Among the protective coatings of a new type of car, the anti-gravel film stands out for its affordable price and good strength properties. Applying the front end, headlights and foglights with a polyurethane film will protect the clearcoat from the abrasive action:
- sand
- road gravel
- crushed stone
- roadside branches
- other damages
In this article, we will figure out what an anti-gravel film is for and what types differ. Manufacturers and masters of detailing centers share the quality of a thin vinyl coating, a two-layer polyurethane film.
The materials of such manufacturers from the USA, France and South Korea stand out as the best quality. American manufacturers Llumar, SunTek produce anti-gravel protection from polyurethane with a thickness of 200, 300 microns. Transparent and opaque films are characterized by good elasticity, which facilitates pasting curly body parts.
The South Korean Stek, Gsuit company produces several models of films that differ in thickness, smooth or pebbled texture. In advertising materials, manufacturers orient motorists to a ten-year operation of the film. It is better to entrust the choice of a specific film manufacturer to the specialists of the detailing center.
Why you need an anti-gravel film
When deciding how best to cover a car to protect the paintwork, many motorists prefer protective compounds made from liquid quartz glass or multilayer ceramic coatings. But such protection saves from
the effects of reagents and difficult-to-remove contaminants (bitumen, etc.), and not from chips and sandblasting, provided that the ceramic coating is regularly updated.
Obvious advantages of armored film:
● Protection of paintwork from all types of chips and scratches;
● Transparency (does not block headlights, glued and non-glued parts of the body evenly burn out from
solar ultraviolet radiation);
● Possibility to paste over a body parts.
● Hydrophobicity.
● Resistance to washing and decorative polishing.
● Protection from road chemistry.
Anti-gravel film: pros and cons
All the advantages of protection, which are emphasized by promotional materials, apply only to expensive two-layer polyurethane film if it is glued by skilled craftsmen. Such a film protects the clearcoat well from abrasive abrasions on the thresholds, doors, blows of small gravel and branches. The protective coating can be replaced in parts.
Anti-gravel film wrap
The assertion of an anti-gravel film advertisement that this shield protects against all types of chips and scratches is a clear exaggeration. Thin vinyl may not be considered a protective coating at all, as the film is
torn by hand. But even a thick film does not withstand the power impacts of sharp stones or collisions with other vehicles. And self-healing only works on micro-scratches. The main disadvantages of the anti-gravel film are its cost and the complexity of pasting. If you decide to choose film protection, it is better to turn to professionals so as not to pay twice.
