When it comes to changing the colour of your vehicle, a simple vinyl colour wrap can make all the difference. Some car owners have their vehicles repainted. However, it can be very expensive and the car’s resale value will decrease with the new paint job.
Car wrapping is an alternative way spruce up or change an existing colour. The wrap is a large vinyl sticker that is placed directly over the original paint. It is becoming increasingly more popular as people start to consider several aspects about the exterior of their vehicles. There are many benefits to using a wrap on your vehicle over repainting it.
The thing to keep in mind is that wrapping a vehicle does not hide a bad paint job. When a vehicle is wrapped, the paint under it needs to be smooth so that the vinyl will have the necessary bond to grip to the existing surface.
1. Vinyl Wrapping
Wrap vinyl comes in a wide array of colours and finishes, giving your vehicle a completely unique look. By using a couple of colours, you can completely change the look of the car, giving it texture and highlight certain areas. Here’s a link for a 3M colour chart that gives an example of what you could choose to resurface your vehicle – 3M Vinyl Colour Chart. Keep in mind that there are a number of great vinyl manufactures that offer similar products such as Vvivid, Hexis, Avery, and Orakal. Be aware of the products you use since there are many manufactures that offer far less superior products that look good in the begining but don’t last very long. When choosing a wrap alway insure your wrap comes with a 1 year guarantee.
2. Vinyl Wrap Durability
Vinyl wrap is incredibly durable. In addition to looking great, it provides a layer of protection to your car (including the paint under it). It can take the occasional rock on the road scratching the surface without showing the wear as much. Plus if there are a lot of rocks chips or scratches to the vinyl the panel can be easily removed and replaced with the same vinyl.
3. Vehicle Wrap Pricing vs Painting
The cost of a good paint job ranges between $3,000 and $10,000. A professional vehicle wrap installation costs between $2,500 and $5,000 and it’s much easier to change the colour of a wrap since it’s much easier to remove the vinyl and replace it than a paint job.
4. Wrap Any Type of Vehicle
If you thought that a new paint job would have the advantage here, you would be mistaken. Car wrap is made for almost every type of vehicle such as cars, trucks, golf carts, RV’s, boats, motorcycles and anything with a motor. Heck, you can even resurface your kitchen cabinets if you wish – Check this out
5. Ease of Reverting Back to the Original Look
One of the best things about applying a wrap to your vehicle is the fact that you can easily undo it later. If you get tired of the wrap, it is easy to remove and it won’t harm the paint underneath.
6. Increased Resale Value
Adding a new paint job almost always results in the value of a car going down because most potential buyers are unlikely to want an untraditional colour. When a vehicle is wrapped, the resale value is considerably greater than a vehicle that has been repainted. This is primarily because the vinyl can be removed without damaging the vehicle. Since the wrap preserved the paint, the value of your vehicle is higher because it still looks new.
7. Time to Install vs Painting
When you take your car in for a new paint job, it usually takes between one and two weeks. You’ll also have to consider the amount of time for the paint to thoroughly dry before starting to drive it regularly. Applying a wrap will take between three and five days. When you go to pick it up, you won’t need to be cautious about driving it – your car will be ready for immediate use.
8. Maintaining a Wrapped Car
One of the main problems with paint jobs is that they require a lot of maintenance to continue to look great. They need regular washing and waxing to keep the new shine. You can spend half the amount of time required to keep your vehicle looking clean with wrap. However, its best to hand was the wrapped vehicle and wipe with a microfibre cloth. Drive through car washes are a no no. Thats even typical with a painted vehicle. I would even consider a ceramic coat for more durability on your new wrap.
9. Numerous Options for a Unique Look
You can easily display your personality and preferences on the outside of your vehicle. Wraps come in single colours or you can even request your own designs on printed vinyl. Graphics are much easier to design and apply on a printable vinyl than a custom paint job.
10. Ease of Duplication for Business
If you have a business and want to change multiple vehicles and want something that is guaranteed to look the same for all of them then a wrap is much easier to do than a paint job. It is incredibly difficult to repeat a look perfectly because there are so many variables with a paint job. However, a car wrap is easy to duplicate, and you don’t have to worry about it looking different after the application either.