Beautiful spring and summer days are ahead of us but with the heat and sunshine come many inconveniences for your vinyl car wraps. How exactly do these warmer seasons affect car wraps, you might ask?
Vinyl car wraps are applied to your vehicle with heat, this softens the vinyl so it can conform to the curves of your vehicle. Without this heat, they would never stick to your car in the first place. Because of this, car wraps are heat sensitive. This makes them prone to damage and fading during hot summer weather, direct sunlight and UV rays.
Let’s see how you can keep your vinyl wraps looking fantastic year-round, but especially in the upcoming months.
How Heat Affects Vinyl Car Wraps
Direct exposure to the sun, especially for prolonged periods of time and even years, makes your car wrap more prone to a variety of complications. Even if you store it out of direct sunlight, putting it in a hot garage or storage area still acts as a hotbox, causing the vinyl to distort or even shrink and peel. This happens when the adhesive softens from the heat, melts and becomes loose.
How to Protect Your Vinyl Car Wraps
Cool Storage
The easiest way to avoid your car wrap from heat damage is to simply store it out of the sun. Think of it like this: even if you’re in the shade, the UV rays of the sun can still cause burns, so you’re better off wearing SPF even if you plan to stay out of direct sunlight. Same goes for your vehicle.
There are a few ways to do this:
- Covered carport
- Concrete or stone garage
- Car parks which block overhead sun and allow air circulation
- Park in a shaded area
- Buy a car cover (also protects your car from leaves, debris and bird droppings)
Waxes Safe for Wraps
The same way you get a tan when you stay in the sun, the same thing happens to your vinyl car wrap, except the opposite happens: it fades. Get a UV-blocking wax specifically made for cars – it will extend its life and cost you much less in the long run if you take this preventative measure.
Cool it Down
The same way a cool splash from a garden hose or grass sprinklers are loved by everyone, your car loves them just the same. If you notice your car getting particularly hot and there’s nothing you can really do about it, splash it down with some cold water.
If you’re on the market for a company you can rely on and trust for the installation of brand new vinyl car wraps, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us! We would love to hear from you.