PPF takes stone chips and scratches instead of the paint
A stone from the road, a scratch or a door knock in a car park hits the film first, not the paint. The film also protects the paint from bird droppings, tree sap, road salt and fading in the sun.
We apply the film to the whole car or only to the parts stones hit most: the front bumper, bonnet and mirrors.
Minor scratches in the film can disappear on their own when the sun warms it. A deeper scratch goes through the film, and then we replace the film on that part of the car.
A ceramic coating keeps the shine and makes washing easier
A ceramic coating is a liquid we apply to clean paint. It bonds firmly with the top, clear layer of the paint. Once it hardens, water forms beads on the paint and runs off.
Dust, bird droppings and sap stick less and come off more easily, so the car is quicker to wash. The paint fades less in the sun and stays shiny longer.
A ceramic coating does not wear off like wax. Wax needs topping up every few months, ceramic less often. More about ceramic coating
Differences between PPF and ceramic coating
| What you compare | PPF | Ceramic |
|---|---|---|
| Stone chips and scratches | Takes them instead of the paint | Does not stop them |
| Bird droppings, sap, sun | Protects | Protects |
| Easier washing | When it has a water-repellent layer | Yes |
| How long it lasts | Usually 5 to 10 years | 1 to 3 years, longer with more layers |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
How long each lasts on your car depends on the film or coating, on the application and on how you drive and wash the car.
Film, ceramic or both: what to choose
The choice depends on how you use the car and what the paint is like now:
- You often drive on the motorwayFilm on the front, which stones hit most.
The car is parked outside or under a treeCeramic or film. Both protect the paint from bird droppings, sap and sun, and with ceramic the car is also easier to wash.- You want both shine and protection from stone chipsFilm on the front, and ceramic on the rest of the car and over the film. Film gets a coating made for film, so the film is also easier to wash and picks up fewer stains.
The car is newFilm or ceramic straight away, while the paint has no marks.
The paint is dull or has fine scratchesPolishing first, then protection. Whatever stays under the film or ceramic shows through it.
You are getting the car ready to sellPolishing and ceramic. Restored, shiny paint can help you sell the car for a better price.
Before film or ceramic, we restore the paint
Film and ceramic seal the paint as it is. A scratch or a speck of dirt under them stays visible for as long as the protection lasts.
So before protection the paint is washed, cleaned of tar and sap and polished.
Run your fingernail across the scratch. If the nail catches, the scratch has gone through the clear coat, the transparent layer over the colour. Polishing does not remove it or stone chips, painting that spot does. More about car polishing
What the price of PPF and ceramic depends on
Neither film nor ceramic has a single price, because every car has a different size, shape and paint condition.
The price of film depends on
- How much of the car we cover: the front, single parts or the whole car.
- How big the car is and how many edges and curves its parts have.
- Which film goes on: gloss or matte, with or without a water-repellent layer. Higher-quality film costs more, but lasts longer.
- How much preparation and polishing the paint needs.
The price of ceramic depends on
- What condition the paint is in and how much polishing it needs.
- How big the car is.
- Which coating you choose and how many layers, because that decides how long it lasts.
- Whether the ceramic also goes over film.
Washing after film and ceramic
Film and ceramic last longer when the car is washed properly. Do this:
- After film, do not wash the car for the first 2 to 3 days. After ceramic, the wait depends on the coating, and we will tell you when you collect the car.
- Wash by hand with a mild car shampoo, or at a car wash without brushes. Brushes scratch the film and lift its edges.
- Keep the pressure washer jet at least a metre from the film and never point it at the edge of the film.
- Remove bird droppings, tar, insects and spilled fuel as soon as possible.
- Do not polish the film with compound, because it is softer than paint.
- After washing, check the edges of the film. Tell us straight away if an edge lifts, because the film can tear while driving.
