Anti-gravel film on the car: reviews of motorists. How to paste a protective film on the car

When driving on roads, the car body is exposed to various foreign objects, which now and then fly out from under the wheels of their car or what moves in front. A huge risk to damage the body when driving on country roads, or a country road is always there. Many damages are given to cars that have a fairly low landing and a massive front bumper.

There are many ways to protect the body from this. One of them is an anti-gravel film on the car. What is this coating?

This is an innovative product that can reliably protect the car paintwork from the impact on it of various negative factors.

The protective film on the car is almost invisible on the body and can perform not only protective, but also decorative functions. Many manufacturers offer these products in various colors and patterns. However, the film is very popular with car owners.

The advantages of applying

For any car, pasting with anti-gravel film has several advantages:

1. The body is reliably protected from minor mechanical damage.
2. The modern film is almost invisible.
3. Adhesive composition with its special formula makes it easy to apply a film, and then it is also easy to remove it.
4. Does not affect the coating of the body at the chemical level.
5. Does not need special care.
6. Easily applied to any form of bodywork.
7. Has a long service life.

All manufacturers who manufacture these products give a guarantee for a sufficiently long period - this is an important plus. This is a guarantee that during operation the anti-gravel film on the car does not turn yellow and does not exfoliate.

Another major advantage is the free passage of ultraviolet rays through the protective coating. What does this mean for a car body? Thus, the color of the LCP under the film will not make any difference with the color of the coating in those places where it was not pasted.

Also it is worth to know that from blows as such, the protective film on the car does not protect. Its main function is to soften them. The force of the impact spreads over the entire surface, thus the body parts will not be damaged. These products are applied to places where the risk of damage is greatest - they are wings, details of optics, mirrors, bumper, and also the hood.

The application of this film guarantees maximum protection against chips, various scratches, gravel impact and various mechanical damages. These advantages have already been evaluated by car owners.

Types of Films

To date, two types of products have received special distribution among automotive enthusiasts. This is a polyurethane protective film on the car and vinyl. Also, carbon and special protective products are isolated.

Vinyl Films: Advantages and Disadvantages

This coating is used when it is necessary to protect the entire body. The pebbles can fall everywhere - on the side doors, the back and on the roof. Serdy's advantages of this type of protection can be identified some points.

So, vinyl anti-gravel film on the car, which is manufactured by cast technology, has high flexibility characteristics. Therefore, there are no difficulties in order to tighten even the most steep bends.

Additional property - the maximum protection of the surface from ultraviolet radiation. It after some time leads to burnout of color. Another advantage is the cost, which is much lower than for products made of polyurethane.

Among the shortcomings can be identified:

• Small thickness (therefore strength is insufficient);
• Winter in the period of severe colds, the elasticity characteristics are lost;
• This product is more suitable for application to the sides.

In this case, the protection is from gravel and stones, which fall on the sidewalls at acute angles.

Strictly speaking, the function of vinyl is more decorative. Installed vinyl anti-gravel film on the car can effectively protect only from ultraviolet. So do not count on anything more. Vinyl, unlike polyurethane, is easier to break where the polyurethane is only stretched. This, unfortunately, is also one of its characteristics.

Polyurethane products

The protective film on a polyurethane auto emerged from military technologies that were used in the United States. The product was tested in military companies of this country in Iraq. It had to protect the blades of helicopters from the sand. In principle, it's not even a film, but light armor, as experts call it. Through the material completely passes ultraviolet, which allows the body to burn more evenly.

This protection is pasted on bumpers, mirrors, as well as on the front parts of the hood. The high viscosity of the material and the thickness are a huge advantage, which makes it possible to provide complete protection for surfaces. But this is also considered a disadvantage, as there is no way to cover it with spherical body shapes or surfaces with large bends.

For a bumper such anti-gravel film on the car does not approach. The testimonies of those who glued it to such surfaces show that indeed, it can not be completely covered. In any case, there will be a space that will not be protected.

If to compare with vinyl, the polyurethane product very badly keeps its shape. Where the film flexes, strong tension and a cellulite pattern are observed. Its service life is comparable to vinyl. Among the shortcomings is one more - the film turns yellow with time.

Carbon

In contrast to vinyl, carbon has a three-dimensional texture. This will help to give the car a certain individuality. Carbon is manufactured using special technologies and maximally simulates carbon fiber.

In addition to aesthetics, this protective film on the car performs its functions perfectly. The thickness of the material can vary from 180 μm to 200. This allows to completely protect the surface from any influences.

Where to glue?

Car pasting with anti-gravel film is carried out on those sites that are most susceptible to mechanical action of small gravel. These are the front parts of the hood. There is often glued tape, the width of which is from 20 to 90 cm. Also, the film is glued on the wings behind and in front.

The bumper needs to be pasted completely. The rear should be protected at the top. The lower edge is protected from the effect of sandblasting. Also glued doorways, thresholds, an area around the door handles, the back of the mirror, stretchers and headlights.

Order and technology of application

So, a suitable anti-gravel film has already been purchased for the car. Setting it up is quite a complicated process. All work must be done very carefully and as accurately as possible. The technology includes several mandatory steps.

Preparation

To get a high-quality result, it is necessary to prepare the body surface well. If the car is fresh and has just come off the assembly line, then it will be enough just to wash it well and then degrease it.

If on the body there are shallow scratches, cloudy coating, chips, then all these defects should be carefully cleaned and polished. This can all be done on the SRT, or independently.

Cutting

The safest and most recognized way for car enthusiasts around the world is by cutting using automotive patterns. But, often in most SRT film is cut on the body. This method has some disadvantages.

So, such a pattern can be inaccurate. Only high professionalism saves us from possible mistakes. Probably material with a certain margin. Therefore, if the film was purchased without allowance for the allowance, then it may simply not be enough. The knife on the body of the car can leave scratches, in which condensate will fall. And scratches crack with time. Even experienced masters do not give guarantees for damage.

Installation

There is already ready for gluing anti-gravel film. The price of it depends on the material and the manufacturer (on the bumper of 1000 rubles). It is important to remember that it is necessary to work very carefully, otherwise this process can do with additional costs.

A ready-made pattern is glued on the corresponding elements. Do this with a construction hair dryer or a pair. Heating makes the material softer and more elastic. This allows you to stretch and tightly glue the product without air bubbles. Large sheets may require prolonged heating and more time. But if you get a quality anti-gravel film on the car, the testimonials indicate that the better the sticking, the more reliable the protection will be.