Window Surrounds
The bright band around the glass is the piece most people notice. Blacking it out is the single biggest change in a blackout package.
↗Chrome Delete in North Haven, CT
Kill the chrome. Keep the car.
Window surrounds, grille bars, badges, mirror caps and roof rails wrapped in gloss, satin or matte black. A factory-style blackout package for a fraction of a full wrap, and fully reversible.
Overview
The cheapest change with the biggest visual payoff.
Chrome trim dates a vehicle faster than almost anything else on it. Blacking it out modernizes the whole car without touching a single painted panel.
Most people who want a different-looking car assume they need a wrap or a repaint. Often they just want the chrome gone. Window surrounds in particular draw the eye, and removing that bright band changes the entire read of the profile.
Because chrome delete only covers trim, it costs a small fraction of a full color-change wrap and takes far less time. For a lot of owners it is the single highest-value modification available.
The work is vinyl, so it is fully reversible. That matters on a lease, where anything permanent is a problem at turn-in, and it matters on any vehicle you might sell to a buyer who wants the factory look back.
Quality is decided at the edges. Trim pieces should be removed where the design allows so film wraps around and behind them rather than being cut flush along an edge. Film trimmed at the edge is what starts lifting at the car wash a few months later.
What’s included
What gets blacked out.
Take the whole package or pick the pieces that bother you.
Grille & Front Trim
Chrome grille bars, surrounds and lower front trim wrapped to match, which pulls the whole front end together.
↗Badges & Emblems
Model badges and manufacturer emblems blacked out or removed entirely for a cleaner rear end and tailgate.
↗Mirror Caps
Chrome or body-color mirror caps wrapped in gloss, satin or matte black. Small piece, disproportionate effect.
↗Roof Rails & Side Trim
Rails, side moldings and rocker trim on SUVs and wagons, where chrome runs the length of the vehicle.
↗Gloss, Satin or Matte
Gloss reads closest to factory black paint. Satin is the most popular middle ground. Matte is the most aggressive. We show samples in daylight first.
↗Worth knowing
Why chrome delete beats a full wrap for most people.
A full color-change wrap covers every panel and costs accordingly. Chrome delete touches only the trim, which is where most of the dated look actually lives. If you like your car's color and just want it to look current and more aggressive, this is the change to make, and it leaves the option of a full wrap open for later.
What to expect
How the process works.
STEP 01
Walk the Car
We go over which trim pieces you want gone and show gloss, satin and matte samples on the vehicle in daylight.
STEP 02
Prep & Disassembly
Trim is cleaned and decontaminated, and pieces are removed where the design allows so edges can be wrapped rather than cut.
STEP 03
Installation
Film is laid, heated and formed to each piece, then post-heated so it holds in recesses and around curves.
STEP 04
Reassembly
Everything goes back on, edges and seams are inspected, and we cover washing and care before you leave.
Serving Greater New Haven
Chrome Delete and Blackout Packages in Greater New Haven.
Searching for chrome delete near North Haven, CT? Exclusive Auto Lab blacks out window surrounds, grille bars, badges, mirror caps, roof rails and side trim in gloss, satin or matte finishes on all makes and models.
Chrome delete pairs naturally with window tint and lighting tint. Most owners doing a full blackout handle all three in one visit rather than three separate trips.
Serving North Haven, New Haven, Hamden, Wallingford, Cheshire, Branford, East Haven, West Haven, Meriden and surrounding Connecticut communities.
Questions
Frequently asked.
How much does chrome delete cost compared to a full wrap?
Far less. Chrome delete covers only trim pieces, not painted panels, so both the material and the labor are a small fraction of a full color-change wrap. Exact pricing depends on how much chrome your vehicle has and which pieces you want done.
Is chrome delete permanent?
No, and that is one of its main advantages. It is vinyl film, so it can be removed and the original trim is underneath unchanged. That makes it safe on a leased vehicle and reversible if you sell to someone who wants the factory look.
Gloss, satin or matte — which should I pick?
Gloss reads closest to factory black paint and hides imperfections best. Satin is the most popular, with a subtle sheen that looks intentional without shouting. Matte is the most aggressive and shows dust and fingerprints most. We show samples on your car in daylight before cutting anything.
Can you black out just some of the chrome?
Yes. Plenty of people only do window surrounds, or only badges and mirror caps. There is no requirement to take the whole package.
Will chrome delete damage the trim underneath?
On factory trim in good condition, no. The film adheres to the surface and releases cleanly on removal. Trim that is already pitted, peeling or previously repainted carries more risk, and we check condition before quoting.
How do I wash a car with chrome delete?
Hand wash with pH-neutral soap. Avoid tunnel washes with spinning brushes, which can catch film edges, and avoid aiming a pressure washer directly at seams. We go over specifics at pickup.
The work
A closer look at the work.
Reference images showing the kind of work involved. Follow our Instagram for current jobs coming through the shop.
Also at the shop
Related services.
Ready when you are
Talk directly with the shop.
Call, text photos, or request an appointment online. We will tell you what to expect before you bring the vehicle in.
CALL OR TEXT ANYTIME203-308-7381VISIT THE SHOP78 Rebeschi Drive
North Haven, CT 06473Schedule a VisitText the Shop
North Haven, CT 06473Schedule a VisitText the Shop