In the United States, an estimated 6.42 million car accidents occur annually. That translates to one crash incident per five seconds!
If you’ve been in a minor crash yourself, your vehicle likely now has dents and scratches. A car paint job can help restore your ride to its former glory and prevent more severe damage, such as rusting.
But what exactly does a car painting job entail? What can you expect from such a service?
This guide covers the basics you need to know, so read on.
Disassembling for Repairs
Most paint jobs for cars require disassembling the parts that need a fresh coat.
Suppose you have an older car with multiple dents and scratches. In this case, a full-body car paint job can help extend its life. However, it requires disassembling everything, including the doors, glass, and trim.
Once parted out, each component then undergoes repairs. For instance, mechanics smooth out dents and bumps and remove rust.
Even if you only want a custom car paint job and your ride has no damage, disassembly is still necessary. That’s because it’s the only sure way to guarantee every inch of your vehicle gets coated with fresh paint.
What if your ride is relatively new and only has tiny scratches? If so, a car paint correction service may be enough to remove the imperfections. This process often doesn’t involve disassembly, but the damage must still undergo repair.
Surface Cleaning and Preparation
Ensuring an attractive, long-lasting paint job requires thorough surface cleaning and preparation. Skip this step, and even the highest-quality, most expensive paint won’t perform well.
That’s why reliable auto body shops always take days, even weeks, to finish car paint jobs. After all, they must perform the following preparatory steps:
- Cleaning and inspecting all components
- Removing imperfections, usually through sanding
- Eliminating contaminants like dirt, sand, grease, and oils
After that, mechanics thoroughly dry all surfaces before moving on to the paint job. Even if a surface is only slightly damp, a fresh coat of paint may not adhere to it.
Paint Mixing and Application
Auto body shops usually have in-house paint mixing systems and color databases. They use these to ensure the fresh coat meets their clients’ specifications.
As for custom car paint jobs, many body shops use computer software to visualize colors. They then mix the custom color and test it on a panel to confirm it matches their clients’ wants.
Only after that will the professional paint team apply the paint on each part.
Polishing and Reassembling
After drying the painted parts, mechanics polish them with wet sand and buffing pads. This step allows them to ensure all components have a glossy, perfect finish. They then reassemble everything and perform final checks.
After that, you can get your fantastic-looking car back.
Invest in a Car Paint Job Today
Remember: A new vehicle now costs over $40,000 on average.
That’s enough reason to make your existing ride last as long as possible. That’s also why you should invest in a high-quality car paint job, as it can help make your ride last longer.
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