FAQ

 

What is the darkest tint I can have on my car windows?
By law the darkest legal window tint you can have on your car in NSW is 35% VLT which is measured with the film and factory glass together. We offer a range of films in this grade ranging from standard to premium non-metallic colour stable films to colour stable infrared protection films and premium ceramic films.

 

How long will it take to tint my car?
On average it usually takes about 2-2.5 hours to tint a standard size car. If there is existing window tint on there that needs to be removed then it can take up to a couple hours more.

 

How long does window tint take to dry?
Once the film is applied it is recommended that the wind up windows are not used for a minimum of 48 hours to allow the edges to dry up and tack to the glass properly. Realistically it can take up to 3 weeks for all the moisture to evaporate out of the film.

 

Will the window tint turn purple and go bubbly?
The vehicles that you see going around with purple tint is due to the film being of low quality. These are known as basic dyed films. When the dye dries out it causes it to fade and delaminate which creates all them unsightly bubbles. All our films are of high quality and are warranted against fading, bubbling, delaminating and cracking for the life of the vehicle.

 

What is the best way to clean my windows?
It is important to use an ammonia free glass cleaner for your windows if you have window tint applied. Ammonia based cleaners can dry out the film and eat away at it. For a streak free clean, use a low lint cloth or microfiber towel.

 

Do you offer mobile tinting services?
No, all work is carried out at our workshop located at North Parramatta. The main reason for this is that carrying detailed work such as tinting requires a controlled environment to reduce the chances of dust getting caught in the film. Good lighting is also a must to allow us to check our work thoroughly.

 

What is Paint Protection and how does it work?
Paint Protection is an aftermarket product which is applied to the exterior paint of your car to provide a protective barrier against environmental contaminants such as bird droppings, tree sap, exhaust fumes and so on. If contaminants do etch into the surface it will be the protective coating which will be affected and not the factory clear coat/paint.

 

Will it affect the finish or colour of the paint?
Some paint protection products come as a cream based sealant and once cured can actually hide or reduce the amount of shine and reflectiveness that comes from your metallic paint. Our paint protection product is a clear polymer resin which bonds and conforms to the painted surface and provides the paint with extra gloss and ultimate protection.

 

Can it be applied to used vehicles?
Yes, but it is highly recommend that a paint de-contamination and/or correction process be carried out before hand to ensure that the paint is 100% contaminant free and also that the paint is to a condition that the owner is happy with because one the protective coating is applied it will lock in the finish.

 

What are the noticeable benefits of Paint Protection?
The main thing you will notice with paint protection is when you wash the vehicle most of the water will either sheet off the car or bead on the surface. This makes drying the vehicle a whole lot easier. Another noticeable aspect is that you will find it easier to clean off things such as bird droppings, bug splatter, dirt and exhaust fumes from the paint with minimal effort.

 

How long does it take to apply?
The actual application of the protective coating averages roughly 2 hours to apply. However, all the necessary preparation of the vehicle that is carried out such as washing, de-waxing, contamination removal and any paint enhancements or corrections can take at least an additional 5 or more hours.

 

Is the film visible on the car?
The film is optically clear but is slightly visible depending on which kit you have applied. For example, a standard front kit which involves the film being applied to the front edge of the bonnet and guards will have a faint line which is slightly visible where the film ends. This depends on what angle and distance you are looking at it from. If a full panel is covered then the film is virtually invisible. In some cases (such as full kits) we will need to join or mesh the film together to overcome difficult angles on panels but we aim to get it as close as possible with a tolerance of no more than a couple millimetres gap. This is an area where the film can be slightly visible.

 

Is there any cutting done on the car?
The film is normally cut off the vehicle with a plotter with the use of digital templates that suit most makes and models. In some cases where a template is not available and the film is bulk fitted to a panel we may need to do carry out cutting on the vehicle but we use specialised techniques which allows us to just score the film slightly without cutting all the way through so the blade does not touch any painted surfaces.

 

Is the film removable and will it damage the paint?
The film is removable but we highly recommend that it is carried out at the place of application or other PPF professionals. The film is removed by using a steamer or heat gun to soften the adhesive bond and gently lifted back. Removing the film will not damage any OEM painted surfaces but if there are areas that have been touched up or repaired we cannot guarantee that it won’t affect these areas and do not carry the responsibility for this.

 

We encourage owners to inform us of any repairs so we can recommend whether it is worthwhile and safe to have PPF applied to these areas. For touch ups we always recommend having a professional carry it out to ensure that the paint bonds to the surface properly.

 

Can the film be applied over stickers?
Yes, the paint protection film can be applied over stickers but because there is a raised surface around the sticker it will hold some moisture around it. Once all the moisture has dried from under the film you can run your finger along these areas to help press the film down onto the surface. If applied over matte or satin film it will leave a glossy finish but we can trim around the stickers/decals but it will leave those areas unprotected.

 

How long should I wait if my car has had some paint work done?
We recommend a minimum 3 – 4 week wait to allow all the solvents to evaporate out of the paint before applying any paint protection product.

 

Does the film go all the way to the edge?
This varies for different vehicles as it comes down to how the digital template is cut. In most cases there will be a slight gap from the edge but no more than a few millimetres as we aim to cover up as much of the painted surface as possible to provide maximum protection. There are also some areas where we may have to join or mesh up the film and we get it as close as possible with no more than a 2 millimetre gap.

 

Can the film be etched by bird droppings and contaminants?
Yes, the film can suffer etchings from contaminants such as bird droppings, tree sap and bug splatter but by maintaining the film regularly and removing these contaminants as soon as possible it will minimise the severity of it. You need to remember that if the contaminants are etching the paint protection film and not the paint itself then it is doing the job that it’s meant to.

 

How do I maintain the film?
It is recommended that you carry out regular washes on the vehicle with a ph neutral or a wash and wax type shampoo. To protect the film you can use a spray wax or a polymer based sealant. We have products available for purchase which are suitable for these applications.

 

What type of warranty if offered?
Depending on which film is used but most manufacturers offer a mininum 5 year limited warranty. Please contact us or the film manufacturer for more details on warranties.

 

Does the colour of the paint/car affect the finish?
Yes, the colour of the car can affect the finish slightly. White cars tend to show up ends of the film easier mainly if the film is not cared for or if there is a some dirt build up at the edges of the film. Marks from bird droppings and bug splatter can be more visible on lighter cars as well but if the film is maintained properly it will reduce the chances of this. Black or darker coloured cars can show up blemishes at the time of install such as drying spots under the film but these will generally clear up after a week or when all the moisture from the soapy water solution used during the application has dried up. Black cars can also show up stretch marks which or stress marks which can be caused during application depending on how much stretch is involved to form it around to curved areas.

 

What can I expect from the film and finish?
Keep in mind that the film is originally designed to protect and not as a cosmetic upgrade, however most current films are top coated which provide additional gloss to the film and also offer self-healing abilities that actually give it a really nice finish.

 

We aim to get the best fitment and finish possible hence why we only carry out the applications from our workshop to allow us to work in a controlled environment. Even though the environment is controlled air borne contaminants can still be an issue. During time of application we aim to get it as defect free as possible and will remove any contaminants which we see at the time of fitment but sometimes it’s impossible to get it 100% (we are only human) but we aim for a 99% defect free fitment.

 

Paint protection films are also designed to be stretched to form around curves and edges but the films to have its limitations. For panels which may require a lot of stretch there may be a risk of minor tension marks being left behind from over stretching the film. We usually overcome this by applying it in 2 or more pieces and doing a join. If this is the case we will notify the customer prior to application so you know what to expect and we can work to your requirements.