to protect your car today.
Ceramic Tint vs. Carbon Tint: Which Window Tinting Option Suits You Best?
Ceramic Tint Vs Regular/Standard Tints
Are you considering window tinting for your car or property but feeling overwhelmed by the options available? Among the myriad choices, two popular contenders stand out: ceramic tint and carbon tint. Understanding the differences between these two can help you make an informed decision that aligns with your needs. Let's delve deeper into the specifics of ceramic tint and carbon tint to guide you toward the ideal choice for your windows.
Ceramic Tint: Superior Heat Rejection and Clarity
Ceramic tint utilizes cutting-edge nano-ceramic particles integrated into the film. This technology offers outstanding benefits:
1. Heat Rejection: Renowned for its exceptional ability to block infrared rays, ceramic tint keeps interiors cooler, reducing reliance on air conditioning and potentially lowering energy costs.
2. UV Protection: Blocking up to 99% of harmful UV rays, ceramic tint safeguards interiors against fading and shields occupants from sun-related skin damage along with protecting your interior from fading.
3. Clarity and Visibility: With excellent clarity day and night, ceramic films provide a natural view without the reflective appearance associated with some other tints.
4. Reduced Signal Interference: Ceramic tints do not interfere with electronic communications which means less signal loss and better reception compared to other types of tint such as metallic tint.
5. Privacy & Safety: Darker windows make it more challenging for people to see inside of your vehicle. This offers a greater amount of privacy and safety compared to vehicles without window tinting. If people can’t see what’s inside your car, they’re less likely to try to break in and try to steal your valuables.
6. Style: Whatever option you decide, tinting your cars windows adds style to you ride, its often one of the first things done when purchasing a vehicle or when making the first step into customization
Carbon Tint: A Balance of Performance and Aesthetics
Carbon tint, incorporating carbon particles within the film, offers its own set of advantages:
1. Heat Rejection: While slightly less effective in heat reduction compared to ceramic tint, carbon film still significantly blocks infrared rays, contributing to a cooler interior.
2. UV Protection: Similar to ceramic tint, carbon film provides substantial UV protection, preserving interiors and protecting occupants.
3. Appearance: Often featuring a matte or charcoal-like finish, carbon films enhance the aesthetics of vehicles or properties, delivering a sleek, non-reflective look.
4. Affordability: Carbon film tends to be more budget-friendly than ceramic tint, making it an appealing choice for those seeking benefits without a high initial cost.
5. Privacy & Safety: Darker windows make it more challenging for people to see inside of your vehicle. This offers a greater amount of privacy and safety compared to vehicles without window tinting. If people can’t see what’s inside your car, they’re less likely to try to break in and try to steal your valuables.
6. Style: Whatever option you decide, tinting your cars windows adds style to you ride, its often one of the first things done when purchasing a vehicle or when making the first step into customization
Choosing Between Ceramic Tint And Carbon Tint
Your decision between ceramic tint and carbon tint boils down to your specific requirements and budget. If top-notch heat rejection, exceptional clarity, and durability are paramount, investing in ceramic tint might be the optimal choice. Conversely, if good heat reduction, UV protection, and a matte finish at a more affordable price point are what you seek, carbon tint could be the better fit.
To ensure you make the best decision, consulting with a professional window tinting service provider is advisable. Their expertise can assist in evaluating your needs, explaining available options, and guiding you toward the most suitable tint based on your preferences and budget.
In conclusion, both ceramic tint and carbon tint offer unique advantages for window tinting, catering to various needs and preferences. By understanding their disparities, you can confidently select the option that best suits your requirements, providing comfort, protection, and aesthetic appeal for your vehicle or property.
Ready to upgrade your windows with the perfect tint? Contact Us At Showtime Auto Protection & Restyling for expert advice and professional installation services tailored to your needs!
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What Are These Swirls In My Cars Paint?
Introduction
Have you ever looked at your car on a bright sunny day and noticed that there are swirls in it? If you’re a car owner/enthusiast, chances are you have. Swirls marks are amongst the most common paint defects your car will experience in its lifetime, it is not a surprise that “how to remove swirls from a cars paint” is one of the most commonly asked question in the world of detailing and car care.
Swirl marks are groups of micro scratches within your paints clear coat. These are most often just surface scratches that have not cut into your paint but may have scratched your clear coat, most commonly from improper washing & drying techniques. Other than the unappealing appearance of the swirls, the downside of swirls is that keeping your paint clean is even harder and can easily be contaminated due to the massive amount of crevasses in which dirt and dust can get trapped in reducing the lustre of your cars paint finish. The bottom line- get those swirls out as soon as possible by a professional.
To understand more about swirl marks and how to remove them from your car, here are some topics to consider.
What Causes Swirl Marks?
As mentioned earlier, improper washing or drying techniques are the primary cause of swirl marks. This includes the following.
One wash bucket
A Majority of car owners use only a single bucket of soapy water when cleaning a vehicle. Instead, start using a separate bucket with fresh water to clean your mitt or sponge after every pass and utilize a tool such as a dirt trap. These precautions will help ensure contamination , debris and dirt do not stay on the wash mitt to cause micro abrasions within the paints finish.
Neglecting A Pre-Soak/Wash (Rinsing)
Taking a brush or mitt to a car even with soap is not a good idea without some type of lubricant to prevent scratches from occurring during a wash. It’s a good practice to presoak or to apply pre-rinse via foam cannon before you begin to drag a mitt across the surface of your cars paint.
Improper Drying Techniques/Practices
Using a dirty towel can cause paint abrasions because of trapped dirt and that one is maybe a bit obvious. But did you know using the same cloth too many times it can cause the fibers to become matted and stiff which can once again cause abrasion on the paints finish. To avoid this professional equipment such as an air blower is recommended to dry off the car and remove any excesses water to avoid water spots. Or simply always inspecting your towels to ensure they are clean and in good condition.
Automated Car Washes
It’s a no brainer that automatic car wash can cause swirl marks, brushes overtime accumulates dirt and grime after many washes throughout the day which then get rubbed against your car causing micro scratches.
Even touchless washes have the tendency to use harsh cleaners and chemicals that can overtime discolour trims pieces and other components of your car while others simply just don’t get the clean you are looking for. Overall, its best to avoid automated car washes in general.
All in all the main idea and theme is about continuation on the instruments in which come in contact with the vehicles paint. Methods such as using two buckets and dirt trappers along with correctly drying and avoiding automated car washes can help prevent micro scratches and swirls from appearing in your paint.
Where Do Swirl Marks Commonly Appear?
Swirls mark can appear on car hood roof and trunk, anywhere.
In general swirl marks can on any painted surface of your vehicle. However, they are commonly found on flat surfaces like hoods, roofs, and trunks. They are less likely to show up on the sides of your car.
Swirl marks are highly visible with Vehicles with darker coloured surfaces. Black arguably being the worst colour as it shows very predominantly. However, this doesn’t mean that lighters colours don’t develop swirls, or they aren’t visible, simply more intense lighting situations are required to see the swirls.
How to Identify Swirl Marks
Swirl marks and scratches differ and it’s good to know the difference, so you know what type of paint repair you need.
Swirl Marks
Appear like cobwebs or spiderwebs in shape with a consistent diameter.
Are the most common types of paint defects.
Appear only on the surface of the clear coat
Don’t scratch through the paint surface.
Scratches
Have completely random shapes and patterns.
Often result from a deep gash or sharp objects like rocks or keys
Go deeper than swirl marks.
Often affect the colour layer of the paint.
May go all the way to the primer.
Sometimes reveal the bare metal.
As opposed to scratches, swirl marks are usually no more than 2-4 microns deep. So, they don’t go deeper than the surface of the clear coat of paint.
Also, there are different types of swirl marks, including...Wash Marrings: These defects appear as swirls or straight lines, and the damage varies in area and depth. Dual Action Haze (Micro Marrings): These are sporadically uniform swirl marks. They are more visible under direct light sources (sunlight or fluorescent) because micro marrings are hairline swirl marks.Buffer Swirls: These are relatively thicker than other types of swirl marks. The diameter is more consistent, and they are more visible in bright or white-fluorescent light.All in all, the main differences between the two is scratches go past the clear coat while swirls marks are simply defects in the clear coat that can be fixed with a single or multi-stage paint correction. Scratches repair intensive paint repair and at times even body work.How to Prevent Swirl Marks?
At the end of the day preventing swirls are better than having to remove them. Some solutions to prevent swirl marks to apply a protective film or coating overtop your paint.
Some popular coating based options are Feynlab Ceramic Self-Heal or any of their other Feynlab self-healing Ceramic products. These products are great at handling contact that causes swirls and other minor surface scratches on your paint. Their self-healing properties active in the heat and still have the added benefit of high gloss shine, UV-Ray protection and self-cleaning hydrophobic properties.
If your looking for a film based option, consider SunTek react or any other Suntek Paint Protection Film (PPF) product. SunTek react has superiority as a film based protectant as the film has hydrophobic self-healing properties along with scratch, swirl and paint fade prevention so you can drive with peace in mind.
All of these can be applied to surfaces without major paint damages to find out which one is best for your we recommend you check out our article on PPF Vs Ceramic Coatings.
How to Remove Swirl Marks?
Preventing swirls is better than fixing them as you can only do a paint correction so many times on your car until your cars clear coat is too thin. But if you have to fix your paint, we recommend going to a professional such as ourselves to get this done. Paint correction involves using different compounds, techniques, and equipment. It takes years of experience to learn and perfect. Incorrect techniques can cause burnt paint, discoloured paint and overall irreversible damages that would be even more costly to get repaired or replaced. There are many compounds for everyday car enthusiast that can deliver temporary mediocre results however for long lasting and professional results contact us for a quote on your vehicles paint correction.
In short, leave it to the professionals.
Summary
To conclude, there are many ways you can prevent paint swirls from happening such as correct washing/drying techniques and avoiding automated car washes. Prevention is always better than correction so we would recommend having either Paint Protection Film (PPF) or Feynlab Self-Healing ceramic to be applied over top your paints finish. If you paint already has paint defects, give us a call today (647)-278-5933 or fill out one of the forms below and also consider a protective measure to such as Paint Protection Film (PPF) or Feynlab Self-Heal Ceramic.
Should You Get Paint Protection Film (PPF) or a Ceramic Coating?
PPF Vs Ceramic
Introduction
Choosing between these two automotive paint protection options is a situation a lot of our consumers find themselves in. So we have created this article to help you make the best decision possible for protecting your vehicle.
Before you decide on what paint protection route you are looking to go down, consider the following…
What am I looking to spend?
What damages am I most worried about?
What condition is my paint currently in?
How long am I looking to keep this vehicle for?
What Is Paint Protection Film?
Paint Protection Film (PPF) is also known as a clear bra or PPF. It is a transparent layer of thermoplastic urethane that is installed on the painted surfaces of a vehicle to protect it from scratches, rock chips, and other types of damage that can occur during normal driving.
The film is typically applied to high impact areas such as the hood, fenders, and front bumper, such as in a full front-end package. But the film can be installed nearly anywhere there is a painted surface to fit your specific vehicle paint protection needs.
The film is designed to be self-healing, meaning that minor scratches or scuffs will disappear over time as the film’s surface reflows back into its original shape. The film is also resistant to UV rays and can prevent fading or yellowing of the vehicle’s paint. Overall, a paint protection film is an effective way to protect the paint on a vehicle from the various hazards of the road, while maintaining its appearance and resale value. Better for protecting against projectile related damages from small objects however, more costly
What Is a Ceramic Coating?
Ceramic coatings are a type of paint protection coating that uses ceramic particles & nanotechnology to create an ultra-durable and heat-resistant layer over the car’s paint or other surfaces. These products are designed to form a chemical bond with the car’s original shape, providing amazing protection from UV Fade, water spots, and other types of chemical damage. They are also a great option for ease of cleaning and maintaince for your vehicle due to their hydrophobic self-cleaning properties. Other than that, the intense gloss effect Feynlab products can achieve is unparalleled if you are looking for an extra level of shine.
How Are Paint Protection Films and Ceramic Coatings Similar?
Paint protection films and ceramic coatings are two popular choices when it comes to protecting your car’s paint job. Whether you’re looking for a long-term solution or a more economical option, both of these protective layers can preserve the look of your vehicle. Here are key similarities between paint protection films and ceramic coatings:
Both products offer an additional layer of protectionthat helps guard against chemical damage, such as acid rain or bird droppings;
They protect cars from potential damage caused by road hazards, and other environmental factors;
Paint correction and buffing is essential for ceramic coating applications;
Both options help preserve the original colour of your car over time and require minimal maintenance after installation.
How Are Paint Protection Films And Ceramic Coatings Different?
Paint protection films (PPFs) and ceramic coatings both provide a layer of protection to cars, but they have some key differences. Below is a brief rundown of the differences between these two solutions:
Paint protection film is a physical barrier that is applied to the surface of the car, while ceramic coatings bond chemically with the vehicle’s paint;
Paint protection film provides greater protection against rock chips, and other minor damage, while ceramic coatings provide better protection against UV rays and chemical contaminants.
Paint protection film requires professional installation and can be more expensive, while ceramic coatings are generally more affordable.
Paint Protection Film Vs Ceramic Coating: What’s Best?
Both paint protection film and ceramic coating are great options for your car so it can be difficult to determine which is the best option for your vehicle. To help you make a well informed decision, here are some of the factors you need to consider when protecting your vehicle. What Are Your Main Priorities When Protecting Your Vehicle?
This is one of the most important factors to consider while choosing between the two vehicle protection options.
The main appeal of a ceramic coating is the ease of cleaning, added UV fade protection, chemical stain prevention and the intensified gloss effect of your vehicle.
While on the other hand, the main benefits of paint protection film (PPF) is having self-healing protection against road debris that causes scratches, rock chips and other projectiles. Paint Protection Film still has some of the benefits of ceramic coatings such as UV Fade prevention, chemical stain prevention and with certain films even self-cleaning hydrophobic properties.
In short, the main appeal of Paint Protection Film is having a clear barrier between your cars paint job and the elements of the road to prevent scratches, rock chips and the harmful effects of the sun. While the main appeal of ceramic coatings are to have a self-cleaning hydrophobic surface that prevents UV fading.
Is Your Car New or Used?
We are not saying a used car can’t have perfect paint but it is more likely to have experienced paint damage(s) that would need extensive fixes past what a standard paint correction could fix.
In this case, Feynlab Self-Heal Ceramic products would be your best option for protecting your paint as the installation would come out cleaner than it would with PPF.
What we classify as major paint damage would include paint chips, deep scratches past the clear coat and peeling clear coat. These damages would make the application of paint protection film unappealing.
On the other hand, if your car is new without paint damages, paint protection film would be a better option for overall protecting your paint.
What Surfaces You Are Looking to Protect?
There are some areas Paint Protection Film (PPF) cannot be applied to. For instance, areas such as plastic trims where PPF cannot adhere to. In this case, a product such as Feynlab Plastic would be a great option to prevent UV fading on this area.
Another consideration and popular option is using both protection options for different areas. For instance, you are mainly concerned about your high impact areas (the front end). But you still want the greater UV fade protection & ease of cleaning for the rest of your vehicle. You can get paint protection film applied to the front end while having a ceramic coating over the rest of the vehicle.
Level Of Protection
The key highlight/differentiator with Paint Protection Film over Ceramic Coating(s) is the ability to prevent rock chips and scratches. This is something most ceramic coating(s) do not offer.
However, Ceramic Coating(s) main strength is within preventing UV fade and offering ease of cleaning with the hydrophobic properties of the coating.
Cost/Budget
When it comes to choosing between PPF vs ceramic coating, your budget is an important factor to consider.
Typically, an all-around ceramic coating package will be cheaper than full body paint protection film (ppf) coverage.
For the best value, we recommend a Full Front-End PPF Package with Ceramic over the rest of the vehicle.
For a more budget friendly option, a partial front end which would be suffice to cover a portion of high impact areas.
And a full body ppf package for people who are serious about protecting every inch of their vehicle’s paints finish.
With any ppf or ceramic package you choose, we highly recommend Wheel/Caliper Ceramic & Glass Ceramic. These are both great options for ease of cleaning areas that tend to attract dirt/debris. Bonus: glass ceramic improves clarity which enhances visibility while driving in extreme weather conditions.
Summary
All in all, both paint protection options are great for preserving your vehicle’s paint finish and future resale value. They both have their strengths and are better suited for different needs. Paint protection film is best at preventing damages from road debris while ceramic is great at preventing uv ray damages and can be applied to areas paint protection film cannot be applied to such as plastics and wheel callipers. When it comes to Paint Protection Film PPF Vs Ceramic Coatings its all comes down to your protection priorities and how much your looking to invest into protecting your vehicle.
Stay tuned for our next blog on the best protection packages for all types of consumers.