Wrap If You Want a Change You Can Undo
A vinyl wrap changes the colour or finish of a car without touching the paint, and it can come off later. A respray is permanent and changes the paint itself. If your paint is healthy and you want a new look without committing to it forever, a wrap usually makes more sense.
If the paint is already failing, peeling or badly chipped, that changes the answer. Film shows what is underneath it.
How They Compare
Cost
Neither has one price. A wrap depends on the size of the car, how complex the panels are, the film and the finish. Paint depends on how much prep the body needs and the quality of the job. A cheap respray and a quality wrap are not the same comparison as a quality respray and a quality wrap.
Choice of finish
Some looks are much easier in film than in paint. Matte, satin, chrome, colour-shift and brushed finishes are all standard wrap films. The same looks in paint are specialist work and harder to maintain.
Lifespan
Paint is meant to last the life of the car. Wrap film has a service life set by its maker, and sun, heat and how the car is stored all affect it. Ask for the film maker's rating for the film you choose.
Going back
A wrap can be removed and the original colour is still there. A respray is a one-way decision, and a colour change in paint usually means painting door jambs and other hidden areas too.
Living With Each One
Resale
A buyer sees the paint under a removed wrap. If the factory paint has been covered, it may be in better condition than paint that has been exposed for years. A non-factory respray colour can narrow the pool of buyers.
Care
Hand wash a wrap, avoid brush car washes, keep pressure washer jets back from the edges, and do not use abrasive polish on matte or satin film. Paint can be polished and corrected. Film generally cannot.
Damage
A damaged wrap panel can often be re-wrapped on its own. Damaged paint needs repair and blending into the panels around it.
Common Questions
Is a wrap cheaper than a paint job?
It depends on the car, the film and the quality of paint work you compare it with. Get a quote for both on your own car. We quote wraps after we have seen the vehicle.
Does a wrap damage the paint underneath?
A wrap applied to healthy factory paint and removed properly should come off without harming it. Resprayed or already failing paint is riskier, which is one reason we look at the paint first.
Can I wrap a car with chips or peeling clear coat?
Film follows the surface, so chips and peeling show through and can lift the wrap. Damaged areas need to be dealt with before wrapping.
Which finishes can I choose?
We wrap in matte, gloss, satin, chrome, colour-shift and brushed finishes.
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Talk Through Your Wrap
Prefer to talk it through? Call 365-336-3767, Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 4 pm. Work is by appointment.
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