Coming off a brutally hot summer, chances are your vehicle took a bit of a beating from Mother Nature these past few months and the interior and exterior of your car could use a little tender loving care. The paint on your vehicle is one of the last lines of defence for the body of your vehicle but what is protecting the paint itself from the ravages of high heat, humidity, damaging sun rays and high winds?
Drivers in Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Toronto, Vaughan and Caledon and the rest of the GTA know how vicious winter can be here so now that a tough summer has ended and we’re heading into cooler months ahead, now is a great time to look at the different ways you can protect the finish of your vehicle and keep it looking fantastic for years to come.
Maintenance is a key factor and because car manufacturers are now using more environmentally friendly paint finishes on their vehicles, the drawback is that the water based paints are more prone to allowing fading, staining and even chipping on a more frequent basis. Here are some tips on how to protect your paint job no matter what the weather conditions.
Luxury Car Wash
If you really care about the appearance of your vehicle and the potential resale or trade in value, it is a wise investment to go with a luxury car wash. This includes the use of fresh water, gentle yet effective detergents to remove dirt, grease and other pollutants and it’s done with the use of soft foam technology and a computer controlled process so that the right amount of pressure is used to prevent scratching, chipping or any other kind of trauma to the finish of your vehicle. Having your car hand dried afterwards makes a big difference in spotting any stubborn debris not cleaned away during the wash and also insures no water marks!
Triple Poly Shine Wax
A big part of taking your “baby” through the luxury car wash is adding a layer of protection once the surface of your vehicle has been properly cleaned. Always be sure to enhance the pampering treatment of your car’s exterior with a triple poly shine wax. Wax is designed to be a repellent to dirt, debris and water and also acts as a filler along any cracks or pores that are developing in the paint surface of your vehicle. It is an added layer of protection for your paint against the elements, all year round.
Paint Protection Film
Technology has come a very long way and nowadays, you can have a film applied to the outer surface of the front end of your vehicle for that added level of preventative care for your paint finish. 3M Scotchgard Paint Protection Film Pro Series acts as a barrier from small stones, road salt, debris, insects and even nicks and surface abrasions that can happen with minor collisions. It is one of the clearest films in the industry and is a virtually undetectable product that helps to keep your paint looking new and maintains the quality of the paint surface. The film is also self-healing so if a scratch occurs on the film, it will virtually disappear. It also has the added bonus of needing no maintenance as once it is applied you would wash it just like the rest of your vehicle. The film also requires no fasteners or chemical adhesives to stick to your vehicle and it can be repositioned or removed safely from the paint at any time.
Vinyl Wrapping
If you’re not familiar with 3M vinyl wrapping, it’s pretty cool! You can completely change up the look of your vehicle by selecting a new paint style that ranges from high gloss colour to matte colours and even brushed metal or carbon fiber finishes. You can customize your vehicle to have a digital print out of a design, logo or text which are all great options if your vehicle is used for promotional purposes for a business. The sky is the limit when it comes to the range of options you can select with vinyl wrapping and it’s a way to change up the look of your vehicle every five to seven years, depending on the warranty you select. Depending on how complex a vinyl wrapping job you want, you can drive away with a totally custom “paint” job in 1-2 days.