Protection and care · Clear, self-healing film
Paint protection film
A clear, self-healing film laid over the paint, edge to edge and tucked where the panel allows. Exclusive Refyned installer for South Delhi and Gurgaon.
What it is
Paint protection film is a clear thermoplastic urethane layer, a little thicker than a sheet of paper, that sits over the factory paint. Stone chips, wash scratches, bird droppings and the grit thrown up on Delhi's expressways hit the film instead of the paint.
Good film has a self-healing top coat: light swirls and scratches close up with heat from the sun or warm water. It also blocks UV, so the paint under it does not fade, and the film itself resists yellowing.
Fitted properly it is close to invisible on a gloss finish. There may be a fine line at a panel edge, but from normal distance you see the paint, not the film. It works on matte and satin paint too, with a matte film that keeps the finish flat.
Who it is for
- New cars, before the first stone chip
- Cars that see a lot of highway driving
- Black and dark colours, which show every mark
- Owners who plan to keep the car, or sell it with clean original paint
How the job runs
Inspection
The car is logged, inspected under the workshop lights and photographed. Existing chips and swirls are recorded and shown to you.
Wash and decontamination
A full wash, then iron and tar removal and a clay pass, so nothing is trapped under the film.
Paint correction if needed
Swirls and light scratches are polished out first. Film seals in whatever is underneath, so this step decides how the finished car looks.
Fitting
Film is laid panel by panel in a clean bay. Edges are wrapped or tucked where the panel allows, and badges and trim come off where that gives a cleaner edge.
Cure and quality check
The car rests so the film settles, then every edge is checked under the light before it is marked ready on your tracking link.
Handover
We walk the car with you, show you the edges and give you the care instructions.
From the floor
Slip solution goes on first, so the film can be positioned before it grips 
A full sheet laid over the door, larger than the panel, before trimming 
Water pushed out from the centre of the panel towards the edges 
Film worked around the rear quarter, the pillar and the fuel flap The front bumper, with film worked into the lamp and grille recesses 
Edges trimmed and wrapped so no film line shows on the face of the panel
What goes on the car
Upshift is the exclusive Refyned installer for South Delhi and Gurgaon. We fit Refyned's NOVA films and, where a client or a car calls for it, films from Garware, UltraGuard, Avery Dennison and SupremeX. Warranty terms are the manufacturer's; your estimate names the exact film, its thickness and its warranty before you approve the work.
| Product | Detail | Warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Refyned NOVA Select | Gloss, self-healing TPU, 190 µm (7.5 mil), hydrophobic top coat | 6 years |
| Refyned NOVA Plus | Gloss, self-healing TPU, 215 µm (8.5 mil), nano-ceramic top coat | 8 years |
| Refyned NOVA Signature | Gloss, self-healing TPU, 215 µm (8.5 mil), flagship nano-ceramic top coat | Lifetime, on Refyned's terms |
| Garware Plus, Premium, Titanium | Clear self-healing TPU, 175 to 195 µm; Premium and Titanium carry anti-yellowing cover | 5 years, 8 years and lifetime respectively |
| UltraGuard | Clear and satin self-healing TPU from 190 µm | 3 to 10 years, by series |
| Avery Dennison Supreme Defense | Clear gloss self-healing film, 8 mil | Up to 10 years |
| SupremeX TPU-Plus, TPU Legends, Titanium X | Clear self-healing TPU at 190, 216 and 254 µm | 5, 8 and 10 years respectively |
Options
Aftercare
- Do not wash the car for the first week while the film settles.
- Hand wash with a pH-neutral shampoo; avoid automatic brush washes.
- Keep a pressure washer nozzle away from the film edges.
- Remove bird droppings and tree sap promptly, even on film.
- A coating over the film makes washing easier and keeps it glossy.
What it will not do
- Film absorbs chips and scratches; it will not stop a dent or a heavy impact.
- It does not fix damage already in the paint. That has to be corrected or repaired first.
- A very fine line can show at some panel edges, most visibly on light colours.
The builds
Photographed in the workshop. New builds go up on Instagram first, often while the car is still in the bay.Latest work on Instagram, @upshiftautos →All builds →
Questions
Paint protection film, asked and answered.
Can you see PPF on the car?
When it is fitted properly it is virtually invisible on gloss paint. There can be subtle edge lines at panel boundaries, kept to a minimum by wrapping and tucking edges where the panel allows. On matte and satin paint, a matte film keeps the finish flat.
Is PPF worth it over a ceramic coating?
They do different jobs. Film is a physical layer that takes chips and scratches. A coating adds gloss and makes the car easier to clean, but it will not stop a stone chip. Many owners fit film on the front or the whole car and coat over it.
How do I know the film is real TPU and not cheap TPH?
Ask for the brand, the product line and the thickness in writing. TPU film is softer, self-heals and resists yellowing; cheaper TPH film is stiffer, does not self-heal properly and can yellow within a year or two. Your estimate names the exact film.
Can PPF be removed later?
Yes. Quality film peels off without harming healthy factory paint, which is part of why it protects resale value. Paint that has already been resprayed badly can lift with it, which is one reason we inspect the car first.
Can a coating go on top of PPF?
Yes, and we recommend it. The coating adds gloss and water beading over the film, and the film still does the physical protecting underneath.