Anyone who owns a vehicle, specifically a car, definitely knows about car wraps and how important car wrapping is. Because it prevents the main car’s color from direct sun-rays and pollution and many more.
What is Car Wrap?
A car wrap is mainly several custom-fit labels that are made to give a dimensional look on a vehicle. Chosen colors, stunning metallic effects, and graphic designs create an alluring appearance on a vehicle.
Why Would You Wrap Your Car?
Wrapping your cars can give you a lot of benefits without any doubt. It protects your car’s main paint job from sun-rays, unnecessary scratches and makes your car look fresh. Then it has the scope to re-wrap your car if you want any changes, even you can re-wrap the parts of the car that you need. By this, you can lower the extra costs, unlike paint jobs.
Speaking of car wraps, if you are thinking of wrapping your cars, then it also might have crossed your mind that how long it will last. Well, generally it is expected to last from 3-5 years, though some exceptions also have been seen. Moreover, the lifespan of a car wrap is dependent on various factors. The factors that can cause damage to the car’s wrap should be taken seriously. For instance-
- The car wrap should perfectly be applied by a professional team with experienced technicians. Also, the long-lasting result can be gained if the wrap is cared for properly
- Sun-exposure
- Frequency of washing the car
- Climate
As stated earlier, frequent washing can be a big issue with wrapped cars. So, to avoid this kind of damage, one can do it by hand using a smooth cleaner or soft cloth.
If there is any need to pressure wash your car, try not to set the water pressure higher than 800-2000 psi, and maintaining at least a gap of 12-14 inches from the vehicle is a must.
Usually, car wraps are used straight over the main paint of the vehicle with the proper touch of skilled hands so that there can cause no harm to the car’s authentic paint job. Likewise, if you want to take out the wrap, you must ask for help from professionals. The same suggestion goes for someone, who wants to update their car’s design.
How Long Does Vinyl Car Wrap Last?
When it comes to the question of the appearance of your car, then you must decide first whether you want to paint it or wrap it. Because it is a massive investment, both in a matter of money and time.
Being uncertain in this decision might leave with queries, worrying where all these efforts went erroneous when the cost you borne doesn’t pay you off well.
The other important thing that one must take notice of before wrapping his car is at the vehicle’s current paint job. If it is damaged already, the Vinyl car wrap won’t be a good idea to cover up the broken paint car.
How Long Should You Expect the Vinyl Wrap to Last?
Now, once you have already wrapped your car with Vinyl wrap, the question remains how long should you expect this wrap to last.
If you want to know about the durability in the usual way, it is almost impossible to answer in one sentence because it deals with so many factors along with wrap quality.
Generally, a Vinyl car wrap lasts for seven years on average or more. It lasts longer than this. The wrap will last as it is used or taken care of. Furthermore, the permanency of the car wrap is dependent on many facts, like- the standard of the product, excessive sun exposure, washing pattern, harsh climate, and so on.
If you wash your car very frequently per week, the wrap is more likely to give up very soon even before its actual time. Because the repeated washes might cause damage to the wrap.
Additionally, according to the recommendation, it is necessary to change the Vinyl car wrap after seven years whether it is used or not. It is because even the best quality wrap will decrease with time and will be harder to remove as time passes.
If you want your car to look perfect and want this Vinyl car wrap to last long, then you have to maintain it properly. Otherwise, the durability of the car wraps will be reduced if this is not looked after perfectly.
As stated, maintaining the facts will multiply the longevity and it can even last long more than 3-4 years. Otherwise, if anyone keeps the car in his/her garage and drives it only on weekends, this might last more than 5 years. Mainly, it depends on the use of it.
The usual lifespan of a Vinyl wrap generally lasts for 6-7 years under normal condition, under rough condition 1-4 years. And by condition, we are meaning the durability and lifespan of the car’s exterior.
A huge part depends on the installation process of vinyl wrap. If it’s not installed properly, it won’t last long. So, the whole process is under your control. Only you can increase or decrease the durability of the vinyl wrap with proper maintenance and make it worth spending your money.
Factors that Affect Vinyl Car Wrap
There are various reasons that can affect Vinyl wrap. Some can be controlled and some cannot be dealt with. So, let’s check some of the reasons here below:
- Car’s direct contact to the sun on a regular basis
- How much time the car spends on the road
- Numbers of time the car gets washes in a week
- Quality of cleaner with which the car gets washes
- How well the Vinyl wrap was installed in the first place
- Quality of Vinyl wrap
The quality of Vinyl wrap is mentioned here because it is one of the important facts without any doubt. This means you have to choose the best quality Vinyl wrap before making the purchase.
How to Extend the Life of Vinyl Wrap
One can extend the lifespan of a vinyl wrap on a car if one wants it. It is totally up to one’s concern about the car and the use of it before and after the Vinyl wrapping. For this, you have to be crystal clear about some facts.
You have to apply them correctly. With this, you have to take proper care and maintain it well. And it’s because you are investing a great amount of money on this Vinyl wrap. And, obviously, your concern is to take care of the vehicle and its main paint job.
So, at least for the sake of the investment and the benefits, you have to be thoughtful about the facts that are mentioned below.
- Try to avoid your car exposing to the sun and try parking your car in the garage during the day or at night. Or if you don’t have the access to a garage, try to cover the exterior of a car with a thick cover. That might help the wrap to avoid direct contact with the UV rays.
- Washing the vehicle two times a week is fine, but if you do it more than twice then you may damage the wrap. And here, the cleaner you use should be of the best quality to protect the wrap and to last it long.
- Take extra care in the first 4-6 weeks after you have installed the Vinyl wrap. By this, you will be so set to go for long.
Besides these, we must remember that there are some cons of wrapping a car that one may face. This should not be overlooked because, in order to maintain the wrapping, you must solve these problems.
Car Wrapping Problems
Age over time:- There’s all you want your car to look good on the outside but there are some problems with getting your car wrapped because the wrap will get damaged with time. The average lifespan of a car will expire and that’s when you won’t get your expected result till you fix it again.
Complications with repainted and damaged cars:- You may face difficulties while wrapping damaged or repainted vehicles because thus, wrapping cannot be installed perfectly on a poorly painted car or on a damaged car.
Erroneous Layer:- When it comes to choosing the wrap, one should look for the right wrap for his car. Because all the wraps vary in quality. So, to get the best feedback, one should grab the right one with great quality.
Improper Pre-Installation Washing:- Preparing for wrapping is just not about washing the car only, rather the whole process of cleaning it where no dirt or oil can be found. Because these can cause damage to the wrap after installing and it won’t last long.
Other issues also damage the wrap of the car, so you need to be very careful about the facts and use them carefully.
Benefits of Wrapping a Car
However, wrapping a car is a good idea to change the outlook of a car along with many other facilities. It can upgrade your car to another level that would make you so satisfied. So yes, along with some cons, there are some benefits of wrapping a car too.
Car Wrap Protects the Car from Scratches:- Most of the car owners think that car wraps are going to affect their main paint job. But that’s not what it is. Rather applying a car wrap can protect your car from getting unnecessary scratches and gives additional protection to your car with layers.
Wraps are Durable and Last Longer:- This is stated that car wraps are long-lasting and durable. And as per some facts, the duration depends on some of the things like climate, frequency of washing, sun exposure, etc. Moreover, you can prolong its lifespan by taking proper care. For instance- park the car in a garage and cover it with a thick cloth.
Car Wraps are Changeable:- A great thing about a car wrap is, it is reversible. It can be removed easily and re-installed, unlike other paint jobs. This way your car can have a different look every now and then if you want so.
Car Wraps Come in Multiple Colors and Various Designs:- These wraps come in multiple colors and new designs, so you can even match the interior with its exterior perfectly within two days with the help of a professional, as you want.
You can Re-wrap Your Car’s Individual Parts:- In most of the cases, repainting, replacing, or updating car parts can be troublesome. But when it comes to car wrap, there’s no need to worry. Because, it has the benefit of re-wrapping the part that is needed, not the entire body. It won’t be costly like painting and will not kill your time. Also, can be done easily with self-help.
Final Words
The car wrap you are choosing can give a whole new dimension to your car if it is taken care of properly. Because if you want to have great feedback, then you must give it the same amount of attention and effort, and what the car wants, to make it last longer. Because that’s where you invest to make your car worth looking and lasting.
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