Things to Consider While Installing a Hood Moulding

A great looking car does not always mean 17’’ rims and a flashy paintjob. There are many small and useful car accessories that not only make your vehicle look great but also be of some practical use. In fact, to achieve a great look for your vehicle you have to look beyond only the paint job and / or flashy accessories. There are quite a few utilitarian accessories that give your vehicle a sleek look and enhance its overall beauty. A hood moulding is one such way to achieve this.

Mouldings can be installed on various parts of the vehicle. However, some like hood mouldings are specifically meant for the car hood. These mouldings are made out of plastic or metal and they usually fit just in the center of the front hood. Customising your vehicle with front hood mouldings can be confusing as you have to be sure about the material of the moulding, finish, and the exact placement. Some considerations that ought to be kept in mind while installing the front hood mouldings are detailed below for future reference.

Hood Placement:

Front hood mouldings are placed just above the hood and they cover the entire front edges of the hood. It can be small or a full-sized moulding depending on personal preferences and need. Front hood mouldings can protect your hands from sharp edges and hot metal.

Material:

Hood mouldings come in three materials, viz., plastic, metal and silicone-rubber. Plastic and silicone-rubber mouldings are always a good choice over the metal ones as they weigh approximately 50% lesser than their metal counterparts and are stay relatively free from corrosion and dents. Metal hood mouldings look great but they weigh more and get scratches easily. In harsh summers, you would not like to touch them as they can cause serious burns. Metal hood mouldings are also expensive than the plastic and silicone-rubber mouldings. Plastic and silicone-rubber mouldings are good for racing applications. They can also tolerate harsh weather conditions.

However, metal hood mouldings have some perks too. They are more durable than plastic and silicone-rubber. Despite corrosion and dents, metal hood mouldings last longer than their counterparts though they come at a price. You may find it difficult to change them anytime you want.

Silicone-rubber is also a durable material that has both the qualities of metal and plastic but not their drawbacks. It has high abrasion resistance and can withstand any type of weather conditions. Its non-corrosive properties make it the perfect choice for any type of mouldings used in vehicles.

Finish:

The finish of the hood moulding depends on the personal preferences of the look desired by the user. It is completely on you what type of finish you choose. You can either opt for a matte or a glossy finish if it matches your car’s paintjob. People looking for more pristine finish often favour flat black or white finish with their mouldings.

About the Author:

PartsAvatar.ca was conceived and founded by Dr. S. Singh in 2012. Parts Avatar Inc. has been a successful online supplier of auto parts across Canada since 2015. Parts Avatar currently has warehouses spread all across Canada and excel at providing high quality components at highly competitive prices and superfast shipping. The company aims to become the largest retail supplier of automotive parts and accessories in Canada by 2020. Besides supplying parts, the company is also keen on creating innovative niche markets within auto parts, supply chain and repairs industries.