Sending you a PM. I'm just outside of the Northeast... the guy doing my PPF is actually over in NJ... but he also does Mobile detailing/remote work... so he may be able to come to you.... I'll message you and keep you postedWondering what part of Pa your friend has a shop? SW Pa here, and have been looking at local places for PPF also.
For Paint/PPF:Hey @CanadaCivic ... can you give me some recommendations on professional ceramic products that I can actually get and confidently apply on the R? I use G Technic c5 for wheels... and like it... but specifically for trim pieces & paint?
Thanks man!
Blackout Tinting in Latrobe is fantastic, check them out.Wondering what part of Pa your friend has a shop? SW Pa here, and have been looking at local places for PPF also.
I contacted them previously, their bare minimum was just over $400, and for the next step up was (I believe) almost $1200.Blackout Tinting in Latrobe is fantastic, check them out.
If the PPF was damaged but your paint was OK, sounds like it saved the day and performed exactly as it was supposed to. Must have been a pretty nasty rock though to go through 8milI got the XPEL Ultimate Plus installed at an actual XPEL shop. I have had to replace a couple pieces already due to small pebbles hitting them. Paint okay but PPF torn. On another occasion, I accidently bumped the headlight with the battery of my Ryobi drill and it scarred the PPF. Left it in the sun but it did not "self heal".
Honestly, get the thickest PPF available. It is harder to put on but will handle day to day crap much better. I heard the high end 3M is best but noone in my area handles it.
Please do not even think about using Suntek, its even worse. I had it on my Volvo XC60 R Design and it failed within a couple of years leaving divits in my plastic bumper and when they pulled all the pieces off my entire car due to every piece had a defect in it, I was left with a ton of adhesive on the car.
You would think but no, they were just little pellets that got thrown up from when they were resurfacing the road. Once I heard the sound I backed way back from the cars in front but damage was done. Cost me $400 to get that fixed.If the PPF was damaged but your paint was OK, sounds like it saved the day and performed exactly as it was supposed to. Must have been a pretty nasty rock though to go through 8mil
The self healing is for light scratches, swirls, etc. If the damage is significant it isn't going to disappear with heat. I am not sure if your damage falls into that category or not, but try a blow dryer or a heat gun if the sun wasn't hot enough.
The best 3M (Scotchguard Pro) is the same thickness as Xpel Ultimate at 8mil. Xpel does have a 10mil product too I believe but it does not seem very common.
Modern films are much more resistant to discoloring than films of years past. I had partial 3M on my white 2010 Civic and did that ever look terrible when it started to yellow. Modern films still discolor ever so slightly, but it's harder to notice and good films have 10 year warranties against it. You should be replacing your film before then anyway to avoid damage to your paint during removal.Maybe it's just me, but I just hate how PPF looks. It'll naturally fade over time as well. I'd rather just live with the two or three rock chips and spend money on a ceramic coating and call it a day.
As for discoloring, as long as its within 10 years, they will replace the film at no cost. It's only when it tears, they won't cover it.Modern films are much more resistant to discoloring than films of years past. I had partial 3M on my white 2010 Civic and did that ever look terrible when it started to yellow. Modern films still discolor ever so slightly, but it's harder to notice and good films have 10 year warranties against it. You should be replacing your film before then anyway to avoid damage to your paint during removal.
Aesthetically, the worst thing you can do is half a hood - if it discolors it will be extremely obvious and when dirt builds up on the edge of the film it's also very obvious.
Ideally you wrap the entire car, then even if the film does discolor ever so slightly over time, it will be uniform so you won't notice it.
If you live somewhere like I do where they dump gravel on the road all winter, you will end up with way more than a few chips every year without PPF. That being said if I lived somewhere warmer and without gravel, I would probably accept the reality of a few rock chips and forego the PPF.
Also you probably know this already but ceramic coatings don't offer any protection against rocks or physical damage - just chemical resistance, water sheeting, and ease of cleaning.
as mentioned previously, ceramic coating is not a substitute for PPF, and I wouldnt worry about discoloring unless you leave it out in the blazing sun all year long and dont coat it with any sort of protectant.Maybe it's just me, but I just hate how PPF looks. It'll naturally fade over time as well. I'd rather just live with the two or three rock chips and spend money on a ceramic coating and call it a day.
I am in the detailing business. I am aware of what a ceramic coating does. Did my own car with Graphene. Goes without saying that making ease of cleaning on a vehicle should be done to make your life easier.as mentioned previously, ceramic coating is not a substitute for PPF, and I wouldnt worry about discoloring unless you leave it out in the blazing sun all year long and dont coat it with any sort of protectant.
As a detailer, shouldnt you prioritize maintaining the condition of the paint? If done right, most people would barely notice PPF over paint especially when done completely and you can ceramic coat right over it. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.I am in the detailing business. I am aware of what a ceramic coating does. Did my own car with Graphene. Goes without saying that making ease of cleaning on a vehicle should be done to make your life easier.