Make Sure Your PPF Isn’t Missing These Critical Spots

Paint protection film isn’t rocket science, but it certainly isn’t a skill that any amateur can perform either. Well-installed PPF covers every inch of the vehicle it’s meant to protect. Beyond what you can see, there are critical points of vulnerability that, if left uncovered, your paint protection film will easily peel and curl, requiring PPF replacement or potentially paint repairs. In today’s post, we’ll review the critical spots that you should ensure are covered to maximize your protection. 

At Jet Black Tint and Glass in Santa Clara, our PPF technicians are well-trained and skilled in their craft. We’ve installed flawless paint protection film on hundreds of Bay Area cars with 5-star reviews from happy customers who are grateful for the protection. We’ve, unfortunately, also corrected plenty of shoddy PPF installation jobs completed by other shops that left these spots uncovered on clients’ vehicles. To book your initial PPF installation or to have your previous hack job repaired, connect with the team at Central California’s top-rated modification shop. 

Hood Edges

Your hood takes the brunt of the impact from both air and any objects hurled toward your car. Because of the sheer force of air and the way air movement around the hood occurs, it’s critical to have every edge of your hood well covered and wrapped under. While it is important to have PPF all the way around all hood edges, the leading hood edge at the very front of your car is the first place that paint protection film will attempt to roll up. You can prevent this by ensuring there is enough wrap-around to prevent wind from catching underneath the lip of the film and forcing it to curl and peel back. Regardless of what type of PPF coverage you purchase, the hood edge should be covered. In fact, clear bras are designed to protect this highly vulnerable area of your car even when nothing else is covered. 

Fender

Fenders are the front end panel of the car and should be covered with PPF in most cases, including clear bra and partial front end. It’s important to wrap the film around the fender edges including around wheel wells and light sockets. Look for areas where the film ends at the edges of the frame, rather than overlapping the edge and wrapping it under. 

Bumper

Depending on the aesthetic you’re going for and whether your car has a separate fender will determine whether or not paint protection film is applied to your bumpers. If PPF is applied to your separate bumper, it should not be the same piece that is used on the fender beneath. On vehicles that don’t have true bumpers like Tesla, the bumpers are covered with PPF on the fenders. Many shops will remove external bumpers to apply the film to the fender before reinstalling the bumper.  

Rocker Panels

Rocker panels run along the bottom of your car and are exposed to the elements from the side as well as from the roof down. Additionally, your car’s undercarriage is assaulted from the bottom, meaning that your rocker panel PPF had better be firmly in place with plenty of excess rolled under the edges to prevent lifting, peeling, and curling. 

Trunk Ledge

The rear trunk ledge, just like the front hood, should be completely wrapped to prevent the film from lifting up over time. While the force of air is not as great on the back end of the car, the trunk is one of the most frequently used doors on cars, and without proper installment, PPF here is incredibly vulnerable to rolling up and peeling off, beginning at the trunk edges. 

Door Edge

As discussed above, door edges should have close attention paid when wrapping PPF. Doors will be opened and closed frequently, and are subject to bumping and sheering force along with more wear and tear than the rest of the vehicle. If you notice any portion of door edges that are not completely wrapped, you should have it re-done right away. It won’t be long before a small lip allows the entire film to peel away. Some PPF installation shops may remove inner door panels to ensure full wrap.

A-Pillars

A-Pillars are the forward-most roof support pillars, and the part of the car that the windshield rests upon. A-pillars should be wrapped completely for the same reason as the front hood and the fender should. A-pillars take on a considerable amount of force of air while contributing to the overall aerodynamics of the vehicle. Improperly wrapped paint protection film will easily peel up around the frame’s edges. In these areas, not only is curling film unsightly, but it is an invitation for rust, which can negatively affect your windshield’s adherence to the frame.

Roofline

The roofline runs from the front end of your car to the back end from the windshield to the rear window. This will likely be the hardest place for you to assess whether or not it’s fully covered after professional PPF installment. Open each door and check the edges there. If you’ve got a moonroof or a sunroof, check the edges there as well. 

Depending on the paint protection film package you choose, will dictate what specific areas of your vehicle are covered with film. Before you drive away from the auto modification shop, take time to thoroughly assess all of the edges and critical points mentioned in today’s post. Consider these package options available at Jet Black Tint and Glass

At Jet Black Tint and Glass, you can check our work for your own peace of mind, but you won’t have to because our PPF technicians get it right every time. From edge to edge and around the critical spots, our film is precisely cut to your car’s exact dimensions. Check out all of our paint protection film packages online and book your installation today!