How Long Does It Take to Apply Car Film?
2 Answers
Car film application time depends on the following factors: 1. For full-car heat insulation and explosion-proof film, new sedans take about 2 hours, while used cars (requiring old film removal) take about 3 hours. 2. For full-car color change film or full-car PPF (paint protection film), sedans take about 1 day, while SUV/MPV models take about 1.5 days. The benefits of car film application are as follows: 1. Primarily blocks UV rays, reduces heat transmission, prevents injuries from shattered glass, reduces glare, and protects personal privacy through the one-way visibility feature of solar films. 2. Reduces UV damage to interior items and passengers. Through physical reflection, it lowers interior temperature, decreases air conditioning usage, thereby reducing fuel consumption and saving costs.
Last time I spent almost 5 hours applying window film to my car by myself, it was really laborious. My car is a compact sedan, and I chose standard heat-insulating film. The process started with thoroughly cleaning the windows, using a scraper to remove dirt—this step is crucial to prevent bubbles. Then, I cut the film to size, aligned it, and applied it while using a heat gun to soften the edges and squeegee out bubbles as I went. Beginners often run into issues; like me, I had to spend extra time redoing parts. Larger SUVs or privacy films are even more complicated, and professional shops might be faster. After application, it's best to let it dry for a few days without rolling down the windows to allow the adhesive to fully cure. Overall, DIY is fun but time-consuming.
