Xpel Install
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 190
Likes: 4
Xpel Install
Question for those who did whole panels. Is it normal to have a water bubble or 2 the size a little smaller then a pencil eraser in film 24 hours after install?
I did ask installer and he said its normal to have some small bubbles for 2 days to 2 weeks until film cures and dries. Said xpel is breathable to a point and will dry faster in sun. Almost did whole car minus root and back of rear bumber and only 3 small bubbles.
Just asking to see if this is the norm.
Thanks
I did ask installer and he said its normal to have some small bubbles for 2 days to 2 weeks until film cures and dries. Said xpel is breathable to a point and will dry faster in sun. Almost did whole car minus root and back of rear bumber and only 3 small bubbles.
Just asking to see if this is the norm.
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,436
Likes: 977
From: Overland Park KS
Question for those who did whole panels. Is it normal to have a water bubble or 2 the size a little smaller then a pencil eraser in film 24 hours after install?
I did ask installer and he said its normal to have some small bubbles for 2 days to 2 weeks until film cures and dries. Said xpel is breathable to a point and will dry faster in sun. Almost did whole car minus root and back of rear bumber and only 3 small bubbles.
Just asking to see if this is the norm.
Thanks
I did ask installer and he said its normal to have some small bubbles for 2 days to 2 weeks until film cures and dries. Said xpel is breathable to a point and will dry faster in sun. Almost did whole car minus root and back of rear bumber and only 3 small bubbles.
Just asking to see if this is the norm.
Thanks
Bish
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 342
Likes: 52
Normal. My installer did immediate fixes. He used a small syringe to 'suck' the air out of the bubble, then squished down with his thumb to get the adhesive to re-stick. Fixed. Took him a minute. They have not reappeared. Areas around sharp corners are most susceptible, like around the edges of the brake cooling ducts, or the lower door sills.
Last edited by mikegaan; Oct 3, 2015 at 12:51 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 106
Likes: 4
From: West Babylon NY
Question for those who did whole panels. Is it normal to have a water bubble or 2 the size a little smaller then a pencil eraser in film 24 hours after install?
I did ask installer and he said its normal to have some small bubbles for 2 days to 2 weeks until film cures and dries. Said xpel is breathable to a point and will dry faster in sun. Almost did whole car minus root and back of rear bumber and only 3 small bubbles.
Just asking to see if this is the norm.
Thanks
I did ask installer and he said its normal to have some small bubbles for 2 days to 2 weeks until film cures and dries. Said xpel is breathable to a point and will dry faster in sun. Almost did whole car minus root and back of rear bumber and only 3 small bubbles.
Just asking to see if this is the norm.
Thanks
Any air or air mixed with moisture is a concern. Air will not disappear on its own. Air is also more sensitive to temp changes and may even may the situation worse over time (expanding the bubble)
Most can be easily fixed with a syringe but if its widespread, that is a concern
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 138
Likes: 30
From: Ashburn VA
If you see an air bubble after a few weeks--most likely in high contour areas--you can fix it yourself in a minute or two. Get a small foam sponge with a square corner and a straight edged razor. At the very end of the bubble, use the corner of the razor to poke a very small hole just enough to allow air to escape. Use the sponge from the opposite end of the bubble to push the air out. Use the sponge to flatten out any raised areas. After doing this and a day or two to bond with the surface in a warm area, you most likely won't be able to see it even on close inspection. I watched my installer do this and then tried it myself on another bubble I missed on the rocker. Very simple to do.
