PPF is a self-healing film that is put on all or part of a vehicle to protect against rock chips, scuff marks, light scratches, sun damage and anything that might damage the exterior of a vehicle. It can also be applied to many of the same surfaces as vinyl, such as glass and metal. One example of a use other than vehicles is a bar top in a restaurant to protect against scuff marks from jewelry and glasses.
The origins of PPF go all the way back to the Vietnam war when the military needed a way to protect helicopter blades from weather and flying debris. Since then, PPF has been modified for use on airplanes, cell phones, electronics, screens and personal vehicles to name a few.
There are two types of PPF, clear and color change (which refers to any PPF with pigment). There’s four main reasons we love PPF.
Several luxury vehicles now come from the factory with PPF on parts of the vehicle, such as the Porsche. It is also often offered at the dealership but we recommend doing a little homework before having it installed during your purchase. Partial applications at a dealership are often significantly more expensive than full applications at Shaded Knight.
Clear PPF’s only job is to protect – and it does it like a pro. Thanks to it’s origins protecting military helicopter blades in a warzone, it is designed to withstand almost anything. Road debris, car doors in parking lots and even UV rays are no match for quality self-healing PPF, even in the Arizona desert.
The vehicle pictured opted for a partial PPF installation to protect only the front of the vehicle which is a common application known as a “clear bra”. The results under an intense desert sun showcase both how much protection is offered by PPF and also why we always recommend fully covering the vehicle in PPF. If you make an investment to keep your vehicle looking new for years to come, it is important to keep the entire vehicle looking new.
All or part of the vehicle…that is the question!
Thanks to our intense Arizona sun, we always recommend applying PPF to the entire vehicle. As you can see above, sun damage becomes obvious with partial coverage. We understand that every situation is different and offer two partial coverage packages and are happy to do custom applications when requested.
Knight’s Armor
Full Vehicle Coverage
Knight’s Gauntlet
Full Frontal
Knight’s Shield
Track Pack
(Full Frontal plus A Pillers and Rockers)
Combine the self-healing protection of clear PPF with the cosmetic benefits of vinyl to change the color of a vehicle without paint and you have color change PPF. “Color Change PPF” is an industry term that can be confusing to those not familiar with it. It simply means that it has pigment and is opaque instead of clear to change the color of the vehicle. It includes films that are a single color as well as those with color shifting or iridescent effects that appear to be different colors depending on the angle you view them from, shimmery colors and gold flake colors.
Color change PPF is a fairly recent addition to the market and color options and finishes are being developed continuously. Gloss color options include many of the standard vehicle colors as well as a selection of custom colors and visual effects. Satin black is currently the only option for a finish other than gloss but we hear that more satin options are in the works.
So you’ve decided to change the color of your vehicle – or table tops, bar area, freezers, storefront windows, menu boards or anything else it will stick to. Now it’s time to decide between vinyl and PPF. They both do a great job in changing the appearance of the vehicle but have some pretty big differences in other categories.
Lasts 2-3 years
(depending on sun exposure)
No Protection – Cosmetic Only
Vinyl can be Custom Printed
Hundreds of Color Choices and Visual Effects
Many Finishes Available
More Budget Friendly than PPF
Lasts 8 years
(depending on sun exposure)
Full Self-Healing Protection
PPF can NOT be Custom Printed
Select number of Color Choices and Visual Effects
Gloss Available (+ Satin Black)
Roughly Double the Price of Vinyl
The average amount of time PPF lasts here in Arizona is 8 years. That can vary a little based on sun exposure and the number of times it has to self-heal from damage.
Typically it is a 5-7 day process for full vehicle coverage on a standard sized vehicle. This can vary greatly as every project is unique. We will give you a time estimate when we discuss the project in detail.
Absolutely! We are very experienced with PPF installation on Tesla’s and work with them often.
No, high quality PPF will not yellow. Low quality film does sometimes yellow in the sun but we only install high quality film at Shaded Knight.
Mild soap and water with a microfiber cloth is the best way to wash the vehicle and maintain the PPF. Drive through car washes, pressure washers, abrasive cleaners and rough brushes are not recommended.
