Frequently Asked Questions

We are happy to share a ballpark pricing, but accurate pricing requires a visual inspection. We would hate to over-quote you on something you don't need. Pricing comes down to a few variables.

• Condition of car’s paint (yes, brand new cars too)
• Brand of film you select
• Amount of coverage you are looking to cover
• Complexity of the panels
• Pre-cut or custom trimming

All of these factors are going to determine the cost.

Paint Protect Film isn't exactly cheap, but the key to a great PPF installation is the prep work. In most cases, 9 out of 10 new vehicles can benefit from some sort of Polishing or Paint Correction.

We would like to invite you over for a visual inspection. We will give you quick tour of our facility and to check out our work up close, to see what you are paying for.

We focus 95% of our efforts on prep work (usually 1-2 days). We make sure the canvas of your car is absolutely perfect before installing  Paint Protection Film - ensuring that your investment lasts as long as possible.

Prepping the vehicle before applying Paint Protection Film will greatly enhance the gloss and film will lock it in for years to come. It is also going to determine the quality of the results.

For example, here's a scenario:

Shop A charges $1,500 for a Full Front End Coverage and uses a reputable film brand. While it maybe a competitive price, Shop A takes half the time for the installation (rush job) and does little to no prepping of the paintwork before installing film.

Imagine picking up your car, only to find out that there are cut lines and bugs under your film. How would you feel? Here's what a rushed job looks like and what a less-expensive job gets you. You truly get what you paid for, especially for Paint Protection Film.

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We use SunTek and S-TEK. These are the industry's best and works well with Houston weather. S-TEK is the clearest film in the market and exclusive to at our shop only. ‍We have been installing and tested hundreds of PPF brands since 2007, including popular ones such as XPEL, 3M and Kavaca.

We have been installing PPF since 2007. We install on average 50-60 PPF installations per month and we offer several different Premium Paint Protection Film at different price points, as well as "color changing" film that will transform your paint to a Matte Finish, or even Carbon Fiber.

We will gladly match the price on an identical service sold by our closest competitors. Show us the the estimate and we will match the price. Contact us for full details.

We are fully certified by SunTek, S-TEK and the International Detailer's Association (IDA). Our highly trained installers are the top in the industry - our vetting process is strict, and our requirements for ongoing education and skill development are high. All Vivë technicians are required to pass the Certified Detailer Test administered by the International Detailing Association. We require our technicians to train annually at Meguiar’s, PlusCon and SEMA.

Technology is always changing and we at Vivë constantly maintain a pulse on the latest products available in the automotive industry. Our network of knowledgeable technicians reaches all over the world. Our research into the latest products and methods gives us the advantage to provide your vehicle with the care it deserves.

‍The short answer is, yes. Wrapping edges will always be an art to PPF application. Even a properly wrapped edge can lift or peel due to the myriad of radiuses the film has to stick to. The film can hardly be noticed once it's locked into place, but remember it's called Paint PROTECTION Film, and not Paint PERFECTION Film.

PPF wrap is 4 times the thickness of vinyl thus making it impossible to contour to all edges like a vinyl wrap would. Some shops remove large components like bumpers to wrap between these areas, but over time the movement of the body panels will cause them to lift up anyways. Edges are unavoidable and any shop that says there will not be one exposed edge is not telling the truth.

There are two ways to install PPF on a vehicle:

1. Custom or "Bulk" forming the PPF to the panel and then cut and roll the edges.
2. Pre-Cut by a plotter to programmed sizes which allow the film to be 1/8th of an inch from all edges.

In most cases, installers state that Pre-Cut PPF is inferior because it leaves visible edges. While this used to be true, PPF Softwares have come a long way. This system eliminates the unnecessary damages of cutting PPF on the vehicle and accidentally cutting clear coat.

However, depending on the vehicle, we are able to wrap most edges by modifying the pattern and emblems can be removed prior to PPF installation. This eliminates the need to cut on a car and without removing body panels. Pre-Cut PPF stops 1/8th of an inch from the edge. This is not a bad way to install film and actually will prevent lifting or peeling up much better.

When you are doing your research, most of these installers will claim they are an "expert" at "Custom" PPF installations and promise they would never cut paint, stating that they install PPF on a daily basis. The film is 8-mils thick, and when doing custom installations, the installer has to score the film perfectly for 4-mils deep, hoping the razor blade doesn't scratch or knick your paint. Well, no matter how good someone is, there will always be a human errors. It only takes a millisecond of distraction for a panel to be potentially ruined. Is it worth the risk?

"Custom" installs will require headlights, taillights, side lamps, door handles, and panels to be removed so that the best install possible can be done. Imagine how many extra hours of work that would be, so there is a large cost associated with that. In fact, we would actually talk you out of it. They are simply sold to unassuming customers to pump up the PPF ticket price.

For the preservation of the vehicle, we believe it is preferable not to cut on any vehicle or remove panels when it isn’t necessary, ensuring the safety and integrity of all vehicle surfaces. Not only will your car's panels have misalignment compared to factory standards, but most newer cars have electrical components that will require a certified technician to remove and install. The film is a sacrificial layer that protects against paint damages and will eventually have to be replaced due to wear and tear.‍

‍Yes. Our PPF comes with 7-10 years manufacturer's warranty that covers cracking, yellowing and peeling. It does not cover wear and tear from daily usage.‍

All of our Paint Protection Film is warrantied for 10 years against a range of issues including yellowing.

The first thing to know is that the two products are not comparable and thus not a true comparison to one another. Paint protection film provides a urethane layer of protection against rock chips and scratches. Ceramic coatings, even when cured, are microns thick and not engineered to stop rock chips. That said, it is an excellent product for protection against environmental contaminates such as bird droppings, bug guts, and more. Not to mention that it makes cleaning off track rubber much easier. To further answer the question – ceramic coatings are for customers who want some basic protection along with increased shine, gloss, depth of color, and great hydrophobic and self-cleaning properties. PPF are for the customers who want actual protection against rock chips and scratches.

This combo is extremely common. The car enthusiast is after that best-case scenario type of maintenance. Having PPF and ceramic coating will keep the vehicle protected from rock chips, road debris, and more while having all the benefits of a ceramic coated car. Those benefits being hydrophobic properties, self-cleaning, and an increased gloss and depth appearance.

‍Yes. All of our PPF has Self-Healing technology. The clear coat is the self-healing layer and is approximately 13 microns thick. If that layer is penetrated, the film will not heal.‍

‍In most cases, we recommend applying PPF over a panel that is defect free and you get the best protection money can buy on day one. There is nothing wrong with applying PPF over paint defects, however, you will see slight air pockets around the defects (this includes areas with touch-up paint applied) and PPF will magnify the imperfections. We offer various cosmetic repair options such as Paint Correction, Polishing, Touch Up Paint and can refer out to reputable body shops for any paint and body work. Think of applying screen protector on your cracked smart phone screen, that's how it would look like.