Need a new coat of paint on your car? Auto body refinishing is an important part of car maintenance that can help maintain a vehicle’s original look over time. A car’s paint job not only protects the metal from corrosion and rusting, it also serves as an attractive visual to the vehicle. A fresh look to the exterior of a car can have many positive benefits, such as increasing its value and giving your ride a more modern feel.
There are various types of car paint jobs that can be used for auto body refinishing. These include single-stage paints, base coats, clear coats, and topcoats. Single-stage paints are suitable for cars older than 15 years because they don’t require a second layer of clear coat or topcoat for protection against UV rays and other environmental conditions. Base coats are used with gray or silver primer and give a nice finish on solid colors like black or white. Clear coats provide protection from wear and tear while making the color shine brighter than ever before. Finally, topcoats are applied after the clear coat has dried to make sure that there is no water damage to the paint job.
Different types of car paint jobs do more than just improve the looks; they also protect your vehicle from harmful elements like sun exposure and other environmental factors. The longevity of your investment depends largely on how well you take care of your car, which is why it is important to choose high-quality materials when choosing a type of car paint job for your auto body refinishing needs. In addition, having regular detailing work done will also help keep your vehicle looking great year after year without losing any value
Understanding Car Paint Jobs
Car paint jobs are an important component of auto body refinishing. Not only do these jobs restore and maintain the appearance of a car, but they can also improve its overall value. A well-done paint job can add life back into a vehicle that spends a lot of time outdoors and therefore is exposed to extensive wear and tear from harsh weather conditions and environmental factors such as bird droppings, tree rain, pollutants, road grime, salt deposits, and so on.
It is important to choose the right kind of paint job for one’s car. The type of paint job selected will depend on the condition of the car’s original finish, size and type of vehicle being refinished as well as what you want to achieve in terms of both looks and longevity. Factors such as cost, time commitment, and durability should be considered when selecting a car paint job.
The importance of choosing wisely cannot be overstated; the wrong kind of paint job or one that is poorly done can end up doing more harm than good. Uneven or streaky finishes, peeling paint, and limited protection are just some of the consequences facing the uneducated consumer. We highly recommend that owners speak with their local auto body shop about their options before opting for particular coatings to ensure that all your needs are met.
Different Types of Car Paint Jobs
Solid Paint Colors – A solid paint color is the most common and basic type of car paint job, and it will simply involve applying one single coat of a chosen shade. This provides an opaque look, but depending on the quality of workmanship, can appear streaky as the entire body is coated with one single layer. It is simple and cost effective, especially the larger a vehicle gets,, but the range of colors can be limited.
Metallic Paint – Metallic car paints use tiny metallic flakes to create coats of paint that reflect light differently than solid colors. This allows refinishers to create gold, copper, chrome, and silver effects, as well as pretty much any other metal you can think of. These paint jobs are durable and extra shiny, but require careful application by experienced professionals for best results.
Pearl Paint – Pearl paint finishes create a iridescent shimmer against different lighting sources. This creates a beautiful finish which makes a vehicle look like it has been polished by hand; however, it is often more expensive compared to other types of paint job. It’s best on simpler, smaller automobiles and shapes because of the complexity of its application.
Matte and Satin Paint – Pearlescent and metallic paints are both very glossy. A Matte paint is purposefully dull, making colors less bright on purpose. Satin finishes are somewhere between matte and glossy effects; with their best application, they combine the eye-catching shine of glossy paints with the understated naturalness of matte finishes.
Candy Paint – Candy paint offers a deep and glossy finish by applying multiple coats over a pearlescent or metallic base color. It is a more expensive option, but provides a unique and vibrant finish. It creates a vibrant and eye-catching finish; however, it is difficult to repair, as any damage requires retouching multiple coats.
Chameleon Paint – Chameleon paint offers an exciting color-changing effect depending on the angle or lighting at which it is seen. It requires a specialized base coat and multiple layers of paint for the complete effect. While it provides an unquestionably unique and eye-catching finish, it is expensive and difficult to repair and is not recommended for cars exposed to extreme weather conditions.
Application Techniques
Professional auto body technicians use spray guns or airbrushes and compressors for applying paint to cars. Spraying requires precise application techniques that follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The area being painted must be clean and free of dust or particles so that these are not trapped under the paint, creating a deformed appearance to your paint job.
Please always remember with any spray gun or airbrushing work that you only have one set of lungs and to treat them with respect! Wear a respirator mask graded for particulates and spray in a well-ventilated area with plenty of air flow to keep yourself healthy. You want your car to have new paint, not the inside of your body.
Prior to paint application, a primer is sprayed on the car body surface; this helps prevent rust, provides a smooth and even surface for painting, and enhances adhesion of the paint layers. Once the primer has been applied, various coats can be sprayed onto the vehicle until full coverage is achieved. Multiple thin coats are used to slowly build up color, which both provides better protection against the elements and enriches the aesthetic effect of the finish. After multiple coats are applied, professionals use clear coat finishers to protect the paint job from normal wear and tear and to add a final effect, which can range from matte to glossy or somewhere in between.
Maintenance and Care
Maintaining the desired appearance of a car’s external paint job is essential for its preservation and longevity. Applying a coat of wax every two to three months helps protect the paint from dirt, UV rays, and other contaminants that could cause it to fade or chip away over time. Washing cars regularly prevents the buildup of dirt on their surface, which can lead to discoloration and leave an uneven finish. Minor scratches should be touched up as soon as possible with matching paints in order to avoid rusting or further damages caused by mineral deposits on the car body.
In areas with cold, precipitation-heavy winters like St. Louis, it is also important to keep cars inside during winter months when road salt is more likely to be present. Road salt, while great for safer driving, can wreak havoc on the vehicle’s paint job.
With proper maintenance and care, an attractively painted automobile can last several years before any serious signs of rust or fading will appear.
Come to Shur-Way Auto For Experts in Car Paint Jobs
Despite the many DIY tutorials available for auto body refinishing projects, there is no substitute for an experienced professional with a trained eye and the proper equipment.
At Shur-Way Auto, our highly trained technicians specialize in automotive body painting and refinishing services. We understand the importance of getting a car’s exterior just right, and we have all the know-how to help clients achieve their desired look no matter the color or type of paint finish. With a safe and controlled environment, our experienced staff will work with precision to ensure that each job is done right the first time around. Our auto paint shop uses only the best quality paints available in order to guarantee protection against fading, chipping and other signs of wear-and-tear over long periods of time. Talk to us today and learn more about how we can help you get your ideal look for your vehicle!