Clear Bra, Tint, Ceramic Coat, Vinyl Frequently Asked Questions
Why Choose Ghost Shield Film in Thousand Oaks. Over 20 years of experience in Clear Bra, Tint, Vinyl and Ceramic Coat. Award-Winning Service 5 years in a row. Best Warranty in the Industry. You can trust us to answer your frequently asked questions.
Below you will find answers to the most common questions we get.
We even created a video series dedicated to this purpose. So far we have discussed Clear Bra and Ceramic Coat questions. Relevant videos can be found below answers.
Clear Bra Questions
No. The film is a very clear multi-layer film. The standard package does have a noticeable line across the hood and fenders. But full panels are nearly invisible. There will be some seams or relief cuts in the kit, but that is standard with every film installation. Those help prevent peeling or bubbling.
Yes. The film comes with a 10 year warranty against yellowing, peeling, de-laminating and bubbling.
Typically yes. We exclusively stock Suntek Ultra paint protection film. We can special order in Xpel films upon customer request.
We will not use 3M materials. We like to use the Suntek brand because it is made in the USA, the company manufacturer's their own product, and we find it to be easier to install and therefore get a better installation with the Suntek material. We have also found it to be more optically clear than other brands of film.
We can apply paint protection film to nearly any paint surface of the vehicle. We can do everything from the headlights and bumper to the entire vehicle!
The film comes with a 10 year warranty that covers fading or yellowing. Typically if the film is properly maintained, in that it is washed regularly, then the film will last.
It's not necessary to wax the film but you can. All the film really needs is a spray detail after washing the vehicle.
If you do decide to wax the film be careful of waxing along the edges or seams, as wax can build up and then be damaged when you go to remove it.
Rock hits are considered wear and tear of the film. The warranty covers yellowing, peeling, bubbling, and de-laminating.
You can wash your vehicle as you normally would. If using a pressure washer keep the head back 2-3 feet from the film.
If removed properly no. The film will not damage factory paint upon removal.
We cannot guarantee the quality of repaint, and that removing the film, even if done properly, will not damage the paint.
Watch more on our YouTube Channel
Ceramic Coat Questions
Ceramic Coating adds additional protection to your car’s exterior and helps keep it looking like-new with comparatively minimal maintenance. The coating achieves this result by making your vehicle more resilient and easier to clean.
No. Ceramic coating is not paint protection film. It will not stop rock chips from happening.
It is recommended that you wait a week before getting the vehicle wet. This ensures that the coating has fully cured.
Our ceramic coatings do resist swirls from washing better than any other product on the market. No ceramic coating will be able to prevent swirls 100% but with proper care and technique and the ceramic coating you can drastically reduce them.
Over time contaminants can build and affect the coating. The good news is a simple treatment of Iron X will dissolve the contaminants and a spray on/wipe off CarPro Reload treatment will revitalize and return the upper hydrophobic layer to its former glory. Reload is water based but also contains SiO2 to easily repair the coating if needed.
Window Tint Questions
Standard tint is more for aesthetics. Ceramic tint is made to block heat and UV rays, even at 70%.
We use the Suntek brand of window tint for both our standard and ceramic film.
Our tint comes with a lifetime manufacturer's warranty.
The moisture that remains between the film and the glass after installation can cause a hazy, streaky, blotchy appearance.
It takes several days for the adhesive/film to completely cure. The remaining moisture will evaporate through the film; depending on the type of film, this process may take a couple of days, or even a couple of months.
No, we do not offer "mobile" tinting. Tint needs to be applied in a clean, well lit location where we can properly clean off the windows and surrounding areas to ensure the best installation possible.
The rear windows, including rear doors and quarter glass, can be as dark as you want. The two front doors can legally only be tinted 70% in California.
Anything darker than 70% on the fronts can be ticketed in California.
The tint is either very old or poor quality tint. The purpling is damage from UV rays. The bubbles are the result of adhesive failure.
Our tint comes with a lifetime warranty, do if the tint does fail due to environmental damage it can be replaced at no cost to our customer.
That will depend on what shade of tint you choose. 5% limo tint will make it more challenging to see out of the vehicle at night. 70% tint will make very little difference in night time visibility.
Vinyl Wrap Questions
This will depend on how well you maintain the vehicle. If a car is garage kept, and washed regularly the vinyl can last for years. If the car sits outside and is constantly dirty then the vinyl will last as little as a few weeks.
No. There is no warranty for vinyl wraps. Our location in Southern California voids any factory warranties.
Vehicles with excessive rust, flaky paint, or non-factory paint jobs should not be considered as candidates for wrapping. Results may be less than ideal and paint may get further damaged upon installation or removal of the wrap.
Large scratches or marks will also show through the vinyl wrap.
We advise against doing this. You can use a spray wax or spray detail on the wrap. There are also special products made for vinyl care.
Yes. Vinyl can swirl, mark, and chip just like automotive paint can. Vinyl does not have any kind of clear coat over the top of it, making it more vulnerable to swirls, chips, and UV damage.
The best way to preserve vinyl would be to install paint protection film over the top of it. This would add a layer of self-healing and UV protection over the vinyl. Swirls would be prevented, as would fading or marking from the environment.
Another way to help preserve the vinyl would be to ceramic coat it. This will also help with UV damage and environmental exposure. But will not protect against chips or swirl marks.
If you do not want to go with the added expense of the above options the main things would be keeping the vinyl wrap clean and minimizing sun exposure. Leaving dirt or water to dry on the film can discolor and mark it. As can leaving bird droppings. Sun exposure will cause the vinyl to fade and crack over time.
Yes and no. Some colors, such as white, can be opaque can show a slight hue from the color underneath. Other shades like black, or red will not show the color of the vehicle.
No. There is no way to get a perfect color match.
Frequently Asked Question Videos
Vinyl vs Paint Protection Film (Clear Bra)Does Tesla Paint Have Issues? How to Protect your Teslas Paint.Can you wrap Chrome with Paint Protection Film?Should I Wax Paint Protection Film?How to wash your car with Paint Protection Film / Clear BraAbout Paint Protection Film and Ceramic Coat - Full Car Paint Protection