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Here we would like to clear up the most common questions that we get, and give you a peek behind the scenes to see how we do our work.

What are wraps?
   Wraps are vinyl sheets bonded with a glue to create a flexible membrane which, when applied to a smooth surface, appears much like paint. The glue is designed to attach to vehicle bodies or other surfaces for several years while remaining soft enough to be removed later. Working the vinyl requires great skill to ensure that it looks appealing for its lifetime.

Why wrap a car?
   There are several advantages to wrapping your vehicle. The first being that you can have any color or design you can dream of and then remove it when you are ready to get rid of that vehicle or change to a new design. Not only is the original finish protected and preserved, but you don't have to work to find the specialty buyer who would also enjoy your unique design or color, or take a large loss selling to someone who does not appreciate it. Second, wrap usually costs much less than paint. To paint a car as cleanly as our wraps come out would cost 2-3x as much as we charge, making it a simple choice for a car you plan to get rid of eventually. Third, because of the removable and affordable nature of wraps many people will often wrap their car more than once while they own it, a difficult and overly costly process to do with paint.

How long do they last?
   We insist upon only using the highest quality vinyls available that are specially made for the purpose of vehicle wrapping. These films typically carry a factory rating of a 3-5 year lifetime. This means that they will not only look nice, but will be removable for that time period. Certain factors can extend or reduce the lifetime of wrap vinyl. For instance, sunlight exposure and frequency of care. In the direct sun, the hood, roof, and trunk panels take more direct UV light than the sides of the car, which can work towards subtle degradation of the film more than a car kept in a garage or shade. Also, a vehicle wrapped in a lighter color that is covered in dirt and never cleaned is more likely to have staining than one kept clean continuously.

How long does it take to install?
   To properly wrap a full car our shop usually takes 6-10 work days depending on the complexity of the vehicle, the condition of the vehicle, and the materials used. Smaller jobs are frequently done in one day, including hood wraps and roof wraps. During the cold months we often keep even these small jobs overnight to cure. Compared to painting, wrap is often a much quicker process, especially for a full vehicle.

How much do they cost?
   Full car wraps typically cost $3,000 - $5,000. Pricing is dependent on which vehicle is being done, current color, current condition, methods and materials selected. Depending on these factors some vehicles may fall above or below that price window. Hood and roof wraps usually are $200 - $600 depending on the same conditions. For all jobs our shop rate is $100/hr plus materials and tax.

How do you care for a wrapped vehicle?
   Most car care products will still apply to your wrapped vehicle. However, wraps are typically considered lower maintenance than paint – one of the advantages to the process. Hand washing is preferred, but many customers frequently use drive-through car washes with no problems. Because we disassemble so much and wrap around all the edges of vehicles the brushes should not cause our work to begin to peel. Whether the wrap surface is matte, satin, or gloss will also affect how frequently you should clean. Matte has no gloss layer of clear to protect the material so it should be cleaned more frequently than the others to prevent staining. We provide a bottle of specialty wrap spray with most wraps and stock more for anyone who needs additional supplies. This is a simple spray and wipe which will keep the film protected and looking nice. This spray is a good option for most of your cleanings.

What colors / prints are available?
   We stock samples of pretty much every color made by the top vinyl manufacturers. As soon as they release something new we order some of it to display and test. If we don't have it we will gladly order a piece of it, as we feel that is the only true way to be sure you like it. Pictures do not do these colors justice. For almost any color there are several finishes available and several levels of metallics. One of the areas where the most new colors are coming out are iridescent colors, or flip flop colors, that appear to be different hues depending on the angle one observes them from. There is a wide variety of these flip colors and we have samples of all. As for prints, we have hundreds of samples of camouflage and various others. There are even more options to choose from online, and we can gladly display them for you on our PC.

Can they be installed / removed with no damage?
   One of the advantages to working with our shop is that we insist that we do-no-harm to your vehicle during or after the wrap. We use a product called Knifeless Tape extensively during our wraps, which allows us to make knife-like cuts without using an actual knife on the paint. This ensures that there are no cut marks on the paint when our work is removed. When we do use knives we use specialty plastic bodied knives and blades intended for vehicle wrapping and highly practiced techniques to ensure no damage can occur to the body or to the new wrap. We also insist upon extensive disassembly, which allows us to cleanly wrap around joined areas where most others would rely on cutting and or jamming the material in, leaving low quality results, broken parts, and paint damage. Disassembling vehicles does invite some moderate risk, but the most frequent failures are fasteners which were only designed for single use. We usually replace all of those fasteners with new OEM quality or direct replacement parts as needed.

Do you have a waiting list?
   When we are booked up in the time frame you are interested in, we keep a list of people who would like to be notified if time becomes available for their project. This usually happens when someone reschedules, has to drop out, or when we complete a project ahead of time. We do not charge to place you on the list, but as we get closer to your job being on the top we will contact you for a deposit and to set an actual date.

Can you do custom colors or prints?
   Yes, the easiest way to do so is to pick a base color that you like and we can then modify it with a clear layer on top. These layers can be as simple as a matte, satin, or gloss, or more complex like different colors of metal flake, or a strong iridescent shift. Adding a secondary layer makes the film even more resistant to scratching, chipping, and staining, and, at a much lower price point than adding a clear bra afterwards. We work with some of the industry's top designers and can have a totally bespoke design drawn up for you and installed flawlessly. The options for printed films are truly limitless, if that is your desire.

Can you do custom graphics or stripes?
   Yes, we do not need to do the entire vehicle if you do not want, or we can go over (or under) the full wrap we install. We can design and cut large vinyl graphics and place them over complex surfaces. We also take great pride in our striping work, relying heavily on Knifeless Tape and great skill to produce customized stripes that are as exacting as if done by machine.

What can wraps be applied to?
   Aside from vehicle bodies, many people are surprised to hear about the many places we can apply these films. All we really need is a clean fairly smooth surface, the glossier the better. Some of our jobs have included:

• vehicle windows, interior trim, wheels, head/tail/fog lights and chrome trim
• motorcycles, jet skis, snowmobiles, ATVs
• home objects like laptops, mice, refrigerators, cooking equipment; the list is infinite
• tractor trailers, RVs, farm equipment, and trailers also fit inside our shop

Don't hesitate to ask about an unusual project, we may just be able to help.

Do we do commercial work?
   It is uncommon for us to do commercial work. We are frequently undercut on pricing for commercial work by sign shops as they focus on expediency, while we focus on quality. We have yet to see one of these shops approach our quality though, so if you are looking to establish an image for your business where quality is as important to you as it is to us, we will gladly help.

Do we sponsor people?
   On high end vehicles which will be receiving a lot of attention and which wear the MassWraps logo prominently, we are sometimes willing to go a bit further with the project than the bill reflects. We work hard to deliver the most value possible for your dollar, but at this time cannot operate while working for free.

What vehicles are not right for wraps?
   Wrap vinyl is formulated to work with modern clear coat factory applied paint. Any other surface poses varying amounts of risk that the vinyl will not adhere correctly. Vehicles from the 90s or older often have weak paint that will come off when being wrapped, which poses a large problem for all parties. Also, older vehicles often have many stone chips and other imperfections which will be visible through the wrap. This requires traditional body work methods which will destroy the original paint and increase cost dramatically. Wrap has trouble sticking to fiberglass or Bondo repairs as well, so repaired vehicles will usually need to be painted before wrapping.

How does wrap compare to dip?
   In general, the two are so dissimilar that they should not be comparison shopped. They have significant differences in install technique, material longevity, safety to original paint, removability, finished quality, and color options. When compared, dip is found to be lacking in all these areas, and we do not suggest it for any quality vehicles.

The following is a walk through of our typical process for a full wrap.

1. The first thing a client will need to do is decide on what color they want to use, we suggest they come to the shop and look at our hundreds of samples to make this decision.
2. Once a color is selected, and we have inspected the vehicle, we can generate an estimate for the client.
3. The next step is to set a date which works for the client.
4. When the client drops off the vehicle, the material ordered is shown to them to ensure it is exactly as they wanted. We can quickly order a different material in case of a problem.
5. The vehicle is then brought into the shop and photos are taken of the vehicle and any damage it has. Notes are also made about any existing damage.
6. The vehicle is then washed and photographed again, often revealing more subtle paint or body problems. This is important to address early to ensure the smoothest possible wrap.
7. The vehicle is then disassembled, usually removing both bumpers, trim, door handles, mirrors, antenna, etc.
8. The disassembly often releases lots of dirt and sand which is then cleaned from the vehicle and the shop floor. The parts removed are also cleaned on the inside to remove any dirt as well. Photos are again taken of the progress.
9. If the vehicle has dents, and the client would like, a paintless dent repair pro is brought in to remove or reduce dents as much as possible, without damaging the original paint. Photos are taken before and after this work.
10. The next order of business is to measure the vehicle, and plan the size and cut of the wrap for each panel. The film itself is also examined for flaws, limits of stretch, glue strength and other workability concerns.
11. The vehicle is then ready to wrap, which we do one panel at a time. The panels being wrapped are first clay barred, then cleaned with alcohol to remove any final wax, dust or dirt stuck in the paint, fingerprints or oil. Photos are taken before and after.
12. The entire job is captured in time lapse photography from our security cameras, these files are set aside for later review and publication. We also set up cameras on tripods and on our bodies to record the process in action. These videos are all used later to examine quality and work standards as well as promotional tools for future clients. Most clients also enjoy seeing their vehicle being transformed radically by the wrap.
13. This painstaking process is then applied to each panel of the vehicle, one by one. Great care is taken to minimize any dust in the shop.
14. While we are in the process of wrapping, we keep in communication with the client, often sending them photos of the progress. We also point out any problems that occur, and ask for input about design or technique.
15. Once the vehicle and parts are fully wrapped, we often are asked to install accessories on the body - for instance splitters, spoilers, and ground effects. This is a perfect time to do this, as the parts usually attach from the inside, and with the vehicle disassembled we can do so with vastly reduced labor vs a complete vehicle. Photos are taken before and after these installations.
16. The vehicle is then assembled carefully to ensure no damage to the new wrap. Any problems are addressed and repaired.
17. The vehicle is then fully wiped clean and vinyl treatment is applied. The vehicle is photographed in the shop, and if weather permits, outside the shop as well. It is not taken outside of our parking lot.
18. The entire vehicle is carefully inspected, any flaws are addressed. Mechanical systems are verified to be operational.
19. A final spray of vinyl treatment is applied, and any fingerprints removed.
20. The client comes down to pick up the vehicle. We walk them through the entire job, show the highlights of the wrap, and verify they are satisfied. After care products and instructions are provided.
21. Following the delivery, we like to have a check up within the first month of ownership. This is a complimentary process where we inspect every detail of our wrap and address any areas that need improvement. This procedure is then done again 6 months later to double check the wrap is holding up as well as possible. This is also a good time to go over proper upkeep with the client and ensure that it is being followed.

Thank you again for considering MassWraps for your customization needs. While you are here, take a look at our HOME and PORTFOLIO pages.

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