VINYL FAQ'S & COMMON QUESTIONS
WHAT EXACTLY IS VINYL WRAP?
Vinyl Wrapping is the process of applying vinyl film to the surface of a vehicle.
It is somewhat similar to a new paint job, but is a temporary film, and can be removed at any time without permanent effects to the base surface.
For most wraps a high quality film, with air-egress adhesive is used. The film is installed to the surface, then heated & stretched to conform to the contours of the surface.
Vinyl films can be installed on Vehicles, Trailers, Exterior Walls, Interior Walls, Appliances, and Glass!
BENEFITS OF VINYL WRAP
There are many benefits to vinyl wrap, whether it be a vehicle wrap, interior wall graphics, or glass signage.
Vinyl is infinitely customizeable and removable. It is a temporary solution that opens the door for everything you could want as far as custom colors, branding, signage, etc.
When considering Vehicle Color Change Wraps; vinyl can give you a truly custom look, without affecting the value/quality of the vehicle you drive. Since it is an additional layer installed to the painted surface of the vehicle, it offers superior protection for your factory/oem paint.
Commercial or Fleet Graphics are a major advantage for anyone wanting to bring eyes to their business. Your vehicle is seen by 100’s if not 1,000’s of people per day. Vinyl graphics and branding offer solutions that can turn your vehicle into a rolling billboard, at a one-time cost.
Need to update in the future? No issue, as individual elements & panels can be removed and replaced at a discounted rate.
Graphics and Signage are extremely beneficial to any business looking to connect with clients. Whether it be a custom wall mural, or a simple logo on the front door, vinyl is a perfect option for creating the space you want to be in, and want your clients to see.
HOW EXPENSIVE IS A VINYL WRAP?
Vinyl wrap pricing fully depends on the specific project.
For vehicle wraps, pricing varies depending on the vehicle make/model, material selection, and design complexity.
Most of our basic color change wraps fall between $2,000-$3,000, but can go upwards of $6,000+ for a full chrome wrap.
Fully-Printed wraps for commercial/business vehicles can start in the $3,000 range depending on size and complexity of design!
(There are many instances where a ‘partial’ wrap can achieve the same goal at a fraction of the cost)
For non-vehicle wraps including Interior/Exterior, Logos & Branding, Signage & Decals, etc; Pricing and installation are typically charged per square foot, but can be expected to cost no less than $8 per square foot.
DIFFERENCES OF VINYL FILMS
Not all vinyl films are constructed equally.
In general there are two different types of vinyl film. Calendered and Cast Vinyl.
(Cast Vinyls are what we recommend 95% of the time at Carolina Wrap Company.)
Cast Vinyls are often the ‘premium option’. It is manufactured by casting the material & dyes into a sheet.
Because Cast Films are ‘poured to size’ they don’t tend to shrink over time. They also have much longer life and better durability due to the quality and material mixture.
They are available in thinner film gauges, which means they can be contoured & stretched much more easily around complex curves without issue.
Calendered Vinyls are the most common film, and are the typical ‘budget option’. This category includes most of the films used by crafters & DIY’ers.
Calendered Films are manufactured by calendering the material; Kneading the mixture, then extruding & pressing into thin sheets through a series of heated rollers.
Due to this process, Calendered films are thicker and stiffer than Cast films. They have a regular tendency to ‘shrink back’ to their original pre-rolled shape.
(this is a primary reason why most cheap window decals/stickers crack and shrink over a few months/years)
Because of these reasons, we do not recommend Calendered Vinyls for most projects, when a Cast film option is available.
Premium Branded Cast Vinyls tend to cost around $700-$1000 for a full solid-color roll.
Calendered Vinyls often cost around $300-$800 for a full solid-color roll.
Installation of Calendered films is more difficult due to material limitations, most-times negating any material price savings, due to higher installation time & costs.
CHEAPER WRAP OPTIONS
At Carolina Wrap Company, we do not recommend many ‘cheaper’ film options due to quality issues, installation issues, and chances of permanent damages due to low-quality materials.
The VERY LAST recommendation we will make is to ‘save’ money on something that could potentially cost you more in the long run.
All of our recommended high quality material brands are typically all within $100 of each other (3M, Avery Dennison, Oracal, etc.), whereas most ‘budget’ options are only $100-$200 cheaper.
Labor is by far the largest expense with vinyl installation. To achieve a professional quality result, it is a complex/complicated process requiring a tedious amount of time and skill to install properly.
However, there are a select few film budget options available that we can recommend, if you need to save a few dollars.
These are inherently lower-quality films, with an average lifespan of 1-2 years, however we will gladly discuss any of these options in great detail for your project.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO WRAP A CAR?
Obviously different projects require different amounts of time. We complete most wrap projects within 5-14 days.
Whether that be a full-vehicle wrap, or a complete branding package for your vehicle/business.
Most vehicle installations take approximately 5-6 days for a full wrap depending on the vehicle type, size, and complexity.
Most commercial/signage projects take between 5-14 days, depending on design time, communication, size, and complexity of the project.
Simple graphics & branding can be handled in shorter timeframes, with most projects taking only 2-5 days depending on complexity.
IS VINYL WRAP REMOVABLE? WILL IT DAMAGE MY CAR?
Vinyl wrap is FULLY REMOVABLE without issue 99% OF THE TIME!
What does that mean?
As long as there is no previous paint damage, and all surfaces are in proper condition prior to a vinyl wrap installation, it can be removed without issue.
A well maintained vehicle with a factory/OEM paint job will see zero damage from vinyl wrap installation/removal. However there are some instances where an improperly cared for or damaged surface was damaged further because of wrap installation/removal.
(damages are typically seen in vehicles that are poorly aged, previously painted with poor quality, or haven’t been cared for properly in regards to the factory paint)
It should be noted that any known paint flaws, damages, or repainted panels can be damaged upon removal due to underlying issues.
IS PAINT OR VINYL WRAP BETTER?
Paint and Vinyl Wrap are entirely different processes, with entirely different goals.
Vinyl Wrap is temporary. Paint is permanent. Given the circumstances, neither is ‘better’ than the other.
Vehicles are an expensive investment. Vinyl Wrap is for those who want a ‘custom’ look, without sacrificing OEM value/quality of their vehicle. If you own $80k vehicle, and want a custom color without harming future resale value, vinyl wrap is the perfect option. If you want custom branding, designs, or styling of your vehicle without it being a forever decision, vinyl wrap is the perfect option.
Vinyl wrap is temporary and 100% removable, so you can design your vehicle to your own looks, colors or branding without worrying about the ‘permanency’ of paint.
If your goal is to achieve an OEM look, paint is the longer lasting, higher-quality option.
A quality paint job is PERMANENT and will most-times outlast even the best vinyl wraps, but will come at a price much higher than most wraps.
(The cost of a high-quality OEM/Factory paint job is often $6,000 – $12,000)
VINYL WRAP DURABILITY & LIFE EXPECTANCY
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MAINTAINING A VINYL WRAPPED VEHICLE
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WHAT CAN/CANNOT BE WRAPPED?
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