12 September, 2025 apsrustandtint 0 Comments 1 category

PPF → Tint → Ceramic: The Perfect Order (and Why)

There’s a right order to protect a brand-new car. Get it wrong and you’re fighting curls, lift lines, and sticky messes. Get it right and the next five years will feel smugly easy.

This is Part 2 of our five-part series. If you missed Part 1 (dealer bundle vs independent plan), give it a look next. Coming up: lease vs purchase, color-specific advice, and a one-page worksheet to take from window sticker to protection plan.

Why order matters (the quick version)

  • PPF first so film bonds to clean, correction-ready paint and you can wrap edges without fighting slick coatings.
  • Tint second because it’s an interior install and won’t interfere with paint work. You get heat relief while coatings cure.
  • Ceramic last to seal both the paint and the PPF in one hydrophobic system after correction.

Do it any other way and you’re either coating under your film (bad adhesion), installing film on slick coated paint (more lift), or handling fresh coating while doing interior tint (stressful, messy, unnecessary).

Delivery-to-Day-30: A simple timeline

When What we do Your care notes
Day 0–3 Inspect paint → light correction where needed → install PPF on impact zones
(front bumper, hood/fenders, mirrors; add rockers for NoVA).		 Avoid pressure washing. Expect a bit of moisture under film; it dissipates as adhesive sets (full cure up to ~30 days).
Day 3–5 Install window tint (VA-legal VLTs). Windshield sun strip optional. Don’t roll windows for 48 hours. A light haze/water pockets are normal while tint cures (longer in cold weather).
Day 5–10 Paint inspection & correction → apply ceramic coating to paint and PPF (plus glass/wheels/trim if selected). Keep the car dry for 24 hours. No washing for 7 days. If it gets wet, gently blow-dry or sheet with clean water.
Day 10–30 First wash with coating-safe shampoo; review aftercare kit. Book your 2-week QC check if we haven’t seen you yet. Touchless or two-bucket only; no abrasive mitts or toppers until we advise. Avoid automated brush tunnels (always).

Three common mistakes (and how we avoid them)

  1. Coating before PPF. Coatings make paint slick; film adhesion and edge wrap suffer. We install PPF on clean paint first, then coat over paint + film together.
  2. Doing tint last and man-handling fresh coating. Tint is interior work; we schedule it between PPF and coating so nobody leans on a curing finish.
  3. Skipping correction. A coating will lock in defects. We correct the paint (and polish film edges) so you don’t seal swirls and nibs under glass.

Northern Virginia notes

  • Road brine & gravel = rocket shrapnel for lower doors and rockers. Add rocker PPF on commuters and SUVs.
  • Hot summers = faster cures but more water spotting. We give you a first-week “do/don’t” card to keep it pristine.
  • Cold snaps = slower adhesive/tint cure. Build an extra day into the plan in winter.

Quick FAQ

Can I install PPF after the coating?
You can, but adhesion and edge wrap are better on uncoated paint. Our approach: PPF first, then coat paint and film together.

What if I only want tint right now?
No problem. Tint is interior; we’ll schedule PPF and coating after without conflict.

How soon can I wash the car?
After coating, wait 7 days for a proper wash. If it gets dirty sooner, use a gentle rinse and drying aid we provide.

Next up in Part 3: Lease vs Purchase — which protections actually pay off.


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