Along with the vinyl manufacturer warranty, every installation comes with a 1-year guarantee. If the car’s paint is in good shape on install: Anything that peels, bubbles or cracks in the first year will be replaced, free of charge. Typical wraps last upwards of 4-5 years before some regular wear and tear may occur. Additional warranty packages are also available.
Wrapping is a process of applying special vinyl film to the painted surface of a vehicle. The vinyl can be either white with an image printed on it and laminated on top, or it can be colour-change vinyl that comes in a variety of hues from the manufacturer. The vinyl has a self-adhesive layer that sticks to the surface of your car. When heat is applied to the film, it can be stretched and conformed to the curves of the car.
This is the wrong question. Wrapping should only be considered as a substitute for painting in certain situations. What you are hoping to achieve will determine whether a wrap, or paint, is the appropriate choice.
Painting is permanent, and should not be done on a brand new car, unless you are ok with losing a lot of the resale value.
Due to the removable nature of the vinyl we use, wrap can be considered a temporary product, that gives a unique look and finish without damaging – and in fact protects! – the existing paint job on your car.
In short, wrap is for customizing a vehicle in otherwise-perfect condition, while painting is more frequently for repairs of damaged parts.
Much like with the previous question, the reasons to paint versus wrap are different. However, just to give an idea of pricing: A proper paint job at an official dealership will likely cost around $7000+tax. A wrap will be less than half of that price.
The typical life-expectancy of a wrap is 4-5 years. After this time, normal wear (like scratches), will affect the look of your vehicle.
For printed commercial wraps, the life-expectancy is close to 8 years. Lifespan of a wrap will also depend considerably on aftercare. Vinyl is a pretty delicate product, so it needs to be washed from time to time. We also recommend using special spray-on products for protection.
All wraps are 100% removable with guaranteed no damage to the OEM paint of the car. In fact, a wrap is a great way to protect your vehicle.
Please note: Parts that have been repaired, or covered with aftermarket (non-OEM) paint, may be damaged with the removal of vinyl wrap.
The prices vary depending on the vehicle, colour and variety of vinyl, complexity of the job, intricacy of the design etc. A quality colour-change wrap for a smaller car will start at $1800+tax, and can go as high as $8000+tax for chrome wraps. Commercial graphics wraps are in the $2800+tax range, for a van or SUV.
No. Most of the wrapping vinyls (3M, Avery, Arlon etc.) cost about the same, so cost may not be saved on the material. The labour takes up the largest chunk of the price, and wrapping is a very complicated process, requiring a lot of time by very skilled installers.
This depends on the car, wrap type, vinyl variety, trim etc. A commercial wrap takes around 10 hours to install on most cars. A colour-change wrap can take from 12 to 36 hours to complete, depending on the car. We will normally need to keep your car at our shop for 1-3 days.
Yes and no! Wrapping is super difficult. All of our installers have had special training, and years of hands-on experience. This is definitely not a DIY project. That being said, if you wish to tackle the project on your own, we are more than happy to print – or source – the wrap film for you, at a cheaper price than you would receive from our same suppliers.
Quite durable, but a bit softer than paint. Stone chips can make holes on the front bumper section.
No weather will affect your vinyl wrap. Vinyl is not damaged by the extreme cold of winter, or the scorching heat of summer. However, keeping your wrap out of direct sun, if possible, is recommended for longevity.
There are several types of car washes approved for the care of vinyl-wrapped cars. You may wash a wrapped car by hand (with soap, water, and a sponge), drive through a touchless car wash, or even use a pressure washer, as long as you keep the nozzle at least 12” away from the surface, and limit the spraying angle to less than 90 degrees.
Never use soft-cloth mechanical car washes! They can damage the vinyl.
Polishing is not recommended. You can wax gloss wraps, but should avoid doing this with satin or matte wraps.
Spray on products containing liquid wax are good for most types of wraps.
No special aftercare is recommended for commercial graphics wraps, other than the routine washing of your vehicle.
Do not let salt sit on the surface of you wrap (think winter road salt) for prolonged periods! It can damage the film.