Choosing the cheapest shop to install Paint Protection Film (PPF) in Toronto might seem like a cost-effective decision, but can be a dangerous mistake, leading to several issues that compromise the quality and longevity of the installation, and even damage your paint as explored in the Ferrari Case Study at the end of this page. PPF is a complex business, and understanding red flags can save you from having to pay twice:
Cheaper shops might usually lower-quality PPF that doesn’t offer the same level of protection, durability, or clarity as brand name films. High-quality PPF from reputable brands like Stek, XPEL, or Suntek provides better resistance to UV rays, chemicals, and physical damage. At Toronto Buffing Inc. we are approved and certified installers, which can be verified on the list by specific paint protection film manufactures.
Be wary of shops using "in house brand" film, as this is very likely off shore, low grade film. A roll of paint protection film from China can cost $300 landed, where as premium brands such as Stek, Suntek, and Xpel can easily clip over $2000 for the same length. Our front end paint protection film installations start at $2100, while those using the cheaper films may offer their package for $1400-$1500. These savings come at a cost.
Unfortunately, many shops state, by default, that they use high end brands. However a vast majority of facilities sublet their paint protection film to mobile companies. The unfortunate truth is that these sublets often use low quality materials to make ends meet, and stay competitive. To protect yourself from such incidences, ensure you receive an invoice stating the brand of film used, as well as the roll ID. This type of fraud is not noticed during the initial instal, but after a few short years. It is very common in the business, but clients can rest assured that Toronto Buffing Inc. does not partake in such dishonest business.
Proper installation of PPF requires skill, precision, and experience. Cheaper shops may employ less experienced technicians who might not have the necessary training or attention to detail. Poor installation can result in bubbles, wrinkles, peeling edges, and an uneven finish. More so, an inexperienced installer may be prone to cutting the paint and causing damage. These damages are not reversible, and not noticeable until corrosion starts to form, or film is removed. At Toronto Buffing our technicians are highly trained, and certified. They have experience installing on million dollar exotics, as well as vintage one of a kind classic cars. They understand the material very well, and understand the limitations of film.
Cheaper shops may opt to install film in precut format, rather than professionally remove parts for a seamless installation.
When shops offer heavily discounted pricing, sometimes the compromise is made in the type of installation. A precut installation is software plotted film, which often times leaves gaps in coverage. A shop may prefer a precut ppf pattern, because this is much faster to install. Bulk coverage PPF installation involves spending time to wrap film around all edges. The result is superior, however the time and labour cost is more.
Our PPF install technicians are very well versed at the technical limitations of PPF, and always use bulk installation whenever possible.
Reputable installers usually offer warranties on both the film and the installation. Cheaper shops might not provide these guarantees, leaving you without recourse if something goes wrong in the future. More commonly, at face value may offer similar warranties, but when comes time to exercise said warranty, they give you the run around. Additionally, they may not offer the same level of customer support or follow-up services. Be weary of shops offering you warranty periods longer than they have been in business.
At Toronto Buffing Inc. we offer an unprecedented lifetime warranty on our workmanship, as well as a minimum of 10 year warranty on material defects peeling, yellowing, and fading. Warranty is a great thing to have, but not having to use warranty is even better. At Toronto Buffing Inc. with our stringent quality control, and mandatory in house drying of PPF, it is extremely rare to have PPF complications.
While the initial cost might be lower, poor-quality installation can lead to additional expenses down the line. You might need to have the film reapplied or corrected, which can end up costing more than investing in a quality installation from the start. Normally, we see low quality paint protection film start to fail and discolour in as short as 1 year. The Toronto climate is a demanding one for PPF, and lower quality films don't hold up. It is important to note, that lower quality PPF is very difficult to remove.
Cheap paint protection film can be very time consuming to remove, due to poor quality of adhesives used. Often times, the film will be removed, but leave a significant amount of residue on the vehicle. This lower quality adhesive is what contributes to the film discolouring over time. Paint protection film removal is usually billed hourly, and can quickly add up. In extreme scenarios, this poor quality PPF causes irreversible damage requiring autobody repainting.
A poorly installed PPF can detract from the appearance of your vehicle. Peeling edges are unsightly, and can easily make you dissatisfied with your vehicle as a whole. Yellowing film on the front of your vehicle can give your vehicle the look that it may be repainted poorly. No client wants to drive around a two tone vehicle, due to low quality PPF materials.
High-quality installations are virtually invisible and enhance the vehicle’s look, while subpar work can be noticeable and unattractive.
Reworking a bad installation can be time-consuming and inconvenient. You might have to leave your vehicle at the shop multiple times, disrupting your schedule. Your time, loss of use of the vehicle, or rental vehicle is rarely covered by shops offering discounted services.
Cheaper installations will lack the paint correction aspect of the PPF installation. Aspects such as stone chips are usually done poorly, or missed all together.
At Toronto Buffing Inc., we pride ourself on correcting paint, before protecting paint. In terms of paint chips, we are able to fix them by different means.
In summary, while it might be tempting to save money upfront, investing in a reputable and experienced installer at Toronto Buffing ensures that you get the best protection, appearance, and longevity for your vehicle. It’s worth doing some research, reading reviews, and possibly paying a bit more for a high-quality installation that will protect your vehicle effectively, in the long term. Remember, those savings have to come from somewhere, and always come from corners being cut in some department.
Though Toronto Buffing may be priced slightly above market, our clients consistently choose us over those lower quality services because of our attention to detail, use of quality name brand materials, expert installation, and customer service. Contact us today for your paint protection film installation Toronto.
This brand new Ferrari had a PPF install performed a little over 6 months ago. On removing the film, the material was noticbly dark, and discoloured. The vehicle had very little use, indicating a low brand PPF was used. It is an unfortunate reality that many shops are driven by greed, and the temptation for them to use cheap film on a half-a-million dollar vehicle, in order to maximize there profits, is very concerning.
A nightmare scenario, paint protection film is designed to protect the paint, but the previous installer of this film did the opposite, and caused permanent damage. Interestingly enough, this PPF installation was done precut. Precut is sometimes sold as the safer option, when in fact, all paint protection film installations require knife work and trimming. A properly trained installer is more important than the plotting style of the material.
To add insult to injury, the paint protection film coverage itself was lacking, leaving leading edges exposed to rock chips. Leading edges are the most prone to rock chips, and having them exposed is not acceptable.
After removing the substandard PPF, and performing a through paint correction to fix any defects, we proceeded with a bulk application of paint protection film on the entire body.