How film comes off
Heat gun to soften the adhesive, then a slow pull at a low angle. The film comes away in one piece per panel. Any adhesive residue wipes off with a solvent made for it. On factory paint the panel underneath is exactly as it was the day it was covered, which is usually better than the rest of the car.
When it can damage paint
- Repainted panels. Aftermarket paint does not bond to the primer the way factory paint does. Film adhesive can pull it. We check paint depth and history before installing and tell you which panels are resprayed.
- Film left too long. A 15-year-old film that has gone brittle removes in pieces and the adhesive can stay behind. Replace film inside its warranty term and this never happens.
- Careless removal. Cold film pulled fast at a steep angle. That is a technique problem.
What we see at removal
Customers bring cars for new film after 8 to 10 years and the front end under the old film is the best paint on the car: no chips, no swirls, full gloss. That is the whole argument for film, visible in one afternoon.
Do not do it at home
Removal takes a heat gun, patience and an understanding of where the paint is factory and where it is not. It costs far less to have it done than to fix a lifted edge of clear coat.
