Underbody Coating

Under-Body Coating

Underbody coating provides long term protection from corrosion to car's underbody. It also protects parts like internal body panels, frame rails and other inner cavities that are not physically accessible but are prone to corrosion. Good undercoating extends the life of your vehicle. Corrosion does more than affect the integrity of the metals in your vehicle. It can get into your metal wires and cables, affecting any component which is comprised of steel or aluminum. How long does it last? An undercoating treatment will protect you for a year. We recommend having your vehicle inspected and having a coat reapplied if necessary once a year for optimal protection.

Benefits of Under Body coating

Undercoating gives you an extra layer of protection against rust and corrosion, protecting your car. Undercoating will eventually wear out, but you can get years of protection from it. Even vehicles in warmer climates gain protection as debris is repelled and kept away from eating at the vehicle. Having undercoating professionally applied to your vehicle can be expensive, but fortunately, if your budget is tight, you can do it yourself for a fraction of the price.

Here are some of the various types of undercoating available.

Rubberized Undercoating

Rubberized vehicle Undercoating is easy to apply and offers sound-cushioning as well as protection from dust, moisture, and dings or dents. In addition to your undercarriage, rubberized undercoating is also safe to use on wheel wells and quarter panels, and dries to a soft rubbery finish that prevents further rust, damage, or moisture seeps. The coating can be painted over and, if necessary for bodywork, can be easily removed with an undercoating removal spray. Overall, rubberized coating is generally the best option for protecting your vehicle's undercarriage, as it provides the simplest and best protective measures against rust and moisture.

Polyurethane Undercoating

The other option for undercoating your vehicle is to use a polyurethane based sealant This type of vehicle undercoating is a little bit quicker and easier to apply. Oftentimes, polyurethane undercoating will come in canister ready to preload into an application gun. This type of sealant works by seeping into all cracks and seams, displacing salt and moisture and oozing around rusty areas to bond with and protect unoxidized metal. It also sands quickly in case you'll need to perform bodywork and can be painted over. On the flipside, this type of car undercoating generally requires a little bit more surface prep work before applying -- sanding and applying an etching primer to bare metals before using are generally recommended.

Wax or Paraffin based Undercoating

A paraffin-based undercoating will be the cheapest and quickest option available with which to protect the undercarriage of your vehicle. However, keep in mind that it will wear off quicker than other types of undercoating and will need to be stripped and reapplied at least once every year. Wax-based undercoatings never truly harden. During application, they drip or flow into seams and cracks to provide protective properties. They are usually available in a spray gun canister or in an aerosol can and offer at least a base protection in moderately humid climates.

Asphalt based Undercoating

For standard vehicles, any of the aforementioned types of undercoating will provide sufficient protection. For large trucks and heavy machinery, asphalt-based undercoating provides a bit of extra durability against rocks, chips, and moisture. Asphalt-based undercoating generally contains a little bit of rubberized material that sets up firmly and also helps soften noise. Generally sold in five gallon containers, this type of undercoating also needs more cure time than the other three, and is NOT paintable, making it best to use only for undercarriages.

Pro's of Undercoating

1. Protection againt corrosion and rust

Undercoating offers a layer of protection against corrosion and rust. Any debris will be repelled by the undercoating.

2. Extend the life of the vehicle

It will extend the life of your car. Undercoating stops rust. Corrosion isn’t just about causing an issue with the metal under your car but it can also get into cables and wires – in fact anything made of aluminum or steel can be affected including the engine and transmission.

3. Cover small damages

You can undercoat damaged parts of the car such as scratches, chips and nicks caused by debris flying up as you drive. Modern undercoating can cover small areas of damage.

4. You can do it by yourself

You have the choice of undercoating your own vehicle or getting it done professionally. It is perhaps best to get the professionals to do it if you have the budget. It can cost more than $1500 at the shop depending on the type of car you have. Doing it yourself can reduce this cost by some 90% although it can be messy to do.

5. Many Options

There are different methods to choose from. One is electronic which is used to stop the corrosion of rust already present. Then you have standard undercoating which applies a thick, tar-like substance. Another option is dripless oil spray with fills the body of the vehicle with something wax-like and then sets hard. Finally there is the drip-oil way which can drip for up to 2 days after application and this is the most common method used by car dealerships.

6. Reduce noise of car

Undercoating your vehicle can reduce noise inside the car while you’re driving. The coating creates a sound barrier meaning the interior of the car will be quieter.

Con's of Undercoating

1. Its not effective on cars with corrosion

If your vehicle already has some corrosion it isn’t as effective. Applying undercoat over rust means that although you’re stopping more moisture and airflow to the rusted area, the rusting process will still keep happening. An undercoat will slow down the corrosion rather than reverse or stop it. You should attempt to remove the rust before applying an undercoat. This isn’t always easy though, since rust can penetrate deeply into the metal, so encapsulating the rust and then applying an undercoat could be a waste of money.

2. Doesn't work well with old cars

Undercoating doesn’t work so well on old cars because the residue from under the car has to be removed before the undercoating is applied. If you don’t remove the debris first, the already-present debris will be sealed in.

3. Its useless on new cars

Undercoating might not be wise if you tend to change cars every few years, since it takes between 3 and 5 years before rust starts to show. In fact it might be 10 years before your car is affected in any way at all by corrosion. This means if you get a new car every few years then undercoating it would be a waste of money because it simply isn’t required.

4. Your vehicles warrenty might be voided

Your vehicle’s warranty might be voided if you opt for a third-party undercoating treatment.Some new cars already come with undercoating so adding anything else risks your warranty.

5. It makes your vehicle heavier

It makes the vehicle 10 to 20 pounds heavier which affects fuel economy (how far you can travel on one tank of gas). This is negligible in terms of fuel costs but still something to bear in mind.

6. It can be damaged

Undercoating can be damaged. Although you can expect a hard layer of protection against debris, driving on dirty or gravel roads often means the protective layer’s integrity will be reduced over time.

7.It can be expensive