Elite Clear Bra/PPF Installers in Copperas Cove/Killeen/Harker Heights

What are the benefits of clear bra/paint protection film/PPF?

Paint Protection Film/Clear Bra/PPF:

Table of Contents

CLEAR BRA/PPF VS. CERAMIC COATING

Clear Bra/PPF:

Ceramic Coating:

worried about the film longevity?

With our PPF’s lifetime warranty, you are getting a truly no-hassle warranty against yellowing, cracking, fading, and many of the other issues you probably have seen on older PPF/clear bra brands from the past. 

We also have a one-time no-fault clause built in.  Meaning, if your film gets damaged in a manner that would otherwise be non-warrantable (environmental damage), you can make a no-fault claim, which gives you $250 towards the retail replacement value of that part. 

Don’t keep your cars for a lifetime? No problem, you can also transfer your warranty to the next owner, increasing resale value and peace of mind.

These are our most popular clear bra packages in the Copperas Cove/Killeen/Fort Hood Areas:

loader-icon

Starting at $2300 for cars & small SUVs, $2600 for Trucks/mid-size & larger SUVs

most popular PPF package full front

  • Lifetime Warranty
  • All or most trim pieces covered
  • Full hood
  • Front bumper
  • Full fenders
  • Mirrors

Starting at $2900 for cars & small SUVs, $3200 for Trucks/mid-size & larger SUVs

Track Package Left C8 Corvette PPF

  • Lifetime Warranty
  • All or most trim pieces covered
  • Full hood
  • Front bumper
  • Full fenders
  • Mirrors
  • Rocker panels
  • Windshield frame

Starting at $7200 for cars & small SUVs, $8200 for Trucks/mid-size & larger SUVs

C8 Corvette Paint Protection Film/Clear Bra in Killeen, Copperas Cove, Harker Heights - Full body PPF package

  • Lifetime Warranty
  • All or most of the painted parts of the car covered

NO ONE ELSE LIKE US IN CENTRAL TEXAS!

MEET THE OWNER OF HARKER HEIGHTS CERAMIC COATINGS:

SEE WHY OUR CLIENTS THINK WE ARE THE BEST IN CENTRAL TEXAS:

Clear bra, otherwise known as paint protection film or PPF, is an 8 mil (approximately three times as thick as vinyl wrap) thick layer of protective film. It is installed on your vehicle to protect against most rock chips, scratches, and other environmental damage. At HHCC, we can use pattern installations via our Graphtec FC9000-160 plotter or custom/bulk installations (for some clear bra applications). Most clear bra is “self-healing” – meaning, many scratches and other minor damage will go away from heat (hot water or the Texas heat). Unlike ceramic coating, which is primarily designed for ease of cleanup, clear bra/paint protection film/PPF will actually provide protection (ceramic coating does not). Many shops in the Copperas Cove/Killeen/Harker Heights and nationally might claim that ceramic coating helps with rock chips or scratches, and we wish it did, but we want to ensure clients have the correct expectations.

What is clear bra/paint protection film/PPF?

Clear bra, or paint protection film (also known as PPF), was developed by 3M during the Vietnam War to protect military helicopter blades from dust, damage, and debris. You might have even heard clear bra called “helicopter tape.”

All of our clear bra Harker Heights TX options are self-healing, which means swirls and scuffs that aren’t too deep on the top of the film will come out with heat. That could be everything from the Central Texas sun in the Copperas cove/Killeen/Fort Hood area, or a hair dryer, you name it. Typically, it’s better to just let the sun take care of it!

Most manufacturers, such as Xpel, Kavaca/Ceramic Pro, STEK, Legend, Llumar, Eastman, 3M, and many more, are usually within this range of thickness (8 mil) and warranty (10-12 years). Generally speaking, the primary difference between them is the adhesive, which is more of something we deal with during installation, but once it is on the car and past the two-week inspection period, they are almost all indistinguishable. They all protect against rock chips, scratches, and other environmental damage.  Many people ask for Xpel or Ceramic Pro specifically because they have some of the most frequently advertised products, but we maintain relationships with many companies – Legend, STEK, Eastman/Llumar, and more. This gives us versatility in the event that one company doesn’t make a specific product you need or supply shortages mean they are out of something. Of course, only install the highest quality clear bra Harker Heights TX.

What is the difference between ceramic coating and clear bra/PPF?

There is so much marketing and confusion around the hardness of ceramic coatings (9H, 10H, and all that). Also, whether they protect against scratches and chips (there are local Killeen and Austin auto detailing businesses claiming that ceramic coating protects against these damages). Believe it or not, some companies have claimed that ceramic coatings protect against fire! Unfortunately, there is so much hype out there, so let’s sort through the facts.

The only roundabout way that a ceramic coating will protect against scratches is ceramic coatings make it easier to clean or detail your vehicle. Therefore, you might have less contact with your paint and are less likely to scratch it. However, if you scratch a car with or without a ceramic coating, it will scratch.

Clear bra and ceramic coating differences:

The primary purpose of ceramic coating is to make cleanup easier. This means bugs easier to clean off, environmental protection, UV protection, and potentially deeper color and slicker surface. Ceramic coating’s purpose is NOT protection against damage, scratches, or rock chips. Many ceramic coating manufacturers, like clear bra/paint protection film/PPF manufacturers, all provide solid performance. We use everything from SB3, System X, R1, Gtechniq – you name it. We only install quality ceramic coatings just like we only install quality clear bra/PPF/paint protection film.

On the other hand, a clear bra or paint protection film will protect against most rock chips and scratches. Clear bra is self-healing. The primary purpose of clear bra is PROTECTION.

They can be used together to keep the car easy to clean and protect, but neither is a substitute for another. Most clear bra films are hydrophobic, but that is not their primary purpose, much like the self-healing ceramic coatings.

What is the difference between clear bra and vinyl wrap?

Not surprisingly, this is one of the primary questions we get here at HHCC regarding clear bra/paint protection film/PPF. Often, we refer to clear bra/paint protection film as a wrap, as we are technically “wrapping” a vehicle; it isn’t interchangeable with vinyl wraps. Clear bra protects against rock chips, scratches, and other damage, whereas vinyl wraps are for appearance and provide very little, if any, rock chip protection.

As you can see, while they sound similar, these two options are completely different. We do not offer vehicle wraps, and we only provide clear bra. Here at HHCC, we are more concerned about protection than appearance. However, we do like the fashion paint protection film options from STEK and have used them extensively on our vehicle.

If you want a wrap, consider a "fashion" film clear bra/PPF/paint protection film from STEK or Legend!

Most of the time, we install a glossy, see-through clear bra Harker Heights TX on the vehicle, but we also have a wide selection of “fashion films” from STEK – carbon fiber pattern, gloss black, matte black, Damascus pattern, and a ton of other options for PPF. STEK also makes We have some videos on the different types of films, and we also have a demo mini hood in the shop with all of the STEK films on one. We have STEK carbon fiber on our BMW i8, and you can also see where we installed STEK dynoPrism on a different BMW i8 in Hawai’i here. Our client flew us out to Hawai’i for that installation!

What are the most popular clear bra Harker Heights TX packages you offer?

Full front PPF/paint protection film package:

For the full front clear bra Harker Heights TX package we include the mirrors, fenders, hood, and front bumper. This is a great paint protection film option for some daily drivers that might not see a ton of rock chips along the rocker panels or pillars. It protects against a lot of your typical damage and debris we see with clear bra.

Track package PPF/paint protection film package:

We call this clear bra Harker Heights TX package the “track package” or “track pack” mainly because a lot of sports cars get this. It isn’t just for people that need clear bra for the racetrack, but that is how it got its name. Some cars that aren’t necessarily sports cars, but might have more sensitive paint, such as Teslas, also use this package more than the full front clear bra. C8 Corvettes are a really popular track package clear bra candidate, and I don’t think we have done anything less than a track package on a Corvette. The track package clear bra covers everything the full front clear bra Harker Heights TX package (above) does, but adds rocker panels, partial pillars, and a leading roof edge.

Full body PPF/paint protection film package:

As the name suggests, we cover almost all of the car in clear bra, if it is an area that can feasibly covered. This is the ultimate in protection, and this is what we have on our BMW i8 and our Ford Explorer. It makes cleaning up an absolute breeze because the paint protection film is self-healing, so you don’t have to worry as much about scratching the paint like you would if you didn’t have it. This is end all be all protection against I35 debris coming up from the Austin area to the Killeen/Harker Heights/Copperas Cove areas and beyond.

Should you have ceramic coating installed over top of your clear bra Harker Heights TX installation?

Why would you choose to have ceramic coating installed over your clear bra Harker Heights TX? Well, as you might have seen above, clear bra does have some hydrophobic properties (repels water), and it does have UV protection. However, even good hydrophobic films can benefit from ceramic coating. No, this is not a pitch to get you to spend more money. As a matter of fact, we offer 20% off any ceramic coating service (to include interior ceramic coating) when combined with paint protection film! Ceramic coating helps, because bug guts and dirt still come off even easier with ceramic coating compared to PPF. Also, you will have some exposed edges of the film installation, and the coating will help make dirt build up around the seams easier.

Is it possible to have a perfect clear bra installation?

Paint protection film or perfection film?

Paint protection film, not paint perfection film.” – Mike Norng, renowned clear bra installer and trainer in Houston, Texas from Auto Film Specialists/Auto Film Mastery

Boy, do we sure wish it was possible to have a perfect installation. One of the most challenging aspects of becoming a PPF/clear bra installer has been this. We are detail-oriented and professional, and we have slight obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

As we write this question and answer for you, we received new tempered glass screen protectors for our iPhone 13 Pro Max phones. Have you ever tried to install one of these successfully? It’s tough! A screen protector for our iPhone 13 Pro Max is 0.125 square feet. That’s not a lot! The BMW i8 hood is approximately 30 square feet alone. A full front clear bra Harker Heights TX package could be 150 or more square feet! Why are we giving you all of this math and square footage?

Our shop has a giant WEN air filtration system suitable for a 1000sqft space (in a 400sqft shop); we keep everything clean. However, there’s always dust and debris.

If you want to find a defect, you will.

If you want to find a defect or something wrong with the install, you will.” – Mike Norng

There is a lot that goes into clear bra installations. There will almost always be a minor defect here and there. A dust particle here, a tiny piece of fuzz under the clear bra, or the occasional wrinkle (or what we call a “PPF tack mark”). Why is that? It’s because clear bra installers are humans trying to put a giant piece of sticky material onto a vehicle, often stretching it and manipulating it in various ways, and inevitably you might see some defects. We pledge that we would never let your vehicle leave our shop with something we wouldn’t accept on our own vehicle. I don’t tell you this because I want to scare you away. 

We tell you this because we are human. At HHCC, we want you to have the best installation possible. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure you are happy with your clear bra Harker Heights TX installation, and we will fix what we can at your house (whether it’s in Killeen / Copperas Cove / Harker Heights) if your vehicle needs its clear bra trimmed/touched up. Some might argue that we would scare away clients by telling them their installations won’t be 100% perfect, but we prefer our clients understand everything up front – from process, to pricing, to our shop ,and results. At Harker Heights Ceramic Coatings, we always strive to under-promise and over-deliver.

You will see a video we did a full matte clear bra install on a 2023 Tesla Model X, and it came out great, but even that install has minor imperfections. 

Does paint protection film/PPF protect against hail, or dings?

This is another situation that we wish we could say, “yes.” As you can see from the video, our BMW i8 was damaged recently by hail. Despite having clear bra on the vehicle, and in some areas where we have fashion film from STEK, double coverage, we still received hail damage. The same with our Ford Explorer and Mazda CX5. Unfortunately, the force that goes into denting one of your panels is too much for clear bra to handle. 

Whether that dent comes from a shopping cart or a piece of hail, it cannot stop those environmental issues. That said, many people claim that it does protect against minor dings. This is fairly unlikely or unlikely enough for us to make any claims to that effect. Again, we would rather err on the side of telling you that it will not protect against a door ding instead of disappointing you. What it would likely protect you from, is when someone opens their door into your vehicle, leaving paint transfer or a scratch. However, if they hit it hard enough, it will still ding.

Why choose Harker Heights Ceramic Coatings to install your clear bra/paint protection film/PPF in the Copperas Cove/Killeen/Harker Heights area?

We have an amazing little shop.

It might be small, but it is incredibly clean, and organized, and has all of the tools we need to succeed to create an amazing clear bra or ceramic coating installation on your vehicle. The entire shop is filled with top-of-the-line equipment and materials, with no expenses spared. You will find brands such as Flex, Meguiar’s, Legend, STEK, SB3, System X, Lake Country, Autofiber, ScanGrip, Americana Global (owned by Ceramic Pro), P&S, and much more. 

Insured, registered, certified, and protected.

 From the moment your vehicle gets here, we have you covered under our insurance. And that goes for driving your vehicle from the Austin area up to the Killeen area (we have delivered vehicles from Copperas Cove to Temple, and beyond). Also, just having it at our shop in Harker Heights.

Additionally, the City of Harker Heights granted us permission to operate our home business, something some small businesses lack. 

Our shop is protected 24/7 by video recordings from multiple angles, both inside and out, stored on a hard drive and in the cloud.

Trained. Certified.

HHCC has received certifications from many different professional brands. We started with Ceramic Pro ceramic coatings and eventually attended Ceramic Pro Kavaca Paint Protection Film (clear bra) training in San Diego, California. Because we are no longer with Ceramic Pro, we have since added many other brands. From Legend Paint Protection Films, to Global Films, Llumar, and STEK clear bra/paint protection film/PPF.

And, System X and SB3 ceramic coatings, amongst others. We have completed advanced training with Auto Film Mastery in Houston, Texas, and attended several of their workshops. You may know, we maintain professional relationships with many ceramic coating and paint protection film/clear bra manufacturers within the industry. We regularly consult with actual former product developers from Meguiar’s compounds and polishes. This allows us to stay abreast on paint enhancement/paint correction topics.

Dedicated to your satisfaction.

Due to the fact that we are a small shop, our attention is always focused on only your vehicle. We are owner-operated, as well. There are many shops that have many good clear bra installers, but there are also shops where sometimes the clear bra installer working on your car might be hit or miss. We are proud of the fact that we amassed so many reviews! All for auto detailing, paint correction/paint enhancement, ceramic coating, and clear bra/paint protection film. And, in such a short period of time!

Your car doesn't disappear into a black hole.

With Harker Heights Ceramic Coatings, we remain in constant communication with you with pictures and video of the various steps along the way. We are able to accomplish this without sacrificing quality of work. This is because we don’t have a ton of vehicles lined up getting clear bra or ceramic coating behind you – only one at a time. We adopted this method of communication after experiencing so many personal situations with our own cars. Where you drop your car off, and it just shows up done and they call you. If you like that, we will absolutely abide by that method! But, in our experience, you’re spending a lot of money and would like to know that your car is being cared for, and where we are in the process. You should never have to call to ask for an update!

We are Texans, and we are here to stay.

We know that the Killeen/Fort Hood/Copperas Cove/Harker Heights areas are heavily in flux with military coming and going. However, this was our final duty station after 22 years, and we intend to stay here for life. Some things we have done are, we have participated in fundraising events for the Killeen Police Department, we try to raise money for pet adoption centers in town (Humane Heroes in Killeen or the Harker Heights Pet Adoption Center). You can choose between so many options to have your vehicle get clear bra/paint protection film or ceramic coating, and what makes us different is we treat you like family. Contact us today to know more about our detailing services!

See our clear bra installations in the playlist below: