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How Long Does a Vinyl Wrap Last?
Paint has been a common way to enhance your car's appearance. Vinyl wrapping has also grown in popularity and is used frequently. Like a paint job, some vinyl wraps can fade over time and experience wear and tear. Understanding how long a vinyl wrap lasts and factors that may decrease the lifespan of your wrap are of the utmost importance.
Factors That Impact the Life Expectancy of a Wrap
Numerous factors impact the quality and life expectancy of your vehicle's wrap. Fortunately, there are also various ways to increase the life of a vinyl wrap. Consider these elements that directly influence your vinyl wrap's appearance and lifespan:
1. Quality of Installation
The overall quality of a vinyl installation directly affects the wrap's life expectancy, so going to a professional may be your best option if you're unable to install a wrap on your own. Numerous things may negatively impact the wrap's overall quality and installation. Some of the most important quality factors to consider include:
A Dirty Vehicle
For an effective wrap, the vehicle's surface needs to be cleaned and degreased because a vinyl wrap cannot stick to grease, debris or dirt. If even a small portion of a vehicle is left dirty, the vinyl is likely to peel or lift off the surface, which commonly occurs around the wheel wells and panel edges. If vinyl sits over dirt or debris, the film will also tent, causing it to look bumpy and textured.
Wrinkly Corners
Corners that wrinkle or are not smooth can easily make a vinyl wrap look unprofessional, cheap and unpolished. A high-quality vinyl wrap should make the vehicle seem like it has a seamless paint job. Improper techniques can make the vinyl to look cheap or unsightly. Because corners are some of the most difficult parts of the vehicle to wrap, they are often a tell-tale sign.
The most effective way to avoid wrinkly corners or cheap-looking results is to eliminate underlying debris or air bubbles and take your time placing the vinyl.
Overstretching During Application
Another common aspect that may cause a wrap to look unprofessional is if the material is overstretched during installation. Overstretching is when a piece of vinyl is cut for a particular portion of the vehicle but is smaller than needed. Less experienced installers may stretch the material to fit rather than cut a properly sized piece.
Overstretched vinyl is much more likely to experience lifting because the adhesive thins out when the installer stretches the vinyl. It also has a lot of tension, increasing the risk of the film failing, typically around the corners and edges. Overstretched vinyl is also thinner, which can negatively impact the appearance of the wrap and result in shiny or discolored spots.
Visible Seams
While a vinyl wrap may look nice from a distance, you may notice visible seams when you look closer. While visible seams may not be a technical error, they can negatively impact your wrap's overall appearance and quality. If there are multiple pieces of vinyl used for one area of the car, you will likely notice unsightly seams and lines that ruin the overall appearance of your vehicle. Seams ruin the illusion of a paint job and make the car look much cheaper.
2. Wrap Care
How you care for your vinyl wrap also directly influences your wrap's life expectancy and quality. If you do not care for your vinyl wrap properly, you will likely notice wear and tear and a shorter lifespan. Fortunately, many simple tips and tricks can help you minimize wear and tear while elongating the wrap's lifespan.
Keeping your wrap clean will help your vinyl wrap look professional and clean, but washing a vinyl wrap often requires more attention to detail than washing a car without a vinyl wrap. Too frequent or improper cleaning techniques can impact the appearance and quality of a vinyl wrap and lower the overall life expectancy.
Most vehicle enthusiasts recommend washing your vehicle with a wrap by hand and using nonabrasive cleaning solutions. Avoid anything with granules or grit, which can damage the wrap and peel the vinyl. Use a dedicated microfiber cloth and avoid overly strong solutions and solvents. After cleaning the vehicle, thoroughly rinse your car to remove any leftover soap.
3. Car Washes
Any vehicle needs to be washed and cleaned, even a car with a vinyl wrap. Built-up grime and debris can cause your vehicle to look dirty and unpolished. Many vehicle owners also spot clean their vehicles because the longer dirt or grime sits on the vinyl wrap, the more difficult it is to remove. Built-up grime that has sat for a while is also more likely to damage the vinyl wrap.
Bird droppings, tar, bugs and other contaminants may harden and severely impact the vinyl's appearance. To remove this debris, soak it in hot, soapy water for a few minutes to loosen stubborn stains. Some car owners also use denatured alcohol to help loosen and remove stubborn contaminants.
In some cases, you may need special cleaning solutions to remove these stubborn stains. Always check the ingredients and warning labels of a cleaning solution to ensure it is designed for use on cars with a vinyl wrap.
Consider these important aspects of hand-washing vs. automatic car washes for your vinyl wrap:
- Hand-washing: Hand-washing is much gentler than automatic washing, making it ideal for most vehicle owners. In general, it's best to hand-wash vehicles, as it is safer for the wrap and helps prevent vinyl damage, tearing or lifting. Gently rinse heavy debris off with water before using a clean sponge or cloth to remove the remainder of the debris. While hand-washing is ideal for normal wear, you may occasionally need a stronger car wash if there's a large amount of heavy or built-up debris.
- Automatic washing: If you do not have the time or cannot remove certain grime and debris with a hand-wash, consider automatic car washes. A wrapped vehicle can go through a car wash, with a touchless option being the best choice to avoid damaging the vinyl. Brush car washes are much more likely to damage your vinyl wrap and promote lifting, dulling and scratching. While automatic car washes are a viable choice, use them sparingly to avoid damage.
4. Weather Conditions
Weather and sunlight contribute to wear and tear on your vehicle's wrap job. Inclement weather and direct exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can cause your vinyl wrap to fade or become damaged. Even extreme temperatures can negatively impact the lifespan of a wrapped car. While storing your vehicle out of direct sunlight can help minimize UV damage, you also have to consider the temperature.
Even if the vehicle is out of direct sunlight in a garage, the wrap may shrink, peel, expand or become distorted if the space is not temperature-regulated. These complications often happen when high temperatures cause the adhesive under the vinyl to loosen and melt.
If you take proper care of your vehicle, there is not much concern for the effects of cold weather on your vinyl wrap. In most cases, average snow or ice during winter will not damage your wrap, and most vinyl wraps are designed to withstand road salt. While your vinyl wrap is designed to withstand cold weather, you should still take certain precautions to minimize the risk of damage.
Some important winter tips for maintaining your vinyl wrap include:
- Regularly remove road salt from wheel wells, undercarriage and equipment.
- Avoid scraping snow and ice off your vehicle.
- Use a soft snow removal tool to protect your vinyl wrap.
- Store your vehicle in a garage when possible, especially if a storm is coming.
5. Vehicle Storage
One of the easiest ways to care for your vinyl-wrapped vehicle is to store it safely in a garage or enclosed parking area. A car stored outside is likely to experience a higher level of wear and tear due to UV rays and constant exposure to the elements. If you have a garage, especially one built out of concrete or stone, store your vehicle here.
Garages act as natural insulators and help cool the area during hot weather, preventing the adhesive from melting. If you do not have a personal garage, a parking garage or covered structure can provide some basic protection from the elements. Always try to park your vehicle in a temperature-regulated area.
Even if a concrete parking garage does not have air conditioning, concrete is naturally cooler and can help maintain an ambient temperature. If you do not have access to any form of covered parking area, park your vehicle under a tree or alongside your house, where it can sit in the shade for most of the day. You may also want to consider a car cover, which can help protect against UV damage.
6. Wrap Quality
As with almost any aspect of your vehicle, a product's overall quality directly influences the wrap's lifespan. A high-grade, premium vinyl is much more likely to stand the test of time and have a longer lifespan than a cheaper option. While some car owners may want to save a little money with a more affordable option, they typically have to spend more money on upkeep or rewraps.
While a high-quality wrap may be more of an initial investment, it is much more likely to last longer. On the other hand, you'll need to replace cheaper wraps much sooner, doubling the cost of your original investment. In general, premium vinyl wraps also provide your vehicle with a more sophisticated and professional appearance.
How Can I Make My Vinyl Wrap Last Longer?
If you have a wrapped vehicle, you probably wonder what you can do to increase the lifespan expectancy and minimize the risk of damaging your wrap. Consider these tips and tricks to help your vinyl wrap last longer and look clean and polished:
- Wash your vehicle regularly: Keeping your vehicle clean can help prolong the lifespan of your wrap. While you can bring your vehicle to the car wash, hand-washing your vehicle is a gentler option for your vehicle and wrap. If you can remove grime and dirt with a simple hand-wash, this is typically better than bringing your vehicle to a car wash, which may be too rough and damage your vehicle. Avoid high-pressure hoses, as these can tear or damage your wrap.
- Minimize exposure to the elements: Hot temperatures, cold weather and ultraviolet rays contribute to wear and tear on your vehicle, making where you park your vehicle incredibly important. Ideally, you should park your vehicle in a personal garage that blocks sunlight and inclement weather. It helps if this garage is also temperature regulated because hot temperatures can cause various complications with vinyl adhesive.
- Immediately remove stains and spills: Spills or droppings can stain immediately, meaning the longer you let them sit on the wrap, the more difficult it is to remove them safely and effectively. Bird droppings are a common issue that can cause permanent damage to the wrap if not removed quickly. You should also clean fuel or gasoline spills immediately, as these can degrade the vinyl and lead to permanent damage. While cleaning your wrapped vehicle, avoid oil-based solutions.
- Dry your vehicle after washing: While many people people prefer to let vehicles air dry, vinyl wrap is not hydrophobic. It absorbs a large amount of water, which can leak into the adhesive and make it less effective. Drying your vinyl sooner with high-pressure air or a dedicated microfiber cloth is better.
- Use the right products: While vehicle enthusiasts often buy specialty products to care for their car and wrap, not all products are created equal. Choosing the right products can protect your vinyl and prevent future damage. How long your vinyl wrap lasts will also depend on the products you use. Never use solvents, oven cleaner, orange oil, kitchen and bathroom cleaners, oil-based cleaners or engine degreaser on your wrapped vehicle.
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