When it comes to protecting paint, simply applying paint isn’t always the best option. Even paint with a paint protection film product may not be enough for harsh winters or climates with high salinity levels.
Road salt can corrode metal and lead to rust, even after the paint is applied. For this reason, many people use undercoating instead of paint protection products to provide added protection from the elements.
What is Undercoating?
Undercoating is an insulating material applied to vehicles before paint jobs are completed. Undercoating helps protect against rust and corrosion by filling in any cracks or crevices where moisture could potentially seep through and cause damage beneath your vehicle’s paint job. Additionally, undercoating can protect the paint from being chipped or scratched by road debris.
There are several different types of coatings available for purchase to fill in these cracks and crevices. Some popular options include paint-based paint protection products, rubberized paint protection products, and wax-based paint protection products. All three provide differing degrees of paint coverage and thickness, so it’s best to have a high level of paint knowledge before making the final decision on which type is right for you.
What Makes Undercoating Ineffective?
Although undercoating is typically applied before paint jobs, many people do not realize that coating your vehicle after the paint has already been applied may void certain paint warranties. Some paint manufacturers may require paint to be applied simultaneously as an undercoating for paint warranties to be honoured by the manufacturer.
Because paint-based paint protection products are typically painted, it’s best to wait until after your vehicle has received its paint job before using this product.
How Can I Make Undercoating More Effective?
When choosing an undercoating, consider adding a layer of paint-based paint protection product on top of the second coat of your chosen undercoating material for added protection against rusting and corrosion caused by road salt or other debris. Additionally, if you live in an area with high salinity levels, rubberized coatings provide excellent resistance against chemicals due to their rubber and synthetic paint protection properties.
What is the Best Undercoating for Vehicles?
The best undercoating product for you depends on your paint needs, paint requirements, and climate conditions. Suppose you’re looking to keep the paint protected from rusting and corrosion due to road salt. In that case, rubberized coatings provide excellent resistance against chemicals such as road salt and provide added paint coverage in cracks and crevices where moisture could seep through.
Benefits of good undercoating for vehicles?
To decide if you are going to apply undercoating instead of a classic paint protection film, you will need to understand the benefits of undercoating. In this next section, we will discuss the benefits of undercoating for cars and trucks.
The application of paint was first used to protect the metal from corrosion by ancient Greeks and Romans thousands of years ago. It, however, had its limitations, and wear and tear and rusting became an issue. That prompted engineers to find other alternatives that were more durable while also being cheaper to produce. Thus came the idea of applying unique undercoating materials on metal surfaces which improved their strength and reduced or prevented corrosion. These days these undercoatings are available in liquid form along with sprayable types too.
Benefits of Undercoating
1. Protection to paint
These undercoatings provide excellent paint protection against rust, abrasion, and corrosion. This helps to protect the paint from damage and preserves it for a more extended period. They also prevent paint degradation by blocking UV rays which can cause paint discoloration and fading.
2. Strength
Good quality coating materials used in undercoating forms a good coat over metal that provides increased thickness to paint film resulting in added surface strength. It makes the paint more resistant to chips and dents as well as improves its impact resistance too! This means car body paint finishes remain protected even if accidental damage occurs, like scratches or knocks.
3. Excellent Adhesive Properties
Best quality undercoating materials stick very well with paint and all other surfaces to be coated. This enables paint adhesion over a steel sheet, rocker panels, etc.
4. Sound Dampening
These coatings act as sound dampeners, too, by absorbing sound waves that hit paint body panels of vehicles. The result is lesser noise levels within the cabin for drivers and passengers and a reduction in road noise! Undercoating materials also help prevent creaking sounds that are common when paint bodies expand or contract due to temperature changes.
5. Thermostatic Insulation
Many undercoatings give limited thermostatic insulation, which means they reflect heat away from the paint, thus reducing the temperature inside car paint during hot summer days. This decreases the chances of paint bubbles or checks common paint issues when paint gets too hot.
6. Enhance Paint Gloss
As has already been mentioned, one of the main benefits of using paint coatings is enhancing paint shine and colour depth. This results in increased paint gloss that looks very attractive and protects the paint from harsh weather conditions like rain, snow, etc. Lustre or brightness of paint finish remains intact for years with coating protection.
7. Eco-Friendly
Good quality paint coatings are environmentally friendly since they do not release harmful chemicals. This makes them safe on paint surfaces, unlike solvent-based undercoatings that contain hazardous acids or chemicals that can damage paint colour on prolonged use. Lower prices for these high-end coatings have also led to an increased usage of paint coatings. This has resulted in paint protection becoming a norm for paint finishes on all types of vehicles.
Summary
Aside from paint protection film, undercoating is another such paint finish product that protects paint and enhances its life by reducing the effects of harmful elements like temperature, UV rays, etc. These coatings stick to metal surfaces excellently and produce a sound dampening effect within car body panels, reducing noise levels and offering enhanced paint gloss! They improve the overall durability and reliability of vehicle paint, thus helping it to stay protected for a more extended period. If you’re interested in applying undercoating to your vehicle, visit the website of a certified installer, like this one: calgarypaintprotectionfilm.ca.