More and more cars are being customized with vinyl wraps and paint protection film (PPF). The presence of these products influences the planning and repair process for a vehicle in your shop. Here are four things you should consider.
1. Brand
What is the brand of company that created the wrap or decal? Just like any other part, replacement wrap typically needs to be ordered and delivered before repairs can be made.
2. Age
How long has the wrap been on the panel being repaired? Long-term exposure to sunlight or the weather can affect both the vinyl and the adhesive, making them more difficult to remove. If they cannot be peeled off, you may need to sand them off.
3. Paint
After the repairs have been completed, it’s important to follow both the paint manufacturer’s and the vinyl manufacturer’s guidelines. Paint needs to be fully cured and the surface prepared before installing a wrap, in order to ensure proper adhesion. This means you should plan to keep the vehicle at the repair facility longer than an unwrapped one.
4. Subcontract
It might be in your best interest to subcontract this part of the repair process to a company that specializes in wraps, decals and PPF. It might even be necessary to go back to the original installer to reproduce the original wrap.
Keeping these points in mind will help you plan for, and repair wrapped or decaled vehicles. Check out the I-CAR Canada course catalog for classes on vehicle refinishing.