PPF Installation Tips

Hyper PPF installs like vinyl wrap and the information on the Installation Tips is your starting point. This page adds additional information specific to Hyper PPF. 

Ordering

The minimum amount that can be ordered is the full 56ft standard roll. When ordering, you are able to add an additional half roll cut to the standard sized roll. We recommend ordering more than you need in order to ensure you have extra for mistakes and repairs in the future. As with all colored films, material ordered later may be from a different batch and may not be an exact color match.

Prep

We provide a free bottle of PPF Panel Prep with each purchase. This is an optional but highly recommended step to wipe down the panel and let it evaporate right before laying. This soapy solution will enhance the air release properties of the film and give you the smoothest lay.

Laying

Keep the material tight on the roll and cut the next piece as you need it, and then re-tighten the roll. Do NOT pre-cut all the panels and roll them up like vinyl, the backing will separate and cause lines due to tunneling. If you are working with a smaller amount of pre-cut carbon fiber or piano black PPF, you should keep it tight on the roll until you are ready to use it.

Hyper PPF is laid similar to vinyl. Do NOT use tack reducer with Hyper PPF. It is a low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive and tack reducer will make it difficult to stick. As with any low-tack media, it is important to ensure you have squeegeed with ample pressure and released all trapped air. Hold tension and give air an outlet to escape. Any trapped air is at risk to expand when heated by the sun, causing bubbling.

Hyper PPF has a rubbery/stretchy feel and is very conformable but that does not mean it should be overstretched. Always attempt to lay with the minimum amount of tension possible the same as you would with vinyl. Be careful not to accidentally overstretch when glassing.

The outer TPU layer will stretch more than PVC vinyl does and that will result in the adhesive being overstretched and create a distortion in the finish that appears like a grid or dot matrix which is the air release channels being expanded beyond their original size.

If you are installing matte material, the reason we only sell to shops is because the air release channels are not as large as the gloss film. This requires good technique to give air an exit to escape. Do not trap air. A large PPF squeegee is recommended instead of a vinyl squeegee for removing air. The Panel Prep solution is essential with matte.

The better your technique, the less likelihood of glue lines. Glue lines can happen when the material is heated/squeegeed and then lifted up to be repositioned. You want to be efficient with your glassing technique and then squeegee only when it's in the final position.

We recommend NT Cutter Carbon Steel blades. You will need to change blades more often than vinyl as the film is rubbier than PVC vinyl and will wear down the blades faster. Heating the area where you're going to cut will make the blade glide smoother.

Post Heating

Just as with vinyl, it's critical to post heat, especially on every edge and seam. This fuses the adhesive to the surface. Not post heating means the edge can separate when exposed to the sun. You can verify by using a laser temperature gun and ensuring the film is getting to 220 degrees F. The best practice is to post heat every seam and edge when you finish a panel and again doing the entire car as a whole at the end. The TPU layer can absorb more heat than vinyl, so you need to ensure that it is actually getting to the desired temperature. If you have small edges lifting up even after you heated, you just didn't heat it enough.

Long Term Care

View our Care Instructions page for information about how to maintain your PPF wrap. If you are installing for a client, please share that link with them.