While a beach holiday is an awesome summer getaway, there are a few things to consider before driving on the beach, or parking at the beach for long periods of time. Anywhere where your car can be exposed to salt air and sand are some of the most damaging spots to park your car. Sand can find its way into all of the small crevices of your car’s interior and undercarriage, and scratch your paint work. Salty air from the ocean or beach can adhere to your paint, under frame, and suspension components, causing rust to form quickly. Below, we discuss some options for ensuring your car’s safety while you visit the beach.
Before the Beach:
Before heading to the beach, here are some preventative steps you can take to protect the exterior paint of your vehicle.
Wax your Car: If you live close to the ocean, or frequent the beach, then you may want to consider waxing your car often. Waxing your car provides effective defences against salt build up on your paint, as wax creates a barrier making it harder for salt and sand to damage your paint.
Apply Sealant: Applying sealant to your car after you wax it can add an additional layer of protection for your paint. While it is very easy to apply, the protection only lasts a short amount of time, with the exact length varying by sealant manufacturer.
Install Paint Protection Film: Window and paint films are the most effective ways to defend your car’s paint from abrasions and rust that occurs due to salt and sand. Paint protection film is also the longest lasting solution, and ideal for extended or repeat exposure vehicles.
Protecting the Interior:
Sometimes we forget that the interiors of our vehicles are not indestructible, however sand is enemy #1 when it comes to interior damage. As such, protecting the interior mainly boils down to minimizing the quantity of sand that is brought into the car. This can be done in a few ways:
- Get all weather floor mats. Using there enhanced protection mats will make it easier to quickly remove small amounts of sand and refuge that is brought into the car. These mats also make it much easier to vacuum up any sand or dust that are on the mats, in comparison to carpeted mats.
- Sit on chairs. It may seem like a basic idea, but doing so will eliminate a significant amount of sand and dust being carried into the vehicle, and eliminates some of the most apparent damage done by sand – upholstery damage.
- Use a mesh bag. Cloth or plastic bags bring the sand with them, and keeps the sand in the bag’s compartments, whereas mesh bags eliminate this issue.
Protecting the Outside of Your Vehicle
For protecting your car on beach trips, there are a few precautionary measures you can take to reduce the damage to your paint. Here are some points to help protect your car’s exterior:
- Wash your car. Frequently washing your car can prevent rust, and is more critical than ever after a beach trip. Remove all corrosives from your car with a car wash after your beach trip.
- Shake sand out away from your car. Shaking out towels and bags near your car can get more sand on or near your vehicle, increasing the amount of corrosive residue that gets attached to your vehicle.
- Use a car cover. If you live on or near the beach, consider using a car cover if you cannot store your car inside.
While we have discussed a large variety of methods to beach proof your car, the best course of action is always to apply paint protection film and window tinting film. This will block corrosive materials from adhering to your paintwork at all, and preserves the quality of your paint entirely.
604 Window Tint is always open to assist you. If you have any concerns about tinting, feel free to contact us at 604-332-6046.
