How to choose and correctly stick armored film on the sills, bumper, arches, windshield of a car with your own hands

The car body is subject to various external influences, including attack by hard hairs from wash brushes, gravel ricochets, scratching by tree branches, and paintwork being corroded by bird droppings. The factory coating cannot withstand such loads; cracks, streaks, chips, and other deformations appear on it. An armored film on a car will help to cope with the problem, with the help of which you can protect most exterior elements.

Types of protective film for cars

The most popular films for car wrapping are polyurethane and vinyl, as well as transparent or combined modifications for headlights, windshields, and airbrushing. Before purchasing a product, you need to determine the final purpose of the material and the requirements for it.

Vinyl

The production of PVC films is carried out through the polymerization of ethylene and sodium chloride petrochemical components.Vinyl's characteristics resemble similar materials for double-glazed windows in windows, floor coverings, pipes, and differ from them in rigidity, ductility and a number of other parameters. These canvases serve not only to protect the car, but also to decorate the vehicle. Vinyl armor films are available in different colors, some varieties glow in the dark, improving the visibility of the car in traffic at night.

The material is suitable for processing the entire body or highlighting individual elements (for example, a bumper or hood). The performance characteristics of the canvas are achieved not due to the structure or composition features, but due to the thickness of the coating. PVC turns yellow over time, which is noticeable on black and white bodies, is susceptible to peeling at subzero temperatures, and is afraid of aggressive reagents and liquids. At the same time, vinyl is cheaper than its analogues, easy to care for and easy to apply yourself.

Hybrid

The properties of the new type of anti-gravel protection are similar to those of polyurethane, combining the cost of PVC products. During the manufacturing process, innovative technologies and special additives are used to ensure a coating service life of at least 7 years. The base is polyvinyl chloride with an adhesive layer of acrylic. The fabric is impervious to chemical influences, ultraviolet radiation, is not afraid of water and oils, and is suitable for treating water equipment. Hybrids have an increased level of transparency and gloss.

Polyurethane

Polyurethane films are made by combining a polyol and an isocyanate. The uniqueness of the coating lies in its multitasking. The material simultaneously has increased hardness, good elasticity, and a high percentage of stretch.It was the latter property that became the key when choosing polyurethane for creating automotive armored films.

The canvas perfectly protects the body from bouncing stones and other mechanical threats. The matte film can withstand scratches from branches, sharp objects, abrasives, and is not corroded by caustic bird droppings. Minor deformations of polyurethane can be restored by heating the problem areas with a hairdryer and then smoothing them out. The material protects the car not due to the thickness of the coating, but due to its structure. The film repels water; if properly glued, it cannot be seen with the naked eye.

How to choose a film for booking

It is recommended to buy protective material from well-known manufacturers on the market. Products must be provided with a guarantee and certificates of compliance with accepted standards. You should always ask the seller for documentation so as not to run into a cheap copy.

When choosing a film, consider the following points?

• appointment;
• treated areas;
• type of material;
• parameters for stretching and tearing;
• price (too cheap canvases raise doubts about the quality and reliability of the product).

Manufacturer ratings, user reviews, and a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of the coating will help you purchase the best option based on personal preferences and technical characteristics.

Advantages and disadvantages

Armor film for cars is considered a universal way to protect all body elements, including wheel arches, fenders, spoilers, doors, bumpers, and sills. A transparent or tinted modification is suitable for covering the rear, side, and windshield, protecting the structure from branches, stones, birds and rough handling.

DIY pasting

Before gluing the armor film, the car is thoroughly washed, cleaned, and dried. Removes all stains, insect marks, drips and streaks. Scratches are cleaned and polished, the recommended ambient temperature is 14-30 °C.

Prepare materials and tools:

• vinyl or polyurethane film in the required quantity;
• mittens (not made of wool, so that lint does not get under the sticky layer of material);
• soap solution, alcohol;
• rubber squeegees;
• sharp knife;
• smooth texture napkins;
• syringe.

After cleaning, drying, heating the machine to normal temperature, they begin finishing.

Step by step instructions

Film based on vinyl and polyurethane is glued according to a similar principle. PVC material is thinner and better suited for processing hard-to-reach places and elements of complex configurations. Polyurethane is thicker, it is easy to paste over straight areas; on bends, trimming of the edges is required.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Prepare the film web by placing it on the backing of the part, carefully cutting out the pattern along the contour with a knife.If the area to be treated does not have joint stops, mark them with masking tape.
2. The areas to be pasted are moistened with a soap solution.
3. Lay the armored film on the surface, smoothing it from the center to the edges, and heat it with a hairdryer to a temperature of 50-55 °C.
4. Using a squeegee, carefully squeeze out the air from under the canvas; if there is swelling, pierce it. Pour in 1-2 ml of alcohol and use a syringe to remove all residues from the bubble.
5. In complex areas with bends, the material is stretched, one edge is fixed “tightly” with an alcohol solution. The amount by which it is recommended to tighten the film coating area is no more than 20% of the total size.
6. Folds at corners and folds are moistened with alcohol and smoothed with a hard squeegee and a clean rag.
7. The edges are carefully trimmed with a stationery knife, avoiding damage to the paint layer.
8. An alcohol suspension is applied on top of the canvas, and the treated areas are wiped with a napkin.

Do not wash the coating for 24 hours after covering, allowing the glue to set well. For subsequent polishing, wax compounds are used, without the inclusion of abrasive particles.

Questions and answers

How to choose a reliable armor film manufacturer?

You should study thematic forums, listen to reviews from motorists with relevant experience, who will recommend how to cover a vehicle with armored film.

Which film is easier to cover a vehicle with your own hands?

Vinyl is thinner and easier to process, but has limited protection against serious external influences. Polyurethane is stronger, more durable, and resistant to external irritants. It is more difficult to stick it on yourself, so if you do not have the appropriate skills, it is better to entrust the work to specialists.

Where to buy armored film?

Avoid purchasing material from unverified market outlets or through advertisements. Often, unscrupulous sellers pass off counterfeits as genuine goods. It is better to contact official dealers of manufacturers or online stores that have been working in this field for a long time.

The armored film will last from 5 to 25 years, is thicker than factory paintwork, and reliably protects body parts from damage. If you adhere to the instructions, technologies, and approach the process responsibly, you can wrap the car completely or partially yourself.