Today’s car finishes/paints are resilient. A cars exterior finish is it's primary defense against the elements. It keeps our cars shiny and protects the metal just under its surface. Without a car’s exterior protective finish, a car would look like a rusty tin can in no time.
Q: How thick is a cars protective finish?
A: About 75 microns or .003 of an inch. That’s three one hundredths of an inch.
To put it in perspective a piece of paper is about .004 thick.
Q: What can you do to protect your investment and car's finish?
A: It makes good sense to protect and preserve your auto’s exterior finish. It’s the first line of defense against the harsh outside environment we place our vehicles in every day. Air born industrial pollutants, abrasives from road grime, bird droppings, tree sap and those squashed bugs on the front of your car are acidic. If left to bake under the sun, they will over time, damage even the toughest automotive finishes. These undesirable elements impact our cars finish at highway speeds. They will attack your automobiles exterior finish if neglected.
An automotive finish works because its smooth surface resists the ability of foreign objects and materials to adhere. Unfortunately our harsh environment causes microscopic pitting which increases the ability of those foreign objects and materials to adhere to the finish. By regularly washing your car and seasonally or annually applying wax to your car's finish, several things are accomplished.
1) A layer is added over the finish, protecting the finish and adding longevity.
2) Any micro pitting is filled and smoothed restoring the finishes ability to do its job
3) The polymers within the wax do a much better the job at preventing foreign objects
and materials from adhering then the original finish.
It’s important to note that while waxes do an excellent job and provide superior protection they require application on a seasonal basis, 3 times a year for a quality wax. Or, to save time there are Hi-Prefomance wax products that only require application on an annual basis.
Weather you choose a seasonal wax or a Hi-performance annual wax product be sure to have a professional do the application. You'll know the job will be done correctly and that a quality product has been applied.
Don't forget, there's .003 of an inch of your car protecting your investment 24/7. It can use any help you can give.
So wash your car often and remember to wax.
