Whether you are painting your entire car or performing a touch-up, most experts would advise you to sand and then apply the primer before applying the topcoat. A primer in this case is a very important step in any paint job.
This paint-like substance is the one that is applied to freshly sanded metal. It always goes before the topcoat. The role of primer is to seal the metal against elements as well as fill in dents or scratches on the metal.
Moving on to vinyl wraps. Cars are often wrapped on top of a full paint job. That is one with primer, base coats, and clear coats.
For those of you who may be in a hurry, you may be wondering, can I directly vinyl wrap over primer and skip all the above paints that go on top of the primer? Keep on reading to find out more.
Is It Possible to Vinyl Wrap Over Primer?
Vinyl wrapping over primer can save you a lot of time that you would have done on the bodywork. And it saves you the effort as well. But the big question is – will vinyl wrap hold onto the primer?
According to 3M, a popular manufacturer of vinyl wraps, vinyl wraps can hold on to any primed surface. Therefore, it is not a must for there to be any topcoats on the primer.
However, on curves, you are advised to use an adhesive promoter so that the wrap can stick to it strongly.
And even though vinyl wrap can hold onto nearly any surface even bare metal, there are some things you should consider when wrapping over primer.
Paint such as primer requires to be painted over. And that’s why it has got a microscopic texture. By itself, the primer cannot protect the metal beneath your paint.
A good paint job that entails primer, topcoat, and clear coat is the only ideal solution that can protect the paint beneath from corrosion.
It may be easier and faster to wrap over primer directly, but you need to protect the metal beneath with a professional paint job.
Instead of rushing to vinyl wrap over primer, we would advise you to first complete the usual car painting process. First start by sanding, application of primer, topcoat, and base coat, and do not forget the clear coat.
Give the paint some time to fully cure then pick your vinyl wrap of choice and spread it on your car. It may not be easy but it will get the job done.
And if you must wrap over primer, ensure you use a quality primer that will offer protection to the metal beneath.
Does Primer Attract Water?
Primers are hygroscopic and thus they absorb and hold water. This can pose a huge problem for vinyl wraps because the water will interfere with the adhesion of the vinyl wraps to the primer.
This is another cause for concern for people interested in skipping the full paint job and going straight to wrapping the car. Unless you apply a sealant on top, you will have a huge problem with keeping moisture away from the surface of your car.
Will Vinyl Wrap Stick Easily over Primer than Paint?
Vinyl wrap will need a lot of heat for it to stick over primer than it would over paint. This is because of the surface texture of the primer.
To ensure it sticks better, even if you don’t have the time to paint the entire vehicle, it would be best if you could apply several layers of clear coat.
A coat of clear always does an excellent job of protecting the paint and the metal beneath it. Plus, it also creates a surface that can adhere well to vinyl wrap.
Is Primer a Good Foundation for Vinyl Wrap?
Unfortunately, primer isn’t the ideal foundation for the vinyl wrap. We have already listed some of the reasons why that is above. A lot of people have had terrible experiences with wrapping over primer.
In most cases, the wrap would come off with the primer. The adhesion usually isn’t very strong and that’s why it comes off easily.
Even if this doesn’t happen right away, after a while, the moisture drawn in by primer, weakens the adhesive bonds and the wrap comes off.
The ideal foundation for the vinyl wrap is a well-painted and cleaned surface. Forget about the shortcuts if you want your vinyl wrap to last for a long time. Instead, paint the car as one would normally do, and then wrap it as you may wish.
Can I Wrap Immediately after Primer Has Been Applied?
Ask any professional detailer, they will be completely against the idea of wrapping over primer. The worst thing you can do is wrap directly over freshly painted primer.
That would land you in even more trouble because the wrap won’t hold on to the primer. And when it does come off, it will remove a significant amount of the primer.
Forcing you to start the process from scratch and wasting the primer you had already applied on the sanded surface of your car.
Does Vinyl Wrap Damage Primer?
Let alone primer, any type of paint that is applied correctly and allowed to cure in due time won’t be damaged by vinyl wrap.
Therefore, if you do wrap over primer, you don’t have to worry about it damaging the paint beneath as long as you let it fully cure and spray it correctly.
Also, you have to familiarize yourself with the process of removing vinyl wrap properly. If you do it wrongly, it will come off with some paint and that is what you should avoid.
Can I Wrap Over Fillers?
Fillers are used to hide scratches and similar to primer, are one of the things that go first in the painting process. It is wrong to wrap over fillers as the surface of the latter isn’t designed to adhere to vinyl.
Secondly, fillers ought to also be left to dry fully before the paint can be sprayed over it, and only then can a car be wrapped.
Will Vinyl Wrap Protect Primer?
Of course, it will. That is the role of vinyl wrap in the first place. There is more you can get from wrapping a car than just aesthetics.
It protects the surface of your car against the elements, debris, and even chemicals. When you wrap over primer, it is protected against all the above and it will remain in that condition for a significantly long time.
The problem however is, how long vinyl wrap lasts over primer.
If I Paint My Car Is There Need to Wrap It?
This depends on your preferences and budget. You see, wrapping a car will cost more than a low-quality paint job. However, a high-quality paint job costs almost the same as wrapping a car.
The reason why you are researching whether to wrap over primer is that you want to save time, effort, or money.
When you apply only primer, you have not painted that car. When you give your car a decent paint job, it will look great and the metal beneath will be protected from corrosion.
Adding another layer of wrap enhances the level of protection offered. If you fully paint your car, is there a need for you to wrap it?
The answer is both yes and no. Car wraps are stylish and allow you to experiment with various colors and designs.
However, with car paint, there is no room for that because the process is very time-consuming and involves a lot of work.
Wrapping a painted car lets you explore various exterior styles for your vehicle. It also prolongs the life of the paint job.
It is something worth doing if your budget allows you to. But if you are on a strict budget, you may have to compare between a quality paint job or a vinyl wrap.
Other Concerns You Should Beware about When Wrapping Over Primer?
Other than the above, there are other things that you should be concerned about when wrapping over primer. They include;
• It is very difficult to remove dust on top of the primer. And if you know a thing or two about vinyl wraps, they do need to be applied on clean surfaces.
The challenge here is that dust doesn’t come off easily and if you use a very strong cleaner, it will remove the primer.
• If the surface beneath isn’t sanded properly, it will crease immediately after application. This often happens right away and the finish will look terrible.
This can be avoided by spraying a top coat of clear that will create a smoother surface that can adhere better to vinyl wrap.
What are the Worst Paint Conditions for Vinyl Wrap?
Primer, as we have seen above, is not the ideal surface for one to wrap over. The wrap may not last for very long and the metal beneath won’t be well protected.
Other than wrapping over primer, are there other conditions that aren’t ideal for a vinyl wrap? There are and they include; paint scratches, orange peel, a peeling clear coat, and rust.
If your car has got any of the above, ensure that repair these issues first before vinyl wrapping it.