Keep Your Ride Looking Smooth

Things To Consider When You Want To Repaint Your Car Or Truck

18 August 2020 by Max Day

There are many different reasons to have your car or truck repainted and a lot of different kinds of paint that can be used to get the look you want for your vehicle. Some auto paint is extremely easy to maintain, while other paints or coatings require more work to look good.

Preparing Your Vehicle

Before any car or truck is painted, it is vital to prepare the sheet metal to accept the paint. If the surface is not prepared correctly, the paint will not adhere properly, and eventually, it will peel or chip and start to look bad. 

Any reputable auto paint shop or collision center will know how to prepare the body of the car for paint properly. If you have small dings and dents in the car, repairing them is essential before paint is applied to the vehicle. Most body shops can remove the dents and dings for you, and many times you might be able to get a package price that includes these repairs as well as painting after the repairs are made.

Choosing the Paint

Most auto paint is made with durability in mind. The paint colors can be standard factory colors, custom colors, or mixed to achieve a specific color for your car. Choosing the right paint for your vehicle may involve more than just selecting a color, but the auto paint shop you are working with can help you choose a paint that will last a long time and meet your needs.

For vehicles that are used in industry, a tough paint in standard colors is often the best option, but if you are building a car that you want to stand out, a paint that has some metal flake in it or is a completely custom mix may be more appropriate. 

Painting the Vehicle

Once the car is prepared and the paint is chosen, the auto paint shop will mask off the glass and start applying primer to the vehicle areas that have exposed metal from the completed repair work. Some paint shops will prime the entire car body, while others spot prime in small sections and apply the paint over the old paint. 

If the surfaces are sanded well, you may be okay to paint over the old paint, but talk to the auto paint shop you are working with about whether you need to have the entire car stripped and primed or if the paint can go over the existing paint. Some paint colors need a specific base color under them to look right, and this can also play a role in whether the paint is applied over the original paint or not.

Hire a company like Lakeside Collision Kirkland to learn more.

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