Car Painting: What You Need to Know Before Going to a Car Paint Shop?

Damage to a car's paint is one of those types of accidents that can be most irritating to drivers. Although not essential to the functionality of the vehicle, scratches on the bodywork compromise the aesthetics of our beloved car, reduce its value in the used car market, and their repair can often be quite costly.

From scratches caused during driving or in parking lots, to scratches caused by natural and other disasters, as well as those resulting from vandalism, the causes of paint damage on cars are numerous and guarantee headaches and unplanned expenses. Therefore, in cities and areas with high traffic density, car painters usually have their hands full.

If we find ourselves in a situation where our car needs a new shine, it is useful to know that modern painting techniques, i.e., quality car paints and coatings, not only improve the vehicle's aesthetic appearance but also provide some protection against future chemical and physical damage.

In order for the car to be perfectly painted and for the invested money to be fully justified, an experienced and trustworthy expert is necessary. However, if we don't have a direct or at least an internet recommendation, it doesn't hurt to remember or learn some basic things about car painting before going to the nearest car painter, so that we can communicate effectively with the technician and leave as few important details as possible to chance.

Car painting is not a DIY job

Many would initially say that car painting is not rocket science and might think they could do it themselves to save money. However, this job is much more complicated than it appears, and if you have no experience, it is highly recommended to dismiss such thoughts from the start. Not because potential mistakes cannot be fixed, but for practical reasons - professionals will do it much faster, better, and probably cheaper than if you were to embark on car painting yourself.

Detailed preparation for painting

Preparing the bodywork for painting is the first of two necessary conditions for our car to shine again with perfect gloss and for that shine to last longer. Namely, the surface of the car intended for painting must be perfectly prepared, free of corrosion and irregularities, polished, and dried, which means that even the finest dust and moisture must be removed. Similar conditions apply to the room where painting is performed because using a compressor (pressure spray) for painting yields the best results.

Choosing the right paint color

The second essential condition for quality car painting is selecting the correct color. This is particularly important when painting a car partially and when it is necessary to match the old and new shades. Furthermore, the selection of car paints and coatings is so extensive today that paints can significantly differ in chemical composition, density, elasticity, drying speed, durability, resistance to external conditions, and other properties. An absolute novice can easily make a mistake in choosing the color, which is why it is important to be familiar with all the advantages and disadvantages of a specific type of paint in a conversation with the expert before painting.

Car paint sometimes doesn't cover everything

In certain situations, depending on the condition of the bodywork, it is sometimes not possible for car paints to conceal or repair all imperfections of the car's exterior, which can put us in an unpleasant situation when we come to pick up our car and expect it to look perfect. Therefore, it is also very important to resolve any uncertainties regarding the future appearance of our car during the preparation for painting with the car painter.