by ·Comments Off on Keeping Hereford Heating on the road

The right vans are key to an up-and-coming heating company’s most important promise: reliability. Hereford Heating’s Rob Nash test drives the new T6 Transporter

For 23 years Rob Nash has been keeping the heating and plumbing systems of homes and businesses around Hereford working. His company’s engineers cover every type of heating installation including gas, oil, LPG and solar. Your car, truck, van or your entire fleet can be advertising for you at all hours of the day and night by converting into vehicle signage Sydney.

Providing environment-friendly energy is part of Hereford Heating’s offering, including solar-powered hot water and ground-source heat pumps.

What lies behind the success of Hereford Heating is reliability, increasingly seen as a USP when it comes to plumbers. “We have put a lot of time and effort into ensuring we give a reliable service and that we are first class in every avenue,” says managing director Rob.

That is critical for his client base. “We work with a wide range of clients: domestic customers, businesses, agents, landlords and local authorities,” says Rob, who has been plumbing all his adult life.

The company offers a full range of plumbing and heating work, from a boiler service at £65 to a complete installation. The company even took part in the BBC TV show DIY SOS when it came to Hereford in 2014. The programme enlists friends, family and local trades to help transform a home.

To deliver its maintenance, service and installation to customers across the county, Rob and his team of 13 run a fleet of seven Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCW) vans. The gas installers use the workhorse Transporter T5 while the engineers drive the more nimble VW Caddys. The vans are bought outright and changed every three years.

“I have always used VW – I’ve been driving them since I was 17,” says Rob, who created Hereford Heating in 2000 after a spell working as a sole trader. “I’ve driven many different types and sizes of VW and they always live up to my expectation.”

So, as a long-standing user of VWCW vans for his business, Rob was asked to test-drive a new t6 Transporter. “It’s nice to drive and the handling is only what I expected from VW,” he says. “It’s a smooth drive.

“I like the rear parking sensors and the satnav has improved,” he says. There is also a heated front windscreen, a boon on frosty mornings. It’s as though someone has thought about a few things for the driver and the working person who is going to be sitting in the vehicle all day,” he adds.

That’s the key to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles: they are designed for working. While the cab has comfort, the chassis and rear compartment are built to meet the needs of tradespeople and service providers.

The vans can be fitted to suit specific requirements and Rob installs a range of racking where valves, pipes and other components are stored. “You can spec the van however you want. The racking works well. We just move it whenever we buy a new van,” he says.

It is 65 years since the Transporters first appeared and the latest version, the T6, comes with a wide range of spec options but with an emphasis on safety and security.

“One thing I do like about VW is that they are always pushing forward with new technology.” The T6, for example, comes with a touchscreen radio with Bluetooth connectivity.

Hereford Heating aims to portray a professional quality image. All the engineers carry ID, wear corporate uniform and are CRB-checked. Using liveried VWCW vans forms a major part of that strategy.

“Brand is important to us and VW helps us portray the right image of quality and reliability,” says Rob. “We took on the brand of VW because it goes hand-in-hand with our business. Hereford Heating will always use VW vans.” Get to know more info about how good vehicle signage for your business.

by ·Comments Off on Paint Protection Film vs. Coatings Vs. Wax

XPEL, 3M, Opti-Coat, CQuartz, SunTek, Waxes, Paint Correction, Sealants and so much more! This is one of the most common question asked from me and it’s time to break it down to create a sticky blog article. Need extra protection for your car? Why not try paint protection Melbourne? I can testify that it can protect your car paint.

Disclaimer: Before we get into this article, please note that there are several products out there and we recommend researching those companies or products that suit your needs best! This is just a general overview which will help you get started to seeking what you want for your vehicle. Good luck!

1. Waxes & Sealants

First of all, it’s important to differentiate the two. Traditional waxes are made from brazilian carnauba which has been classically used to protect various finishes beyond the automotive industry. It leaves a warm glow to the vehicle. On darker vehicles, this tends to leave a wet look while on metallic colors, it numbs down the flakes a bit and leaves a subtle ‘midnight’ tone to it. Waxes normally last for 1-3 months on average. Sealants are typically made from synthetic polymers that layer upon the surface of the vehicle and function similar to waxes but usually have extended durability. Most over the counter ‘waxes’ are actually sealants but termed ‘waxes.’ Sealants can last all the way from 1 month to a year.

Waxes and sealants come in various forms. Some of them are paste waxes which can be applied and then immediately removed. Some need to be left on for a bit of time before being buffed off. The newest ones are simple spray based sealants such as Opti-Seal and CarPro Reload that are simple ‘leave-on’ products that require minimal to no buffing off making them excellent consumer products and layer-able on top of coatings and clear films.

2. Coatings:

Coatings are relatively new compared to waxes and sealants. They are usually made from ceramics that can take more wear and tear while some of them giving high-end waxes a run for their money! CQuartz, Opti-Gloss Coat and various other coatings in the market are made from Silicon Dioxide while coatings such as Opti-Coat Pro is made from Silicon Carbide. Semi-permanent paint coatings such as CQuartz and Opti-Gloss Coat last for 2+ years on most automotive surfaces. Opti-Coat Pro and various permanent paint coatings can last for 5+ years on most automotive surfaces. Coatings are resilient to all environmental contaminants and reduce scratches caused by driving and washing. They also tend to perform well against bird bombs and chemical deterioration. Water-spotting can still be an issue on coatings but certain coatings such as Opti-Coat Pro Plus and CQuartz UK are resistant to water spotting. Just in case, we recommend washing your vehicle with deionized water. Several coatings also come with a warranty that is directly registered with the manufacturers of the coating. Normally, coatings are thicker and leave a candy-coated look to the vehicle. Pricing on coatings can vary from several hundreds to a few thousand dollars depending on your installer, the choice of coating and prep work required.

Sometimes, paint correction is recommended prior to coating the vehicle by your installer. Most of the time, when a car is finished at the factory or at the dealership lot, it goes through wear and tear or for some reason or another undergoes damage to the exterior.Additionally, the assembly process of the car doesn’t have time to clear out minor defects on the vehicle’s surface. Your installer may inspect your vehicle and recommend correcting specific areas prior to coating installation. Since coatings, unlike waxes, bond with the surface rather than just layer on top of it, it is recommended to remove any surface defects prior to locking the whole paint under the coating. For more, you may want to contact your local coating installer. There may be an extra charge on top of the coating installation for the additional paint correction and prep work required to remove defects on the vehicle.

3. Clear Films

Clear films were initially used in the military to protect vehicles and high-traffic components of military units. However, with time, they made it to the consumer market to be used in high-end performance cars. Now, they are commonly used to protect automotive surfaces against scrapes, rock chips and airborne contaminants. With the advent of technology, they also have self-healing properties which can allow some light scratches to be ‘healed’ with time or heat exposure. 3M, Xpel and SunTek some of the major distributors and manufacturers of clear films prominent among enthusiast and performance lovers. Akin to the coatings, it is recommended to remove all surface defects prior to the installation of the clear film. Films have the properties of reducing maintenance, resisting stain and fading and the best durability to offer in the detailing industry. Please note that your installer may recommend defect removal or paint correction prior to installing the clear film as well, depending on the film you want them to apply.

3M currently has 3M VentureShield, Scotchgard and Scotchgard Pro series. For more details, please click here. VentureShield and Scotchgard comes with a 5 year warranty while the Scotchgard Pro series comes with a 7 year warranty and is currently the flagship of 3M paint protection films.

SunTek also offers film protection for vehicles in the form of Top-coated film and the Matte film and as the name states, they are both clear and matte finishes respectively. They both come with a 5 year warranty.

XPEL currently offers 5 types of films: Xpel Ultimate, XPEL Stealth, XPEL Tracwrap, XPEL Xtreme and XPEL Armor. Ultimate offers self-healing properties along with stain resistance and optical clarity and is the choice for most vehicles. Stealth creates a satin finish on vehicles and is made from the same polyurethane as Ultimate. Tracwrap is a consumer friendly film that provides temporary protection that provides road abrasion coverage and takes less than 45 minutes to install and 5 minutes to remove. Xtreme is a film that offers the highest clarity and is the choice for vehicles that want protection without minimal film visibility. Armor is a 13 mils thick film that is built for off-road, commercial and industrial vehicles and aimed to take high punishment. XPEL Ultimate comes with a 10 year warranty. For more information, please click here.

4. Product Synergy

​Wrapping the entire vehicle can be expensive with full wraps costing a few thousand dollars. However, this is by far the best protection out there against all environmental contaminants. Certain companies such as XPEL have sealants that can be layered on top of the clear film to protect it against tree sap, water spots and various chemical corrosion. If price is an issue, then sometimes customers tend to wrap high traffic areas(eg. front fenders, hood, inside of door handles, side skirts etc.) while either waxing or coating the remainder of the vehicle. This gives the best of both worlds. It is to be noted that certain coatings can be layered on top of clear films and in our case, XPEL and Opti-Coat Pro/Plus work very well with each other. A combination of both the film and coating on a surface gives the best of both worlds ie. rock chip protection with enhanced environmental protection and ease of washing.
For customers on a budget, it is recommended to get the film on the high traffic areas while continuously reapplying a sealant on the remaining surfaces OR to simply just get the coating on the entire vehicle only. If the commute is on the freeway and outside of the city, ‘clear film and sealant’ is recommended to reduce rock chip damage. If the commute is within the city or rock chips aren’t much of an issue, then the ‘coating only’ solution may work. Of course, all of it can be mixed and matched. A good idea of the damage your vehicle takes is to look at the last vehicle you have been driving for 5 years. Does it have rock chips and on what areas? Do you park under the trees(tree sap and bird bombs!) or directly in the sun(UV damage inside and outside)? All of these factors will help you decide what to prioritize.

5. Conclusion:

Your car’s cosmetics are 30% of its value along with the fact that a nice car creates a positive image on the road. Clear films, sealants and coatings work mostly in synergy with each other. They each have benefits and drawbacks. Ultimately it’s up to you to decide what choice works best for you. Even more importantly, it’s critical to be wary of your installer for the coating and/or film because if you are buying something for the long haul, you need to be able to have a long term relationship with your installer.

For further inquiries about paint protection, click here.

by ·Comments Off on How to protect paint work on a new car?

New car paint protection process for cars is the very best feasible type of surface for your motor vehicle s area because not simply does it keep the luster of your paintwork gleaming as though it has actually merely left the display room, yet it is also self-cleaning.

The procedure behind it is exciting and is based on something from nature. It is called the lotus effect considering that it was discovered that the lotus flower has self-cleaning residential properties on its fallen leaves. This additionally puts on other plants such as walking stick, nasturtium and prickly pear. Additionally, some pests such as specific butterflies and dragonflies have the very same ability.

When Was The Lotus Effect Uncovered?
Experts first started to study this phenomenon in 1964, and the work was further created by Barthlott and Ehler in 1977; it was they that first created the term the lotus result. The leaves of the lotus blossom have an incredibly high water repellent residential property which is called super-hydrophobicity. When it rains, water droplets roll throughout the fallen leaves and pick up filth, removing it from the surface, hence enabling the plant to remain tidy and the leaves to execute their function of photosynthesis to enable the plant to increase.

The higher surface area tension of a water droplet means that it has a tendency to minimize its surface area in a venture to obtain a shape which is as near a round as feasible. On reaching a surface area, forces of attachment reason the surface area to become wet. The surface area may become partly moist or entirely wet and this will certainly depend on the fluid stress of the water droplet and the adhesive nature of the surface area.

The less of the water droplet that touches with the area, the greater that surface area s hydrophobicity is stated to be. This hydrophobicity can be assessed by the contact angle of the water droplet on the surface area. The reduced the call angle, the lesser the hydrophobicity and the other way around. If a contact angle on a specific area is much less compared to 90 levels the surface area is described as hydrophilic. Above 90 levels it is hydrophobic.

Some plants have a contact angle of as high as 160 levels therefores that simply about 2 % of the water droplet is in contact with the surface. In the case of lotus leaves, the contact angle is as high as 170 levels. These surface areas are said to be super-hydrophobic. The surface area of a water droplet touching a lotus fallen leave may be as litlle as 0.6 %.

Just how Does Dirt Acquire Cleaned Off The Surface area?
When dust jumps on to such a surface area the amount of bond in between the gunk particle and the surface is much less compared to on various other surfaces. When a water droplet rolls across the area the amount of adhesion between the area and the gunk particle is less compared to that in between the dust bit and the droplet, so the gunk particle is gotten by the droplet and brought away leading to automatic cleaning of the area. Nonetheless, this only jobs as a result of the higher degree of surface area strain of a water droplet and does not operate in the same way with natural solvents.

Fundamentally, that is exactly how it works for the lotus fallen leave. Exactly the very same concept is utilized in nano paint modern technology for car paint protection Melbourne.

Exactly how Does Nano Paint Protection Work For Autos?
Nano innovation has progressed to the point wherein a tough protective ceramic layer could be put on the lacquered finished area of the car s paintwork when it leaves the factory. The lacquered surface is not immune to bird droppings, UV, or chemical etching and could be easily ruined or scraped. When this occurs the only option is to polish off the scrape marks or swirl marks therefore lessening the thickness of the manufacturing plant paint layer. Gradually this implies that at some point a respray will certainly be needed.

Lots of people will utilize a wax polish or a polymer paint sealer on the paintwork, however this still leaves the paint area vulnerable to damages from square one, bird droppings and so forth, as these could pass through the gloss or sealant.

Just what Is the Solution?
The solution is to apply a tough nano paint technology coating to the surface area of the paintwork. The coating is far less prone to harm than other surface area coverings, yet also if swirl marks or many others damage ought to happen the finish itself could be polished off and re-applied. This means that the manufacturing facility paintwork will certainly not be ruined and will certainly maintain its density and luster.

In effect nano innovation duplicates the effects found in attributes in a basic method and super-hydrophobic coverings have been utilized on man made areas for a substantial variety of years. One such application is self-cleaning glass made use of for windows, yet they have actually been used in various other applications. Super-hydrophobic finishes integrating Teflon bits have actually been used on med analysis slides.

The same innovation has actually been made use of for things as unique as roof covering floor tiles and leather furniture. It could be used on satellite tv recipes, as an example, in order to decrease the opportunity of rain discolor and to counteract any accumulate of ice and snow on the antenna.

It has also been used for plant planting. The Groasis Waterboxx is a gadget designed for growing small trees in areas of extreme drought which makes it possible for the youthful sapling to have enough water reach its root systems till the root systems decrease far good enough into the ground to reach water. The Waterboxx could then be removed and utilized once more in other places. Nano modern technology makes it possible for the Waterboxx to gather condensation and condensation and channel it to the origins of the sapling also in areas of desert.

In order to shield the paintwork of your auto and maintain that fresh from the showroom look with none of the hard work, nano paint protection is the answer for the discerning motorist. You will certainly never have to worry about scratch marks or bird droppings, and your auto will only need a fast rinse to take out any sort of filth. It doesn t concern whether your automobile is new, or numerous years old; we can keep it the way it is, or restore it to the way it was. Whether you like it or not your car really need a paint protection, inquire here.

You will certainly additionally have the ability to make fun of your neighbors cleaning and polishing every Sunday morning!