What is the difference between a polish and a wax?

Polishing will remove oxidation, swirls and light scratches and restore gloss to your paint work. This is achieved by using different grades of abrasive compounds and polishes to slightly cut back on the paint and level out the imperfections.

This form of polishing does not offer any protection to the paint. This is where waxing comes into play. Waxing your paint will protect the factory paint from harmful elements and also offer a more gloss to the finish.

What is the difference between a wax and a sealant?

The main difference between waxes and sealants is the durability. Waxes contain carnauba and tends to last about 8-10 weeks whereas sealants can last anywhere from 6-12 months depending on the product and application.

Will the Paint cleaner polish (AIO) in the Pre-sale detail remove scratches?

No, the paint cleaner polish offered in the Pre-sale detail is an All In One polish/wax which uses light chemical cleaners to clean any light oxidation off the surface of the paint whist applying a layer of wax to protect the surface and add extra gloss. Being a non-abrasive polish it will not cut back on paint and correct swirls and scratches. This is where Paint correction is needed.

Are you able to remove swirls and light scratches?

Yes, this is possible through our Paint Correction services. This is done by using our machine polishes along with the combination of different grades of pads and abrasive polishes to level out the paint.

Inspection of the car is needed before any work is carried out as we need to see the condition of the paint and the severity of the paint defects to be able to get a better idea of what can be achieved and how much time is required to carry out the task.

How often should I have my car detailed?

It is recommended to have a full detail such as our Deluxe Detail carried out once a year to keep your vehicle is pristine condition. In between we recommend that regular washes be done weekly or fortnightly and a layer of wax be applied once every 3-6 months.

What's the difference between Paint Enhancement and Paint Correction?

A paint enhancement is an exterior detail consisting of a 1 or 2 step machine polish (light to medium abrasive) which cleans up all the contaminants from the surface of the paint and will help restore gloss and clarity to the paint. Paint enhancements can remove hairline swirls and webbing. A Stage 2 enhancement can remove 60%-80% of light to moderate swirls and fine marks.

Paint correction is a process used to remove imperfections from your vehicles paint such as swirls, light scratches, water spots, bird dropping etchings and so on. This is carried out by machine (rotary or random orbital) along with various grades of pads and abrasive polishes. In some cases light wet sanding may also be required.

Paint corrections remove fine layers of paint in the top/clear coat to level out and remove the paint defects. Before any paint correction is carried out the paint is measured with a digital micrometre to give the operator an indication of how much paint there is to work with.

At Reflect Effect we use our years of experience and modern techniques to ensure that the paint is corrected to the condition that the owner requests without leaving buffer trails or holograms. Paint corrections can remove 95%+ of paint defects from the paints clear/top coat.

How long will my paint stay swirl free?

How long your paint stays swirl free after the Paint Correction depends on how well you maintain it. Realistically, swirls are unavoidable but by cleaning your car with the right methods and products it will minimise the chances of inducing new swirls and scratches.

After a paint correction Reflect Effect provides the car's owner with the necessary information on the correct maintenance procedures to keep the paint looking its best.

Will Paint Correction make my paint really thin?

The process of correcting paint is done by removing fine layers off the top/clear coat to level out the paint defects. Our experienced correction operator will measure up the paint before and during the paint correction process to ensure that there is enough clear/topcoat remaining so it keeps it within the safe limits and no failure in the paint occurs. A layer of wax/sealant or paint protectant will also be applied to protect the finish.

Can Paint Corrections remove deep scratches?

Paint corrections are limited to only removing scratches and marks in the top/clear coat. A little test that you can do to see if a paint correction is suitable is run you finger nail over the scratch and if it catches or you can feel it then it is most likely that the scratch has gone past the top/clear coat. In this case you will need to have the scratch touched up or resprayed.

What is the darkest tint I can have on my car windows?

By law the darkest legal window tint you can have on your car in NSW is 35% VLT.

We offer a range of films in this grade ranging from standard to premium non-metallic colour stable films and a wide range of metallic films.

How long will it take to tint my car?

On average it usually takes about 2-2.5 hours to tint a standard size car.

If there is existing window tint on there that needs to be removed then it can take up to a couple hours more.

How long does window tint take to dry?

Once the film is applied it is recommended that the wind up windows are not used for a minimum of 48 hours to allow the edges to dry up and tack to the glass properly. Realistically it can take up to 3 weeks for all the moisture to evaporate out of the film.

Will the window tint turn purple and go bubbly?

The vehicles that you see going around with purple tint is due to the film being of low quality. These are known as dyed films. When the dye dries out it causes it to fade and delaminate which creates all them unsightly bubbles.

All our films are of high quality and are warranted against fading, bubbling, delaminating and cracking for the life of the vehicle.

What is the best way to clean my windows?

It is important to use an ammonia free glass cleaner for your windows if you have window tint applied. Ammonia based cleaners can dry out the film and eat away at it. For a streak free clean, use a low lint cloth or microfiber towel.

Do you offer mobile tinting services?

No, all work is carried out at our workshop located at North Parramatta. The main reason for this is that carrying detailed work such as tinting requires a controlled environment to reduce the chances of dust getting caught in the film. Good lighting is also a must to allow us to check our work thoroughly.

What is Paint Protection and how does it work?

Paint Protection is an aftermarket product which is hand applied to the exterior paint of your car to provide a protective barrier against environmental contaminants such as bird droppings, tree sap, exhaust fumes and so on. If contaminants do etch into the surface it will be the protective coating which will be affected and not the factory clear coat/paint.

Will it affect the finish or colour of the paint?

Some paint protection products come as a cream and once cured can actually hide or reduce the amount of shine and reflectiveness that comes from your metallic paint.

Our paint protection product is a clear polymer resin which bonds and conforms to the painted surface and provides the paint with extra gloss and ultimate protection.

Can it be applied to used vehicles?

Yes, but it is highly recommend that a paint de-contamination and/or correction process be carried out before hand to ensure that the paint is 100% contaminant free and also that the paint is to a condition that the owner is happy with because one the protective coating is applied it will lock in the finish.

What are the noticeable benefits of Paint Protection?

The main thing you will notice with paint protection is when you wash the vehicle most of the water will either sheet off the car or bead on the surface. This makes drying the vehicle a whole lot easier.

Another noticeable aspect is that you will find it easier to clean off things such as bird droppings, bug splatter, dirt and exhaust fumes from the paint with minimal effort.

How long does it take to apply?

With our process it usually averages around 2-3 hours to complete for a new vehicle. All the necessary preparation of the vehicle is carried out such as washing, de-waxing and removal of any adhesive left over from the vinyls that cover the car during transportation. A used vehicle can take 5+ hours depending on the condition of the paint.

Is the film visible on the car?

The film is optically clear but is slightly visible depending on which kit you have applied. For example, a standard front kit which involves the film being applied to the front edge of the bonnet and guards will have a faint line which is slightly visible where the film ends.

This depends on what angle and distance you are looking at it from. If a full panel is covered then the film is virtually invisible.

Is there any cutting done on the car?

The film is normally cut off the vehicle with a plotter with the use of digital templates that suit most makes and models.

In some cases where a template is not available and the film is bulk fitted to a panel we may need to do carry out cutting on the vehicle but we use specialised techniques which allows us to just score the film slightly without cutting all the way through so the blade does not touch any painted surfaces.

Is the film removable and will it damage the paint?

The film is removable but we highly recommend that it is carried out by Reflect Effect or other PPF professionals. The film is removed by using a steamer or heat gun to soften the adhesive bond and gently lifted back.

Removing the film will not damage any OEM painted surfaces but if there are areas that have been touched up we cannot guarantee that it won’t affect these areas.

For touch ups we always recommend having a professional carry it out to ensure that the paint bonds to the surface properly.

Can the film be applied over stickers?

Yes, the paint protection film can be applied over stickers but because there is a raised surface around the sticker it will hold some moisture around it. Once all the moisture has dried from under the film you can run your finger along these areas to help press the film down onto the surface.

How long should I wait if my car has had some paint work done?

We recommend a minimum 3-4 week wait to allow all the solvents to evaporate out of the paint before applying any paint protection product.

Does the film go all the way to the edge?

This varies for different vehicles as it comes down to how the digital template is cut. In most cases there will be a slight gap from the edge but no more than a few millimetres as we aim to cover up as much of the painted surface as possible to provide maximum protection.

There are also some areas where we may have to join or mesh up the film and we get it as close as possible with no more than a 2 millimetre gap.

Can the film be etched by bird droppings and contaminants?

Yes, the film can suffer etchings from contaminants such as bird droppings, tree sap and bug splatter but by maintaining the film regularly and removing these contaminants as soon as possible it will minimise the severity of it.

You need to remember that if the contaminants are etching the paint protection film and not the paint itself then it is doing the job that it's meant to.

How do I maintain the film?

It is recommended that you carry out regular washes on the vehicle with a ph neutral or a wash and wax type shampoo. To protect the film you can use a spray wax or a polymer based sealant. We have products available for purchase which are suitable for these applications.

What type of warranty if offered?

3M provides a 5 year limited warranty on the Ventureshield paint protection film which covers the film against fading, cracking, bubbling and yellowing.

The warranty is non-transferable and is only valid if the film has been professionally applied. The warranty covers the replacement of the film only and the customer bears the cost of any film that needs to be removed.