What You Need To Know About Buying A Car Wrap

Before you spend the money, spend a few minutes learning about wraps...

If you've been wanting to wrap our car, truck, van or trailer you might have been intimidated by the different options and costs. Before we can give you an idea of how much your vehicle might cost to wrap, you should know a few things about the way wraps are produced.

Almost every vehicle wrap consists of the printed vinyl (or media) and a protective laminate. When buying a wrap, it's usually a good idea to use both "cast" vinyl and laminate. Cast material is thinner (usually 2 mil) and conforms better to the vehicle. Plus it's made in a way that allows it to retain it's elasticity when stretched. Cast vinyl and laminate combinations can last up to 8 years.

"Calendared" vinyl and laminate are made using a different process. These materials are a little thicker (usually 3 mil) and are more likely to release from the vehicle they are stuck to. Often when you see a vehicle wrap that is peeling it's because calendared vinyl was used in the wrong situation.

One big factor that should influence your choice of quality vinyls and laminates is removability. Cast material will be able to be removed for several years after the calendared material has greatly decayed. It's very discouraging to have to pay labor costs to remove calendared vinyl because it can take days to get off a vehicle if it's been on for too long.

John Maracich is the Owner of ExpoSigns in Slidell, Louisiana. For more information about wrapping a car, truck, trailer or van call him at 985-956-0601 exposigns.com