Vinyl wraps are one of, if not the most popular ways to drastically change the look of your vehicle. The limitations that manufacturers set with paint do not exist in the world of vinyl, giving you countless combinations when it comes to color options. With different textures like satin, matte, gloss or even flat you can not only pick anything on a color wheel but also change the way it shines and feels. As you can see in the picture of this Nissan GT-R that we wrapped at Lonestar AutoBoutique, you also have color combination options like chameleon vinyl wrap colors and color flips that look different depending on what angle you are seeing the vehicle. Another reason vinyl wrap is an awesome choice is that it's not permanent, giving you the ability to change into a new color or return to your original factory paint whenever you would like. With all these options, the big question you're probably asking is "what exactly is vinyl wrap?" Lets talk about what it is, and why its the right choice for you if you're in the market for a fresh new look!
What is a vinyl wrap?
Vinyl wrap is created by taking either a calendared (lower grade) or a cast (higher grade) film and heating it in an oven, changing it from a solid to a liquid material. Once melted, it is squeezed thin and stretched by steel rigs creating a flattened vinyl. Due to the nature of the film lacking internal stabilizers, the vinyl created has a materialized memory that makes it less stable. This lack of stabilizers allows it to bend and mold around surfaces, as well as shrink and adhere to surfaces once exposed to heat. Now that we've got a bit of the science covered behind the vinyl wrap, lets discuss how we can wrap your vehicle with vinyl.
What is the installation process like?
If you want your vinyl wrap to look excellent it's a process that takes preparation, planning and time. Although you can wrap a vehicle on your own, we wouldn't recommend it to anyone, especially those that don't have excessive patience, time to waste and a large amount of extra film to make mistakes with. At Lonestar Auto Boutique we have the tools, cleaning supplies and crew necessary to do an exceptional job wrapping any vehicle. When wrapping a vehicle the first step should be cleaning and preparing your area and vehicle. Having a room to work in that is clean is important to prevent any dust or dirt from settling on the vehicle before the vinyl is applied to the car. Using a %70 Isopropyl alcohol mixture will help the final finish in prep work to assure the surfaces are cleaned before application. Measuring and trimming the vinyl wrap is the next step. It is typically wise to start on the small panels to get familiar with the vinyl before tackling large surfaces like the doors or roof. Once the vinyl is trimmed to a size that can confidently cover the area selected, the adhesive on the back of the vinyl wrap is removed and laid on the surface of the panel. Using a heat gun or torch the vinyl wrap is quickly heated up, softening it and making it moldable. Shaping the vinyl wrap around the vehicle, making sure to press into each corner and curve is important while heating it up. Air bubbles will form under the vinyl, which are then pressed and moved out with tools. Once the heat has set the vinyl well on the vehicle, the excess film is tucked into the seems and cut with a knife. It's extremely important to cut the vinyl carefully to avoid cutting too deep and slicing the paint on the vehicle by mistake. A very extensive process that needs to be done carefully in order to assure a top tier finish, but one that will look amazing once done! So the main question everyone wants to know is, "how much does vinyl wrapping your car cost?"
How Much Does it Cost to Wrap a Car?
Wrapping a car is significantly lower of a cost than getting a full paint job. Even when picking unique colors, having hundreds of choices will be easier on your wallet than having a body shop use traditional paint. The cost of a vinyl wrap can vary based on the size of the vehicle, the complexity of the vehicles shape and the color choice. Generally speaking car wraps cost as low as $2,000, or as high as $10,000. As with anything though you get what you pay for, and a cheap job isn't a good job. Contact us at Lonestar Tint and Autoboutique to discuss what wrap options we have, and learn why we are respected as a shop that only offers top of the line, exceptional quality work.