The best form of protection against rock chips and scratches
From flying rocks, what seems to be never-ending construction, to summer heat or crazy hurricanes, your Tesla faces a constant beating on the Houston roads. Our Paint Protection Film (PPF) services offer the most advanced defense to keep your vehicle in top shape.
If you want to preserve your Tesla’s paint for many years to come, paint protection film is your go-to choice.
PPF is a virtually invisible (or now comes in colors) and is an ultra-durable film applied to your vehicle’s exterior. It absorbs impacts, resists stains, and self-heals minor swirls—preserving your Tesla’s pristine look for years.
Whether it’s a Cybertruck or Model 3, your vehicle can greatly benefit from a premium PPF installation.
We also offer color-change vinyl wraps if you’re looking for a unique, custom appearance. We can also tint your Tesla for more privacy and heat rejection.
✅ Self-Healing Protection
Our high-performance paint protection films feature self-healing technology—meaning light scratches and swirl marks disappear with just a bit of heat, such as from the sun or a heat gun. This is especially important for Tesla vehicles, which are known for their softer paint finishes that are more prone to micro-marring during washing or daily driving. Whether it’s a minor abrasion from road debris or swirl marks from improper wiping, the film will bounce back, restoring a clean, flawless surface. This keeps your Tesla’s paint looking fresh and untouched far longer than unprotected surfaces.
✅ Hydrophobic & Stain Resistant
Our PPF is infused with hydrophobic properties, creating a slick surface that repels water, mud, bug splatter, tree sap, and other contaminants. This makes your Tesla much easier to clean, as debris won’t bond tightly to the surface. It also prevents staining and etching, which can be a common issue with bird droppings or mineral deposits left after rain. This added resistance to environmental fallout means you’ll wash your Tesla less often—and when you do, it’ll be faster and safer for the finish. Great for both maintaining your paint and reducing maintenance time.
✅ High-Gloss Finish
In addition to its protection, our PPF enhances your Tesla’s paint with an ultra-glossy finish that rivals freshly waxed paint. The film amplifies the depth and clarity of your factory paint color—especially vibrant on Tesla’s iconic hues like Deep Blue Metallic or Red Multi-Coat. The result is a deep, luxurious shine that catches the eye and gives your vehicle a refined, showroom-ready appearance every day. And because the gloss is built into the film itself, it maintains this look for years without needing regular polishing or waxing.
We can remove existing PPF safely from your paint assuming the material is in good condition. If the film is cracked, yellowed, or over a decade old, removal becomes more delicate, difficult, and time-consuming—especially if it was poorly installed or if rock chips existed underneath.
We’ll inspect your Tesla, perform a test spot, and give you a better estimate of how much time it’ll take and what the cost will be. Removal of PPF can greatly range from $500 to $2,000+ depending on the film’s age and condition.
We’ve worked on vehicles where it’s taken us 12+ hours alone just to remove the previous PPF.
Why does it take so long? You have to be careful and not get overly aggressive or you have a higher chance of tearing and ripping the paint underneath.
Installing paint protection film is a skill and an art, especially on a Tesla. With their sleek body lines, hard body edges, advanced sensors, and delicate finishes, these vehicles demand expert-level preparation and installation. At R3 Detailing, we take pride in our white-glove approach—treating every Tesla as if it were our own. Here’s a detailed look at our step-by-step process:
1. Wheel & Tire Cleaning
We begin from the bottom up by thoroughly cleaning your Tesla’s wheels, tires, and fender liners. This helps eliminate brake dust, mud, and road grime that could contaminate our workspace. A clean foundation ensures no airborne debris interferes with the detailing and film installation process. It also prevents loose contaminants from splashing onto the body during the wash stage.
2. Detailed Hand Wash
Next, we hand-wash the entire vehicle using the two-bucket method and premium pH-balanced soaps. We pay close attention to panel gaps, emblems, door jambs, grilles, and trim where contaminants often hide. This ensures every inch of your Tesla is free from dust, tar, bugs, and residue. We even target stubborn areas like around the Tesla “T” badge or under the charging port flap.
3. Iron Decontamination
Even a new Tesla can have embedded iron particles (often from rail transport or brake dust) that can’t be removed with soap alone. We use an iron fallout remover that safely dissolves these particles without harming the paint. This step is crucial for prepping the surface for a flawless film bond.
4. Clay Bar Treatment
After decontamination, we glide a high-quality clay bar across every painted surface to remove any remaining bonded contaminants like sap, overspray, or industrial fallout. This step leaves your Tesla’s paint silky-smooth, which is essential for a seamless PPF install and contributes to that perfect “glass-like” feel. This is a must-do if you have paint overspray on your vehicle.
5. Drying Process
Once clean, we blow out all crevices, seams, and mirror bases using high-pressure compressed air, followed by hand drying with ultra-soft microfiber towels. Any leftover water or moisture can compromise the PPF adhesive, so we make sure every panel is 100% dry before proceeding.
6. Paint Correction & Polishing (if needed)
To ensure the paint under the film looks flawless, we polish the surface to remove light swirl marks, water spots, or minor imperfections. If your Tesla is brand new, a light polish may suffice; for used vehicles, a more thorough correction may be recommended. This step enhances the final appearance of the installation.
7. Precision PPF Installation
Now comes the heart of the process—installing the PPF. Using software-controlled plotters, we cut each panel’s film with accuracy, reducing the need for blades on your paint. Our installers use slip solutions and squeegee techniques to align, stretch, and bond the film exactly where needed. For a truly clean look, we wrap edges, tuck under panels, and even remove emblems if necessary for a seamless finish. Your Tesla’s sensors, cameras, and trim are handled with the utmost care.
8. Final Inspection & Curing
Before we hand back the keys, we perform a meticulous inspection of every panel, corner, and edge. We look for any trapped air, stretch marks, or imperfections. Once the PPF is cured and set, we wipe down your Tesla and walk you through the finished result. We also provide care tips to help you maintain your new film long-term.
When it comes to protecting your Tesla’s paint, both Paint Protection Film (PPF) and Ceramic Coating are excellent options—but they serve different purposes.
Ceramic Coating: Ceramic coatings are liquid polymers that bond to your paint, creating a slick, glossy, and hydrophobic surface. They make washing easier, reduce water spots, and enhance gloss. However, they don’t protect against rock chips or scratches. If road debris hits your Tesla, the coating won’t stop it from damaging the paint.
Paint Protection Film: PPF is a thick, clear film applied to the exterior, offering physical protection against chips, scratches, and debris. It also has self-healing properties that remove light swirls with heat. PPF is ideal for high-impact areas like bumpers, hoods, and fenders—especially if you drive frequently on Houston roads.
Many Tesla owners opt for both. We install PPF on vulnerable areas and apply a ceramic coating over the rest of the vehicle—including the PPF itself. This combo gives you the durability of PPF and the gloss and ease of cleaning of ceramic coatings.
R3 Detailing has been serving Houston since 2011, starting as a mobile detailing service before opening our full-service shop in 2019.
We’re located just down the street from Willowbrook Mall. Stop by for a assessment so we can go over your options and you can see the material in person.
There’s no one-size fits all. To some customers, they want to protect the entire vehicle. To others, they may only want the front-end protected. It’s whatever your goals are, we’ll help you get there.
How much does PPF cost for my Tesla?
It ranges from $1,500 to $6,000+ depending on your model and coverage. Full car wraps cost more but deliver maximum protection. It all just depends on what you’d like!
Is PPF worth it for a Tesla?
Absolutely. Tesla’s soft paint and minimalistic design benefit tremendously from protective film, especially if you plan to keep the vehicle long-term.
Do you offer Tesla detailing?
Yes! We offer full interior and exterior detailing, smoke odor removal, wash & wax, and more.
Can I combine PPF with ceramic coating?
Definitely. This combo gives you the highest level of paint preservation and aesthetics.
When should you install PPF?
As soon as possible after purchase. The earlier you apply PPF, the better your paint will stay. Don’t wait for the rock chips to appear—PPF is preventative protection, not a fix.
What areas should you protect?
Most Tesla owners opt for front-end coverage—it sees the most impact. But if you track your car or drive in high-debris areas, consider extending protection to the areas that might get impacted by debris.
What’s the difference between vinyl wrap and colored PPF?
Colored PPF is a new material that’s coming to market. Colored PPF is still PPF, but now gives you the flexibility of color options. Just a few years ago, the only option for PPF was clear. But now more and more colors and patterns are coming to market.
We’re your one-stop shop for all things detailing and film-related services! Below you’ll find a list of services we offer for your Tesla, car, truck, and even RV!
Full Interior Detail: Our most popular interior service. This deep-clean is designed to transform your vehicle’s interior from messy to immaculate—perfect for giving your cabin a fresh start.
Mini-Interior Detail: Ideal for routine upkeep, this light service keeps your interior looking sharp month after month. No deep scrubbing or shampooing—just a solid refresh to maintain cleanliness.
Water Damage Restoration: Accidentally leave a window cracked during a storm? Deal with rising floodwaters? This service is tailored to extract water fast and minimize potential damage before mold or odors set in.
Smoke Odor Removal: If your car has lingering smoke smells, we target the source with a deep cleaning and ozone treatment—not a cover-up. Our goal is to reduce and eliminate the odor, not just mask it.
Paint Correction: We eliminate swirl marks, fine scratches, oxidation, and water spots to restore your paint’s true clarity and depth. Multiple correction levels are available to match your vehicle’s condition and your goals.
Ceramic Coating: Give your vehicle a deep, mirror-like shine with long-lasting protection. Our ceramic coatings create a hydrophobic layer that repels water, dirt, and contaminants—making your Tesla easier to wash and keep clean.
Wash & Wax: Perfect for seasonal maintenance. This package includes wheel cleaning, a full hand wash, clay bar decontamination, and a premium paint sealant to enhance gloss and add temporary protection.
Paint Overspray Removal: Noticing a rough surface or tiny paint specs on your vehicle? That’s likely overspray. We safely remove it from the paint, wheels, and glass without causing damage, leaving your surfaces smooth and clean.
Premium Wash: A gentle, swirl-free wash process. We clean your wheels and tires, hand wash and dry the vehicle, clean the door jambs and glass, and apply tire dressing for a well-maintained look.
Engine Bay Cleaning: We perform a safe, surface-level cleaning of your engine bay—removing dust and grime, then dressing plastic and rubber components for a like-new finish.
Headlight Restoration: Foggy or yellowed headlights? We restore clarity through wet sanding and polishing, then seal the lenses for improved nighttime visibility and a cleaner appearance.
Window Tint: Enhance your vehicle’s appearance while adding privacy and comfort. Our quality window tint helps block out heat during Houston’s hot summers, keeps your interior cooler, and reduces glare. We can tint your RV, too!
Vinyl Wrap: Transform the look of your vehicle with a custom vinyl wrap. Whether you want a full color change, a sporty accent on the hood or roof, or a sleek chrome delete, vinyl wraps give you the freedom to personalize your car without permanent paintwork.
Don’t let the rock chips get to your paint first. Get a quote or stop by our shop to speak with our friendly team about how we can protect your Tesla with PPF.
