Should You Get Paint Protection Film (PPF) or a Ceramic Coating?
Introduction
Choosing between these two automotive paint protection options is a situation a lot of our consumers find themselves in. So we have created this article to help you make the best decision possible for protecting your vehicle.
Before you decide on what paint protection route you are looking to go down, consider the following…
What am I looking to spend?
What damages am I most worried about?
What condition is my paint currently in?
How long am I looking to keep this vehicle for?
What Is Paint Protection Film?
Paint Protection Film (PPF) is also known as a clear bra or PPF. It is a transparent layer of thermoplastic urethane that is installed on the painted surfaces of a vehicle to protect it from scratches, rock chips, and other types of damage that can occur during normal driving.
The film is typically applied to high impact areas such as the hood, fenders, and front bumper, such as in a full front-end package. But the film can be installed nearly anywhere there is a painted surface to fit your specific vehicle paint protection needs.
The film is designed to be self-healing, meaning that minor scratches or scuffs will disappear over time as the film’s surface reflows back into its original shape. The film is also resistant to UV rays and can prevent fading or yellowing of the vehicle’s paint. Overall, a paint protection film is an effective way to protect the paint on a vehicle from the various hazards of the road, while maintaining its appearance and resale value. Better for protecting against projectile related damages from small objects however, more costly
What Is a Ceramic Coating?
Ceramic coatings are a type of paint protection coating that uses ceramic particles & nanotechnology to create an ultra-durable and heat-resistant layer over the car’s paint or other surfaces. These products are designed to form a chemical bond with the car’s original shape, providing amazing protection from UV Fade, water spots, and other types of chemical damage. They are also a great option for ease of cleaning and maintaince for your vehicle due to their hydrophobic self-cleaning properties. Other than that, the intense gloss effect Feynlab products can achieve is unparalleled if you are looking for an extra level of shine.
How Are Paint Protection Films and Ceramic Coatings Similar?
Paint protection films and ceramic coatings are two popular choices when it comes to protecting your car’s paint job. Whether you’re looking for a long-term solution or a more economical option, both of these protective layers can preserve the look of your vehicle. Here are key similarities between paint protection films and ceramic coatings:
Both products offer an additional layer of protectionthat helps guard against chemical damage, such as acid rain or bird droppings;
They protect cars from potential damage caused by road hazards, and other environmental factors;
Paint correction and buffing is essential for ceramic coating applications;
Both options help preserve the original colour of your car over time and require minimal maintenance after installation.
How Are Paint Protection Films And Ceramic Coatings Different?
Paint protection films (PPFs) and ceramic coatings both provide a layer of protection to cars, but they have some key differences. Below is a brief rundown of the differences between these two solutions:
Paint protection film is a physical barrier that is applied to the surface of the car, while ceramic coatings bond chemically with the vehicle’s paint;
Paint protection film provides greater protection against rock chips, and other minor damage, while ceramic coatings provide better protection against UV rays and chemical contaminants.
Paint protection film requires professional installation and can be more expensive, while ceramic coatings are generally more affordable.
Paint Protection Film Vs Ceramic Coating: What’s Best?
Both paint protection film and ceramic coating are great options for your car so it can be difficult to determine which is the best option for your vehicle. To help you make a well informed decision, here are some of the factors you need to consider when protecting your vehicle. What Are Your Main Priorities When Protecting Your Vehicle?
This is one of the most important factors to consider while choosing between the two vehicle protection options.
The main appeal of a ceramic coating is the ease of cleaning, added UV fade protection, chemical stain prevention and the intensified gloss effect of your vehicle.
While on the other hand, the main benefits of paint protection film (PPF) is having self-healing protection against road debris that causes scratches, rock chips and other projectiles. Paint Protection Film still has some of the benefits of ceramic coatings such as UV Fade prevention, chemical stain prevention and with certain films even self-cleaning hydrophobic properties.
In short, the main appeal of Paint Protection Film is having a clear barrier between your cars paint job and the elements of the road to prevent scratches, rock chips and the harmful effects of the sun. While the main appeal of ceramic coatings are to have a self-cleaning hydrophobic surface that prevents UV fading.
Is Your Car New or Used?
We are not saying a used car can’t have perfect paint but it is more likely to have experienced paint damage(s) that would need extensive fixes past what a standard paint correction could fix.
In this case, Feynlab Self-Heal Ceramic products would be your best option for protecting your paint as the installation would come out cleaner than it would with PPF.
What we classify as major paint damage would include paint chips, deep scratches past the clear coat and peeling clear coat. These damages would make the application of paint protection film unappealing.
On the other hand, if your car is new without paint damages, paint protection film would be a better option for overall protecting your paint.
What Surfaces You Are Looking to Protect?
There are some areas Paint Protection Film (PPF) cannot be applied to. For instance, areas such as plastic trims where PPF cannot adhere to. In this case, a product such as Feynlab Plastic would be a great option to prevent UV fading on this area.
Another consideration and popular option is using both protection options for different areas. For instance, you are mainly concerned about your high impact areas (the front end). But you still want the greater UV fade protection & ease of cleaning for the rest of your vehicle. You can get paint protection film applied to the front end while having a ceramic coating over the rest of the vehicle.
Level Of Protection
The key highlight/differentiator with Paint Protection Film over Ceramic Coating(s) is the ability to prevent rock chips and scratches. This is something most ceramic coating(s) do not offer.
However, Ceramic Coating(s) main strength is within preventing UV fade and offering ease of cleaning with the hydrophobic properties of the coating.
Cost/Budget
When it comes to choosing between PPF vs ceramic coating, your budget is an important factor to consider.
Typically, an all-around ceramic coating package will be cheaper than full body paint protection film (ppf) coverage.
For the best value, we recommend a Full Front-End PPF Package with Ceramic over the rest of the vehicle.
For a more budget friendly option, a partial front end which would be suffice to cover a portion of high impact areas.
And a full body ppf package for people who are serious about protecting every inch of their vehicle’s paints finish.
With any ppf or ceramic package you choose, we highly recommend Wheel/Caliper Ceramic & Glass Ceramic. These are both great options for ease of cleaning areas that tend to attract dirt/debris. Bonus: glass ceramic improves clarity which enhances visibility while driving in extreme weather conditions.
Summary
All in all, both paint protection options are great for preserving your vehicle’s paint finish and future resale value. They both have their strengths and are better suited for different needs. Paint protection film is best at preventing damages from road debris while ceramic is great at preventing uv ray damages and can be applied to areas paint protection film cannot be applied to such as plastics and wheel callipers. When it comes to Paint Protection Film PPF Vs Ceramic Coatings its all comes down to your protection priorities and how much your looking to invest into protecting your vehicle.
Stay tuned for our next blog on the best protection packages for all types of consumers.
