Having a car is no longer a privilege: a rare sight on roads a century ago, vehicles are now counted “per capita” resulting in an impressive average of 2 cars per household in numerous countries worldwide. Cars are becoming more affordable, thanks to leasing contracts, trade-in deals, and a large selection on the used-cars market. This availability, on the other hand, has led to a perception of cars as consumable goods: some people don’t care enough about their private vehicle, let alone a company car. Luckily, we, as a new generation of consumers and entrepreneurs, care more about the environmental impact of our purchases, looking for a long-term solution for our needs, and respect the earned money trying to give it the maximum value. This conscious consumption brings a new philosophy of choosing a car: Is it a smart investment? Will the vehicle last long? What can I do to make it last long? The answer for the latter is good care of the “stuffing” underneath the hood and adequate protection of the car’s exterior and interior surfaces.
When it comes to protecting materials and surface types that constitute a vehicle, the methods and products available could be divided into several groups: do-it-yourself vs. professional, conventional vs. modern, ineffective vs. high performance. Let’s speak about the “better half” from these binaries, meaning the most advanced and effective protection your car can get in a certified and highly professional center: nano-ceramic coatings and PPF.
Though being present on the market for quite a while, ceramic coatings and paint protection films remain a major topic of debate between car lovers. With the growing popularity of vinyl wraps, this issue is getting even more confusing: what product should be on your car? Of course, a visit to a trustworthy detailing center for an inspection and initial consultation could settle the question, but first, let’s sort the things out: what are PPF, wraps, and nanoceramics?
PPFs and wraps are basically films that are applied on top of your car paint, and actually, this might be the only thing they have in common. Paint protection films, widely known as clear bra, are made of polyurethane, an elastic and solid polymer that has a broad range of applications thanks to its resilience to force applied and extreme temperatures. PPF thickness can be somewhere from 140 microns and more, making them an effective buffer between car paint and an aggressive environment. The first function of polyurethane films is to protect the original car’s coating integrity and prevent it from getting chipped by stones and gravel or scratched by tree branches or other immovable objects. Due to the film’s elasticity and softness, it “absorbs” the impulse of flying debris or grit, taking all the hit instead of fragile car paint. This quality also allows stretching PPF to a large extent, meaning it fits for installation on cars with complex shapes in a seamless technique. New generation paint protection films Kavaca are “infused” with innovative properties, such as proved long-term UV-resistance and non-yellowing feature, easy-to-clean effect and high hydrophobicity, superior clarity and transparency. Kavaca’s upper layer demonstrates high contact angle, so liquid contaminants shed off the surface and simply cannot penetrate the pores of the polymer, so the film is resistant to staining, remains clean for longer, and only requires a quick wash and minor maintenance from time to time. This unique performance is now possible thanks to the technical advance and extensive expertise of the manufacturer, Nanoshine Group Corp, in the field of nanotechnologies. Kavaca can also be considered as a cosmetic fix, as it enhances the gloss or matt texture of the paint and makes the color of the car paint deeper and more intense. The film has an adhesive layer that, within reasonable limits, fills in minor imperfections on the surface of a car, so Kavaca is indeed the optimal protective solution for new vehicles.
Vinyl wraps, on the other hand, are in general a restyling product that somewhat incidentally provides a certain level of protection, covering the original car paint underneath. The primary function of vinyl wraps and tints is vehicle customization hence countless types of vinyl colors, textures, gloss types, and price ranges. Vinyl films are usually 2-3 times thinner compared to PPF, starting from 50 microns, and much less elastic and stretchable, which means they cannot protect car paint from chips and hits. The soft spot of vinyl is quick photodestruction after some exposure to ultraviolet, leading to the discoloration and cracking of the material. The material’s pores are big enough for contaminants to enter and deposit within, so vinyl is prone to staining and requires frequent washing. For a 2-3-year lifespan, a vinyl wrap needs a protective coating for itself (we will come to that part later), so you cannot expect it to last as long as PPF does. Yet, if you want to personalize your private vehicle or have your company car branded, vinyl wraps are a cheaper and quicker option in comparison to repainting the car.
PPF variety, though, is expanding, and Kavaca selection provides any customer a choice of films that are as decorative as vinyl, including Kavaca Black (glossy and Matt types), colorless Matt, and Kavaca Shades – colored films for head and tail lights. This range lets you create classy combinations of colors and textures on your car for an impressive panoramic roof or highlighting particular body components of your means of transport. If PPF is as good-looking as wraps but provides a way better protection, then why choose less?
From a financial perspective, vinyl wraps might be considered as a whim as its functionality, at the end of the day, comes down to embellishing car appearance. Paint protection films, in contrast, are an investment as it enhances a car’s look and protects the paint, therefore increasing the value of the vehicle during the resale. The cost of PPF installation depends on the current state of your ride and how much preparatory work it requires, and the surface area to be wrapped. As full-body wrap might be pricey, it is a better option for exotic, exclusive, and brand-new automobiles. Despite the prevailing views, almost any customer can afford Kavaca installation in so-called car risk-zones (front bumper, hood, fenders, and mirrors) while other body parts and interior surfaces can be protected by nanoceramics.
Ceramic Pro is a product line of liquid glass-like coatings, the superior protection and efficiency of which build on nanotechnology. Nano-ceramic coatings of first generations consisted of modified SiO2 and TiO2 particles that formed a chemical bond with the original material. Today’s Ceramic Pro formula is improved by the use of advanced polymer compounds instead of SiO, bringing the efficiency of these Diamond-like coatings to another level. Ceramic Pro cannot be easily removed from the protected surface, unlike wraps and PPFs, as it can only be managed by polishing. Upon application on car paint, plastics, metal, rubber, and other materials, this DLC-system forms a powerful and permanent protective barrier that is impeccably glossy, easy to clean and maintain, UV-resistant, and resilient to strong chemicals. The flagship product, Ceramic Pro 9H, is a professional solution that can be applied in multiple layers, with the protective properties growing accordingly. Is it as effective against chips and scratched as PPF? Probably not, especially if a minor number of Ceramic Pro 9H layers applied. Yet, this ceramic coating prevents the appearance of swirl marks and microscopic scratches caused by dust and dirt particles hitting the car during daily rides. Ceramic Pro protection, based on the package, is less expensive than PPF installation and can be used on the car parts that suffer less from physical impact.
To maximize the performance of the coatings, Ceramic Pro has a variety of products for particular surfaces, for example, two formulas, Ceramic Pro PPF & Vinyl Base Coat and Ceramic Pro PPF & Vinyl Top Coat designed to protect, prolong the lifespan, and improve the appearance of vinyl wraps and PPF. Being the products of the same manufacturer, Ceramic Pro and Kavaca PPF are compatible, and the nanoceramics can be applied above and underneath the film. An unmatched combo in the world of car surface protection!
To summarize, the choice between wraps, PPF, and ceramic coatings depends on your requirements or, in other words, what you are trying to achieve. If you are more of a visual perception type of person, we strived to concise this article into a comparative table for all three options available on the detailing market.
The human factor is 50% of the success of any undertaking, and this also refers to paint protection and car detailing services. Now, when you have probably learned a bit more about the three pillars of vehicle customization, one crucial question remains unanswered: where do I get these services? Kavaca PPF and Ceramic Pro products are only available within the network of professional and certified installers whose expertise and premises condition are beyond questioning. You can inquire about the closest installer location via the contact form on https://www.kavaca.pro/ or https://ceramic-pro.com/en/contact_us/ and afterward enjoy the benefits of integral protection of Kavaca PPF and Ceramic Pro!