A car cover is a great and convenient way of providing your car with a layer of robust protection that will keep it looking good and maintain the value of your investment in it. The odd scratch and ding dramatically reduces the look of your vehicle’s appearance and more radically reduces the dollar value of your investment!
Like everything else in life – not all car covers are equal!
You need to take into account certain factors and make sure your car covers come up to the standards you demand.
Sun Block Capacity
The effect of the sun on paintwork is horrendous – paintwork fades and certain colours such as red paint are particularly susceptible to the sun.
The culprits are the ultra violet rays in sunlight – - the same harmful rays which cause sun burn in us and they can penetrate clothing and materials unless they are designed specifically to filter out the harmful UV component of the sun.
Make absolutely certain that your car cover is blocking the sun – a car cover will state it can and if it does not, leave it alone and find another one as it is offering no sun protection.
Water Proof not Water Resistant
The rain and water obviously adversely affect a car’s bodywork – it is not simply the rust issue but the impact upon the paint job as well as rain carries other pollutants and compounds which have an acidic effect on paint and the lacquer finish applied to protect a car’s appearance.
You must ensure that a car cover is water proof and not just water resistant.
A water resistant cover will have been treated so water finds it harder to penetrate but no matter, the water will still eventually find a way through the cover and can start acting on your bodywork.
A water proof cover stops water from coming into contact with your bodywork because water is simply unable to get through the cover no matter how strong the rain and wind are.
Easy Fit
A car cover need not be one of these heavy tarpaulin types you may have seen on an automobile in someone’s yard – they should be quickly and easily fitted by a 100 pound lady and in as much time as it takes to fasten your seat belt.
Easy Storage
A car cover should be simply and quickly stowed when not in use and lightweight enough so it can be transported with you in the trunk when you are on a trip or stowed in the garage at home.
Durable and Flexible
The car cover is taking the brunt of the effect of the environment including the weather, children, pets and other factors. It has to be strong and tough to take the knocks and bumps, wind, rain, snow and sun but it must also be capable of maintaining its protective properties even after being stored for lengthy periods of time. The material for the car cover should also be flexible so it does not crack or wear out especially along the creases created by folding for storage and then being left for lengthy periods of time.
By Ryan Draving
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