Paint Protection Film
Paint Protection Film · Melbourne
Your paint is the most expensive panel of plastic on your car. PPF is the only product that physically stops a stone chip.
Modern OEM clearcoats are thinner than they were twenty years ago, basecoats are softer, and the road keeps throwing the same gravel, salt and bug guts at them. Paint Protection Film is a 6–8 mil polyurethane shield that takes the hit on your behalf — then heals itself when the scratch is shallow.
We install Suntek, STEK and CarPro films at Alpha Details in Melbourne — and we'll source another brand if you have a specific preference. Whichever film goes on, we use the same chemistry-first prep we run for ceramic coatings. The film is only as good as the surface it's bonded to.
What PPF actually is
Paint Protection Film is thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) with an elastomeric topcoat. The TPU base is roughly 6–8 mil thick depending on the brand and product line — that's the impact layer. The topcoat is the part that does the self-healing: when a fine scratch deforms it, heat (from sunlight or warm water) gives the polymer enough mobility to flow back into shape. Deeper gouges that cut through the topcoat into the TPU don't heal — but the gel-coat layer underneath still stops the stone before it reaches your clearcoat.
PPF — physical barrier
Stops the rock. A 6–8 mil polyurethane shield that absorbs impacts, then heals fine scratches. Doesn't stop chemical etching or improve gloss much on its own.
Ceramic — chemical barrier
Sacrificial chemical layer that improves hydrophobicity, gloss, and resistance to bonded contaminants. Will not stop a rock. Different job, different chemistry.
The strongest protection is both. PPF on high-impact panels (front bumper, bonnet, fenders, mirrors), ceramic coating on the rest of the car for easier cleaning and hydrophobic top-up. Read the chemistry deep-dive →
Why we install Suntek, STEK and CarPro
There are a lot of films on the Australian market. We stock these three as our core films because they're the ones we trust to behave consistently in our climate and on the cars we wrap. If you have a particular brand preference — XPEL, LLumar, anything else — tell us at quote stage and we'll source it for your install.
By Eastman Chemical
Suntek Ultra & Ultra Defense
Eastman's premium self-healing PPF series. Well-suited to high-UV Australian conditions and a topcoat that self-heals reliably with ambient warmth. Manufacturer's limited warranty against cracking, bubbling and yellowing.
Best for: owners who want a wet-look finish that holds gloss for years.
Ceramic-infused topcoat
STEK DYNOshield
8-mil TPU film with a hydrophobic ceramic topcoat baked in — sheds water and contaminants without needing a separate ceramic on top. 10-year manufacturer warranty against delamination, yellowing, bubbling, cracking and topcoat degradation. Extended warranty available when paired with Final Coat ceramic.
Best for: daily-driven cars exposed to real-world contamination.
CarPro flagship · Latest
CarPro Immortal
CarPro's most advanced PPF — flagship TPU film with self-healing topcoat, strong hydrophobic performance and excellent optical clarity. CarPro is a chemistry brand we already stock heavily on the store, so when Immortal is the right fit we install it with full confidence.
Best for: when optical clarity and an unobtrusive finish matter most.
We install custom — not pre-cut →
Most shops feed your panels through a plotter pattern from a software library and live with whatever gaps that template leaves around badges, sensors and complex curves. Every piece of film at Alpha Details is custom-fitted to your specific vehicle — edges tucked into shut lines, no template seams running across a panel, no exposed paint along the leading edge of a bumper. Takes longer. Looks better. Lasts longer.
Custom-cut · Edges tucked · No template seams
Every piece cut to your specific car — not from a software library.
Squeegee work, slip solution, controlled environment to keep dust contamination out of the bond line. Patient detail work so the film tucks cleanly into shut lines and around badges, sensors and complex curves.
Our PPF packages
Every job starts the same way: full decontamination wash, iron and tar removal, paint inspection, and chemistry-driven prep so the adhesive bonds properly. Skipping prep is what makes other installers' film lift at the edges within twelve months.
Partial Front
From $2,500
Front bumper, headlights, hood lip strip, mirror caps. The minimum coverage to protect the panels that take the most stone chips.
Full Front · Most Popular
From $3,500
Full hood, full front bumper, full front fenders, mirror caps, headlights, A-pillars (where applicable). Covers every panel exposed to highway debris.
Track Pack
From $4,000
Full front coverage plus rocker panels, rear wheel arches, and door cup areas. Built for owners who track their cars or commute on long stretches of unsealed road.
Full Body Wrap
From $12,000
Every painted panel covered. Maximum protection, maximum resale preservation, maximum job.
Every package is quoted on your specific vehicle — pricing varies with model complexity, panel count, and whether you want hidden edges (wrapped into the door jamb instead of cut at the edge of the panel). The numbers above are starting points for common models.
How we install PPF
A clean install starts days before the film comes near your car. We bring the vehicle in for a thorough inspection, photograph existing damage, and walk you through coverage choices on your actual panels — not a generic diagram.
01
Decontaminate
Two-bucket wash, iron remover, tar remover, clay or nanoskin if needed.
02
Paint correction
If booked. PPF is clear, not invisible — any swirls underneath will be magnified, not hidden.
03
Surface prep
IPA wipe-down or dedicated panel-prep solvent to strip oils and polishing residue.
04
Custom-fitted install
Slip solution, squeegee, patient detail work. Edges tucked into shut lines, around badges and sensors.
05
Cure & handover
Film fully bonds before the car leaves. Aftercare walkthrough and complimentary first wash included.
Warranty
Both Suntek and STEK films we install carry the manufacturer's limited warranty against the standard failure modes — cracking, bubbling, yellowing, delamination, and (for DYNOshield) degradation of the hydrophobic layer. Coverage period is typically 10 years from date of install, subject to manufacturer terms.
The warranty covers the film. Workmanship is on us. If an edge lifts or a piece sets badly because of how we installed it, we'll fix it.
What else we do in-house
Because Alpha Details is a paint and chemistry business as well as a PPF installer, we can package your film install with the protection layers most owners only think about later — all done in-house, on the same booking, by the same team that prepped your paint.
Wheel coating
High-temperature ceramic on barrels and faces — brake-dust release becomes effortless, bonded contamination won't bake on.
Glass coating
Hydrophobic windscreen and side glass coating — cleaner vision in rain, easier removal of bug guts and water spots.
Interior coating
Fabric, leather and Alcantara coatings to repel spills, sunscreen, denim transfer and everyday wear.
Undercarriage coating
Full corrosion protection — particularly for cars that see coastal driving, country roads, or salted surfaces.
Track sacrificial layer
Additional sacrificial PPF over the standard install on stone-strike leading edges — cheaply replaceable between events.
Decals & race numbers
Custom decals, race numbers and graphic accents in PPF or vinyl, finished cleanly enough to look factory.
Chemistry-first · Certified · Accredited
Most PPF installers come from a tinting background. We come from chemistry.
Paolo, who runs Alpha Details, holds a degree in chemistry. PPF lives or dies at the adhesive bond line — surface energy, contamination, residual oils, panel temperature, and adhesive cure chemistry are the variables that decide whether your film looks perfect in five years or starts lifting in twelve months. We're also a Shopify retailer of Labocosmetica, Feynlab and CarPro products — the same chemistry we use on customer cars.
Trade · Detailers · Dealerships
Train with Alpha Details
We accredit and train detailers and dealerships in the full Labocosmetica and Feynlab professional ranges from our Heidelberg West studio. Hands-on application training with the same chemistry we use on customer cars every day.
Frequently asked questions
How long does PPF last?
A correctly installed Suntek or STEK film, maintained with a pH-neutral shampoo and washed without harsh chemicals, will perform for 10 years. The warranty period reflects that.
Will PPF make my paint look different?
Properly installed PPF is virtually invisible on gloss paint. Edges are tucked or hidden where possible. On matte finishes, you'd want a matte-specific film like STEK DYNOmatte or Suntek Matte to maintain the look.
Can you remove PPF later without damaging paint?
Yes — TPU films are designed to be removable for the life of the warranty. Removal should be done warm and slowly. We can quote a removal service if you're buying a car with old film fitted.
PPF or ceramic — which should I get?
They protect against different things. PPF stops physical impact. Ceramic improves hydrophobicity, gloss, and resistance to chemical etching. The strongest protection is both — film on the impact zones, ceramic on the rest.
How long does an install take?
A full front package is typically around 5 days. A full body wrap is a minimum of 7 days, often longer depending on vehicle complexity. Custom-fitted installs take longer than plotter jobs — that's the trade-off for a seamless finish that lasts.
Pre-cut or custom?
Custom. Every piece is fitted to your specific vehicle, not from a plotter pattern, so edges tuck into shut lines instead of stopping short of them. It's slower work but it's how the install survives ten years.
Get a quote
Send through your make, model, and the package you're considering. We'll come back with a firm price and an install slot. If you're comparing quotes, ask the other installers what they prep with and why. The answer will tell you whether your film is a ten-year investment or a two-year one.
Phone: 0400 976 972 | Email: detailsalpha@outlook.com | Or use our contact form →
The film is only as good as the surface it's bonded to. Chemistry-led prep is what separates a ten-year install from a two-year one.