Can Paint Protection Film Be Repaired?

Every car is susceptible to scuffs, scrapes, and scratches. The longer you drive your vehicle, the more paint imperfections it can accumulate. This is why many owners decide to install paint protection film, or PPF, over their car’s exterior.

This transparent film offers long-lasting protection and comes with many amazing benefits, including reducing the need for car washes, boosting your vehicle’s resale value, and the ability to self-heal surface-level scratches.

However, what happens if your paint protection film gets damaged? Can it be repaired?

Keep reading this article to learn more.

How to Repair Paint Protection Film

Most paint protection films can provide years of superior protection. However, that doesn’t mean PPF is immune to damage. If your paint protection film was torn or peeling, it’s important to know what steps you should take to mitigate further problems.

Self-Healing

For starters, if you notice any scratches on your PPF, try parking your car in direct sunlight for a few hours. This gives the clear bra a chance to “heal” itself, removing the small scratches and swirl marks entirely.

Contact Original Installer

However, if this isn’t working, you might need to take further action. If the damage was the result of a shoddy installation job, call the original installer and ask if they can refund you or replace your damaged film.

We strongly advise that you DO NOT attempt to remove the damaged PPF yourself. This could significantly harm your vehicle’s paint. Instead, take your car to a team of paint protection film professionals who are equipped to get the job done right.

At Elite Protective Films, we have the tools and expertise to effectively remove the damaged PPF from your car. If any adhesive is left behind, we can quickly remove it with an automotive adhesive remover. This product will not impact your paint.

What Happens if My PPF Gets Damaged?

As we previously stated, if your paint protection film gets damaged, do not try to remove it yourself. This is because:

PPF that is wrapped around the edges of your car must be removed using extreme care and precise tools.

The tools needed to remove the film need to be heated to the correct temperature.

PPF must be removed in a specific way in order to minimize the amount of adhesive left behind.

If there are any traces of adhesive left on your car after the film has been removed, it needs to be removed with the proper high-quality products.

If you lack the tools or experience to successfully remove paint protection film yourself, you could cause costly damage to your car.

Can It Be Replaced?

Absolutely, damaged PPF can be replaced. After your previous film has been removed, you can get new PPF professionally applied to your vehicle.

Can Damaged Paint Protection Film Be Patched?

Unfortunately, there is no way to seamlessly patch up damaged paint protection film. Your best course of action is to get the PPF professionally removed and replaced.

How Can PPF Self Heal?

At Elite Protective Films, we are proud to only use XPEL PPF at our shop. This film has unique self-healing abilities, allowing it to heal swirl marks and light scratches.

Think of self-healing paint protection film as an ice cube. If you lightly scratch the cube and then allow it to melt, the ice will return to its original state. XPEL PPF does the same thing. When activated by heat, the film will heal any surface-level imperfections.

Maintaining Your PPF

To get the most out of your paint protection film, it’s important to properly maintain it. Some things we suggest doing are:

Avoid pressure washing your vehicle.
Don’t take your car to an automated car wash. Hand wash it instead using the two-bucket method.
Always use a microfiber mitt and premium wash products.

Protect Your Car’s Integrity With PPF

Want to protect your vehicle’s exterior for years to come? If so, contact Elite Protective Films today. Our technicians have treated more than 35,000 cars, trucks, vans, boats, and RVs and have 50 years of combined experience.

To keep your paint pristine, call us at 971-888-8468 now.

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Kenley Wallis

Owner/Founder at Elite Protective Films

Our owner, Kenley Wallis started window tinting in 2002 as a part-time job while in college in Kennewick, Washington. Later, he moved to the Portland, Oregon area and joined the Elite Window Tinting team, Elite Protective Films’ sister store, in 2007 and quickly distinguished himself as a great innovator of creative solutions to the numerous challenges in applying film.

He refined and developed his craft over the years, eventually taking the helm as Elite Window Tinting's owner in 2012 and continues to play a crucial role at Elite Protective Films. Since then, Kenley has been working hard to provide the highest level of customer service to each and every person he welcomes through Elite’s doors with a bright and smiling face. With an amicable and easy going demeanor, it’s no surprise Kenley’s so popular with our customers.

Kenley knows no shops and products are created equal and takes great pride in delivering an elevated quality of service by working with our customers to ensure they are receiving only the best products and services around.

Outside of Elite, Kenley’s interests go beyond the shop and into the great outdoors. When he’s not providing Elite’s customers with the best when it comes to automotive films, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and friends either camping or boating.