What is car wrapping?

Car wrapping, also known as integral vinyl, is a professional technique that consists of covering the entire body of a vehicle with sheets of high-quality adhesive vinyl. This technique allows you to completely change the color and appearance of the vehicle without having to paint it, being a completely reversible process that does not alter the original paint. Car wrapping was born in the vehicle advertising industry, but has evolved enormously thanks to the development of specific vinyls for wrapping with finishes that rival the factory paint: matte, satin, gloss, carbon, brushed, chrome and special finishes with a flip effect (change color depending on the viewing angle).

Car wrapping offers numerous advantages over traditional painting: 1. Total reversibility: The vinyl can be removed at any time, recovering the original paint in perfect condition. This is especially valuable for high-end or leased vehicles. 2. Paint Protection: Vinyl acts as a protective layer against surface scratches, stones and UV rays. 3. Greater variety of finishes: Vinyl catalogs offer more than 200 colors and finishes impossible to achieve with paint (chrome, real carbon, flip). 4. Shorter execution time: A complete wrapping is done in 3-5 days, compared to the 2-3 weeks required for a complete painting job. 5. Competitive price: A quality wrapping is generally 30-50% cheaper than an integral paint of equivalent quality. 6. Residual value: By protecting the original paint, the vehicle better maintains its resale value.

The professional car wrapping process follows these phases: 1. Vehicle preparation: - Exhaustive washing and decontamination of the bodywork - Removal of tar, resin and contaminants - Disassembly of mirrors, handles, moldings and emblems - Complete drying of the vehicle 2. Vinyl Application: - Pre-cut vinyl pieces according to template - Application piece by piece with professional spatulas - Stretching and shaping in curves and recesses - Use of heat gun to activate the vinyl memory - Precision trimming on edges and joints 3. Post-installation: - Final trimming and cleaning of waste - General heating to activate the adhesive - Assembly of disassembled elements - Final quality control - Rest period of 24-48 hours

A vehicle with car wrapping requires simple but specific maintenance: - Washing: It can be washed normally, preferably by hand or in car washes without brushes. Avoid direct pressure washing on the edges of the vinyl. - Products: Use neutral soap for vehicles. Do not use solvents, aggressive waxes or abrasive products. - Stains: Clean insect, resin or bird droppings stains as soon as possible to prevent them from adhering to the vinyl. - Parking: If possible, park in a garage or covered area to prolong the life of the vinyl. - Periodic inspection: Check the edges of the vinyl every 6 months to detect possible lifting and repair them before they worsen.

Car wrapping prices vary depending on the vehicle and materials: Small car (Golf type, Ibiza): €1,800 - €2,800 Average car (type C Class, Series 3): €2,500 - €3,500 Medium SUV: €3,000 - €4,000 Large SUV: €3,500 - €4,500 Sports: €3,000 - €5,000 (depending on the complexity of the shapes) Special finishes (chrome, flip): +30-50% on the base price PPF (protection film): +€500 - €1,500 depending on areas These prices include the disassembly and assembly of elements, the professional application and the material and installation guarantee.