06/06/2026
Escalade IQL
Satin Blue Rock Color Change
Johnny #5 said it best “No disassemble..”
Like ourselves, a lot of shops and installers pride themselves on their installs. Taking apart cars to go the absolute furthest with an install is a heated debate at times.
There are pros and cons to both so let’s talk about them.
Pros - a more comprehensive, seamless install the, hopefully, includes edges fully wrapped. Also, there is less possibility of debris in the film because you can prep behind or more of the panel. These are big positives to disassembly.
We take things apart at times and have no problem with that mentality. Some installs, especially on classic vehicles, need bulk with no template. As you become a better installer you will realize you can do a better job than some of the templates!
Cons - Taking things apart takes time, sometimes a LOT of time. Time is money so either you’re making less on a job or you’re passing that cost to the customer. Some customers are fine with paying extra for offering that additional add on service while some are not.
S**t happens and with disassembly comes a higher penalty for having a panel go bad either from error or accidents.
There is a factor of risk as there are so many scenarios that we could run into, manufacturer issues, years of vibration rubbing, wear & tear, etc. This is why communication at drop off is so important. It is never fun to make that call to the customer if those concerns weren’t made apparent at check in. This is also why we do a thorough walk around of each vehicle before beginning our installs.
Also, at times customers or vendors will not want you to take anything apart. These parts of the IQL were done with no major disassembly. I only removed the door handles and mirrors on this color change install which I do on pretty much every full vehicle install as standard. I heavily modify and re-tailor every single panel I install. The front bumper pieces required no trimming accept where the fender connects, it’s that dialed in. I do this bulk-hybrid style for every piece I install.
