What up my automobile aficionados! Got a hot little sports car you’re dying to trick out? Well have I got the solution for you - vinyl wrapping that baby to give it some flash. Yeah you heard that right - just slap on a thin film over the paint to get any color or design you want. Way cheaper and faster than a custom paint job. But of course the question arises - how long will it last before I gotta change it up?
Let me break it down for ya...
What is a Vinyl Wrap?
OK quick 101 on wraps before we get to the nitty gritty. Basically it’s a big ol’ sticker made from vinyl - you know that stuff outdoor signs and banners are made from? Yup, same stuff! Comes on a roll, get’s cut to fit your car, then the installer - very important they know what they’re doing - sticks it on tightly so there’s no bubbles or wrinkles. Voila! Fresh new look in a few days rather than weeks!
They make the vinyl super stretchy so it can form over curves and stuff. Oh and the color goes all the way through so scratches don’t show white underneath. You can do a full wrap on the whole shebang or just hit up select areas like the hood or roof. Lots of choices! Most reputable wraps nowadays last 4-5 years in normal conditions.
How Long Does a Vinyl Wrap Last?
Ok the $20,000 question - how many years will you get out of that snazzy new vinyl before it starts looking ghetto? Well my friend it depends on a crap ton of factors...
- Quality of the vinyl - Pay for the good 3M or Avery Dennison stuff and it’ll hold up better against sun and weather damage. Save money on no-name vinyls and it might not even last a year!
- Quality of installation - YOU MUST HAVE A PRO install it unless you wanna guarantee it'll fail prematurely and look like garbage! Practice makes perfect so go with wrappers who have been in the game for awhile.
- How you care for it - You gotta hand wash it, avoid too hot of water or high pressure rinses, no big brush scrubbing! Keep it outta the sun when possible and don't go drag racing through gravel pits!
- Where you live - Weather is vinyl’s #1 enemy. Think intense heat, cold, rain and stuff. If you're in sunny Arizona or salty Minnesota, don't expect the same longevity as someone in sunny California. Bummer but true!
In the end, like I said most decent vinyls well maintained will last 4-5 years no problem. But I’ve seen high quality wraps properly cared for still looking sweet at the 7-8 year mark and some crappy ones peel off in under 2 years. It all comes down to the materials used and how much TLC that baby gets!
How to Tell When a Vinyl Wrap Needs to Be Replaced?
Alright since you asked, here's the official International Vinyl Council stamp of approval:"We hereby certify that quality vinyl vehicle wraps installed by certified professionals and properly cared for shall reasonably be expected to last 4-7 years on average. Certain exceptions may apply to this policy."
So there you have it folks! Want a fast, affordable way to give your sweet ride a facelift? Call up your local vinyl wrapper and set up a consult! Now let's go grab a burrito baby cuz all this wrap talk got me starved...Holla!
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