Paint Your Own Car? 6 Reasons For and Against

Painting a car is almost always an expensive and time consuming task, whether you pay to have it professionally done, or choose to paint your own car. For those interested in doing the job yourself, there are a variety of benefits and downsides that should be thoroughly looked into before settling on the do it yourself option.

Benefits of Doing It Yourself

Cost is generally the most appealing factor when it comes to painting a vehicle yourself. By taking care of the prep work such as stripping the paint, sanding down the body and fixing any imperfections in the body panels, you can potentially save a large amount compared to what a body shop would charge.
There are several automotive paint companies that specialize in small quantity original equipment color matching. These companies can supply you with professionally matched colors of paint available either by the quart or gallon, or in pre-filled aerosol spray cans that allow you to purchase only as much as you need, so you aren't left paying for paint you won't use.
A major complaint with professional paint and body shops is the large potential waiting list. Popular establishments can have a waiting list of several weeks or months, which can mean several weeks or months of inconvenience. By doing it yourself, you can often have an acceptable paint job done in a fraction of the time a professional shop would've taken. In the case of painting done via aerosol spray cans, a serviceable paint job can be had in as little as one to two days.

Downsides of Doing It Yourself

Painting a vehicle yourself is incredibly labor intensive and requires a high degree of both patience, preparation and most of all experience. The amount of work you put into the preparation stage of a paint job directly affects the quality of the finished product, and it is very unlikely that you will produce great results on your first try.
Painting requires as clean an environment as possible, with humidity and temperatures that remain as constant as possible. Even the slightest bit of dust can cause noticeable blemishes in the final product, and excessive humidity can cause problems with paint curing and contribute to running or sagging in some areas, which can completely ruin the job.
While high quality paint jobs can be obtained using simple methods such as aerosol spray cans, the average results of such methods will generally leave much to be desired. Professional paint jobs require professional application methods, and these methods require extensive equipment which may be overly cost prohibitive for someone just looking to repaint a single car.

Professional Paint and Body shops produce professional paint jobs both due to high quality equipment, and extensive knowledge and experience in the field. Even using the same equipment, it may take several tries to achieve results that are comparable. Because of this steep learning curve, and extensive amount of required equipment, it is often cheaper to simply pay to have your car painted professionally, especially if you only plan to paint one car.

Copyright: http://www.autos.com/auto-repair/paint-your-own-car-6-reasons-for-and-against

Auto Body Paint Shops, Jobs, Tips, and Prices

by Marcus Pickett

There is no shortage of drivers looking for a new auto body paint job: Maybe your car has been in an accident, dinged up in the grocery store parking lot, succumbed to the elements in old age, or maybe you want to drive a car with show-quality custom detailing. The wisdom of handling your own auto body paint job runs the gamut from someone with uncommon pluck who can use an online tutorial to paint their entire vehicle to the lovable klutz who may unwittingly make an innocent car scratch even worse with a botched quick-fix. So, no matter the situation, here's a rundown of common auto body paint jobs, quick tips for knowing when to send the car into the shop for a professional paint job, and a preliminary cost estimate so you can prepare yourself for the bad news....

Different Types of Auto Body Paint Jobs

Touch-Up Car Scratches: You'd think there would be an easy answer for this, and there usually is. The problem is identifying the nature and severity of the scratch. Your scratch may not be a scratch at all, but a deposit left on top of the paint job by the object. Make sure that can feel a scratch and not a bump. You may need adhesive remover, not touch-up paint. If it is a scratch, a passable touch-up job can be done using sandpaper and rubbing compound or touch-up auto body paint. If you're not sure how to fix your particular scratch or you'd rather trust the professionals to find the best color for matching paint, there's no shame in sending the car into the shop for a professional touch-up. There are potential hazards lurking even with basic car scratches. Overdo it with the sandpaper, for example, and you'll make the problem worse.
Auto Collision Repair and Painting: Often, the most problematic component of auto collision repair is matching the new paint with the old finish. Some people think this problem stems from not knowing the exact, original color of the car. In fact, this information is embedded within the VIN number. There are several variables that can make it virtually impossible to match the new paint with the old: weathering effects of time, paint manufacturers are allowed a 5% "tint" tolerance, the environmental conditions in which the paint was applied and allowed to dry, and even the difference in static charge between a plastic bumper and metal body work. For these reasons, even the professionals will rarely get a perfect match. Indeed, matching auto body paint is best done by the experienced eye of a professional car painter, who will use the original color value, but may also end up modifying the tint at the shop to deliver a better approximation.
Whole Car Painting: Whole car painting is the only way to guarantee a color match or to return an older auto body to like-new condition. Many handy folks fancy taking this project on themselves, but be warned: It's harder and more time-consuming than it looks. For some, simply finding a space that is suitably protected from the elements, including airborne dust, is a feat. Although the project doesn't take advanced training or skills, meticulous cleaning, drying, and other surface preparation doesn't exactly lend itself to the casual do-it-yourselfer. Even sizing up the choices for professional whole car painting takes quite a bit of homework and forethought. At the very least, you need to tell the professional car painter what your driving habits are, how important it is to have your car in like-new condition, and how much longer you expect to drive the car.

Why repaint your car?

9 Ways to Ruin Your Paint Without Knowing It

by Keith Buglewicz

Keeping your car looking good isn't just a matter of enhancing its resale value, although that's important too, it's also your car's only line of defense between the sheet metal and the elements. You already know parking lot dings, gravel roads or an angry ex can ruin your car's paint in the blink of an eye, but a lot of things out there can do just as much, if not more, harm to the exterior of your car.

We contacted Mothers for advice on how to deal with common paint-damaging situations. While their specific advice is below, time and time again, they recommended keeping a good coat of wax on your car. Not only does it keep it looking pretty, it helps prevent most paint damage, or at the very least, buys you some time to get your car professionally washed. Mothers also recommended keeping a bottle of quick-detail spray and a microfiber cloth in your trunk. As you'll see, a lot of these common problems can be prevented with a quick wipe of this solution.

The Source: Wildfires

The Problem: When wet, ash forms an alkali that can ruin your car's finish.
The Solution: Keep your car covered, use a car duster for white ash, wash thoroughly if it's soot.

These days it seems like every state is burdened with wildfires. The ash gets everywhere, and your car's finish is no exception. While your instinct may be to hit the windshield washers, or just hose down the whole car, water mixed with ash can create powerful alkalis, which will ruin your paint. White ash can be removed with a car duster, or just by driving away and letting it blow off. Black ash can scratch your paint, even when you use a duster, so you'll need to wash it off using a car wash solution, and dry thoroughly. Once the fires are out, get your car professionally washed, and put on a new coat of wax.

The Source: Tree sap

The Problem: Ancient peoples used tree sap as glue for a good reason.
The Solution: Bug and tar remover, mineral spirits, clay bar treatment

Just wiping sap off when it's still gooey only smears it around a larger area. Instead, get a bottle of bug and tar remover from your local car parts store, and use it as directed. If the sap dries, mineral spirits can dissolve it, and remaining residue will come off with a clay bar treatment. Just be sure to wax the car after you're done.

The Source: The gas pump

The Problem: Spilled gasoline
The Solution: Don't top off, and clean up accidental drips

Times are tough, but "topping off" your gas tank and accidentally letting it overflow is a surefire way to damage your car's paint. If left alone, gasoline will leave a stain on your car's finish that's nearly impossible to get off. If you do happen to spill gas by accident, the best solution is to grab a bottle of instant detailer and a good, clean microfiber cloth and clean up the gasoline before it does any harm.

The Source: Fingertips and mischief

The Problem: Writing or rubbing on dirty paint causes permanent marks.
The Solution: Keep your car clean.

We've all seen "wash me" written on a car's finish, but the well-intentioned tagger actually just made things worse. Dirt acts like sandpaper when it's dragged across paint, and it can make the marks last long after the dirt is gone.

Get yourself a long-handled duster and wipe down your car every day to prevent accidental sanding. If it's too late, most small scratches come out with a polish or scratch remover. Just always be sure to clean the car well before waxing or polishing.

The Source: Your morning coffee

The Problem: Coffee and sodas contain acids that can etch your clearcoat.
The Solution: Wash it off immediately

Driving off with your coffee cup or soda bottle on your roof isn't just a day-ruiner, it can ruin your paint. Many beverages are acidic, and since any acid can hurt your car's finish, you'll want to get it washed off as soon as you can. Letting it sit will only give it more time to do damage, and letting it dry will only make it harder to get off later. If it's a soda, or if you take a lot of sugar in your coffee, then you're going to be dealing with a sticky residue in addition to corrosive chemicals. If you can't hit a car wash, then break out your bottle of quick detailer and your microfiber cloth and wipe it up.

The Source: Dirt on your car-wash tools

The Problem: Unseen dirt can scratch
The Solution: Keep an extra mitt handy.

Washing your own car can be fun, but a common mistake can cause more damage than you think: dropping your sponge. Even the finest, most expensive microfiber wash mitt on the market can be ruined if it touches the ground. The bits of grit and sand it inevitably picks up can't be entirely washed off, and you'll have swirl marks and other scratches before you know it. The solution is to never drop anything. But if you’re like us, it’d be best to keep a spare washing mitt or two on hand to avoid the resulting expenses from car detailing or repainting.

The Source: Automatic sprinklers

The Problem: Water leaves hard-to-remove spots on your paint.
The Solution: Stay away from sprinklers whenever possible

That primo parking spot right next to the planter may look good, but if it has automatic sprinklers, you could be in for trouble. You wouldn't think that plain water would be such a problem, but the minerals left behind bond to your car's paint, making them very difficult to remove. Your best bet is to avoid parking where sprinklers can do their damage, but that's not always possible. If you do get water spots, it's best to take it to a professional detailer.

The Source: Avian digestion

The Problem: Bird poop is acidic
The Solution: Wash it off immediately

Bird poop isn't just unsightly. It's also acidic. Just look at the number of ruined marble statues in pigeon-infested cities and you'll see what we mean. Not only that, but birds eat seeds and bits of gravel that can scratch your paint.

The solution is to wash bird droppings off as soon as you see them. Use a bottle of quick detail and a soft microfiber cloth to wipe it up. Be sure to use a lifting action, since you don't want to grind any grit onto your paint.

The Source: Bugs

The Problem: Bug guts are acidic.
The Solution: Get to the car wash

You're heading home from a road trip when suddenly the eighth plague of Egypt strikes, with thousands of bugs splattering your windshield. But just cleaning the windshield isn't enough. Bugs are surprisingly acidic, and if you do hit a swarm, don't let the bugs get the last laugh as their remains slowly etch your paint. Wash your car as soon as you can with a good car wash solution, and for the more stubborn guts, use a bug and tar remover.

3 Factors Affecting How Quickly Your Car Is Repaired

Factors Affecting Length Of Time Include:

#1. Type Of Damage
The length of time it will take for your vehicle to be repaired will largely depend upon the amount of damage that has occurred to your vehicle. There are factors such as how quickly the insurance company acts to inspect the car’s damage or okay the repair shop that estimated the damages to start the repair work and the actual extent of the damages.

A minor accident in a parking lot or a low speed rear end collision will likely take a week or less to repair. If instead it was a high impact rear end collision where the back of the car was pushed forward or another type of high speed accident and especially high speed accidents that cause extensive damage, the repairs may take weeks or even months if getting the proper parts is a problem.

A car can be repaired if the cost of repairs does not go over the value of the vehicle at the time of the accident. Every insurance company has their own percentage of damage they will accept before determining a car a “total loss.” If a car is totaled out then the owner would receive actual cash value as a settlement for the vehicle instead of getting the vehicle repaired.

An insurance company can give you a specific answer as to how long your car’s repairs will take once the car has found to be repairable and the body shop involved has completed an estimate of repair. An estimate should include how much parts will cost and the amount of labor required to fix the car.

There are, of course, a lot of variables to how long it will take to repair a vehicle after an accident. In some cases there will be an estimate of how long the repair will take but then it takes longer due to waiting for parts, there is more damage that is found during the repair process, etc.

While there is no specific set time it takes for repairs to occur, such as bumper damage only takes a day, etc. below is a guide or rule of thumb for how long repairs in average take:

* $1,000.00 worth of damage normally takes 3 to 5 days,
* $2,000.00 to $4,000.00 worth of damage usually takes a repair shop 5 to 10 working days,
* $5,000.00 and above worth of damage done to a vehicle normally means the car will be at the repair shop 14 or more working days.

#2. AvailabilityOf Parts Required
Additionally, the type of parts required and the kind of vehicle that is involved in the repair has a part to play in the period of time the repairs will take. If you have an exotic foreign sports car it could take extra time to obtain the parts if they are not locally stocked.

The above information is based upon the time after your car has been seen by the auto insurance claims adjuster and is ready for repair. Other factors involved are the length of time it takes for your insurance company, or the other party’s insurance company adjuster to come to your vehicle and give their estimate for repairs.

#3. How Busy Repair Shop Is
As mentioned earlier keep in mind there are variables that can affect the length of time the repairs will take even if the mechanic has given you a rough estimate. There are factors such as how busy a repair shop is, how much repair work they have on their lot waiting to be repaired when your car arrives, the time it takes for parts to arrive if ordered, etc. Keep in touch with the repair shop to see how the work is progressing and if they think there will be a delay.

If there is a long delay on starting work on your vehicle then you may want to contact your insurance claims adjuster to see if there is the option to change garages and have a body shop work on the vehicle who will be able to fix the car in a reasonable amount of time.

When you are getting your car repaired after an accident select an auto body repair shop that you are comfortable with. We recommend you choose a quality repair shop; one which has professional certifications. If you do not know of any repair shops you would want to use to fix your vehicle then try obtaining recommendations from friends, family and even your insurance claims adjuster.

A quality repair shop will work hard to ensure all repairs are done properly, that your vehicle is delivered on time, and that you are kept well informed of their progress by phone or email.

Most insurance companies and adjusters know through their time and experience which shops are doing good, quality and professional repairs for reasonable industry prices. A shop that has a written guarantee for repairs is a good indicator as well as to the quality of the work the shop does.

Copyright: http://www.localinsuresearch.com/insurance-information/3-factors-affecting-how-quickly-your-car-is-repaired/

Getting Your Car Repaired After a Collision

The process of getting your vehicle repaired can go many ways. When you’ve realized you need your car fixed, this is the typical process to expect. It starts by choosing a shop for to obtain a quote from, but first you may need to determine who is going to be paying for the repair.

First if it was not your fault you may want to give the other party a chance to pay for the repair bill before reporting it to your insurance company. On more affordable repair, the other party may prefer this method to avoid a knock against there driving record & rates and can avoid you from making a claim, possibly paying a deductable. This is often the best way to go, but just remember if they can’t pay now they probably can’t pay later. Deal with the problem and get the money right away to avoid a potential backfire.

Next you may want to see what you are covered for by your insurance company. If your covered for the repair then you may want to see how your rates are affected before you go ahead with an insurance paid repair. Don’t forget to see what your deductable is and factor in rental coverage too, sometimes your covered but not always. Your insurance company may recommend a preferred shop to you to save them some money. This is not always in your best interest so make sure your comfortable with that shop or better yet, pick your own!

If you are paying for the job yourself then you will have some decisions to make. If you let the shop know ahead of time they may price the job accordingly. Make sure you understand what they are doing differently before you commit to allowing a repair, understand the consequences of repairing what should be replaced and using inferior (aftermarket) parts.

Once you’ve decided how its to be paid for you should go get yourself an auto body repair estimate. Do a bit of research on finding a high quality shop, have a look at an article here called “how to find a quality body shop”. An auto body repair estimate will vary from shop to shop, the basic difference is the shops door rate but also what they are doing to the vehicle. One shop may fail to charge for something or just skip a necessary repair step all together. If one repair estimate is lower don’t assume it’s because that shop just likes you better, you may be getting shafted.

Once you’re comfortable with your auto body repair estimate and you’re comfortable with your auto body repair shop, you should book in your job along with any necessary rental vehicle. Often rental companies require little notice but this can ensure you get the vehicle you want if you make arrangements ahead of time.

Once you drop off your car on the scheduled date you should ideally be able to sit back and relax while your car is getting repaired. On minor repairs your shop should be able to provide you with a firm deadline for the completion date. While your enjoying your rental your car will enter a few different departments at the auto body repair shop.

Body Repair – this department removes all of the necessary trim, door handles, mirrors, bumpers, moldings (basically anything that needs to be removed for paint access). They will then hammer the dents straight and apply a body filler followed by a block sanding to restore the damaged area to the original shape.

Prep Dept – the prep/paint department will apply necessary primers to the body filler, followed by necessary sanding to prepare the panel for painting. They will then mask off the area to prevent overspray to the rest of the vehicle.

Painter – The painter does exactly what you might expect, sprays the color over the panel and blends it out. This is then followed by a clear coat for protection. After drying it is back to the body repair department to reassemble any trim that was previously removed.

Cleanup / Detail – Any reputable shop will then pass it on to the detailing department that will hopefully have your vehicle as clean as you’ve ever seen it prior to pickup.

This is the basic pipeline for your typical auto body repair. Every shop is different and insurance regulations differ to, check your insurance policy to avoid any surprises when making a claim.

The Many Benefits Of Finding A Great Auto Body Shop

Author: Mike Johnson

Those who drive understand the inherent risks of the practice. Not only is there a risk that you could hurt or injure yourself on the road, but there is also a risk that by getting into a collision you could seriously damage your vehicle. There are few things more damaging than a collision when it comes to your vehicle.

After you’ve been in an accident, your first response is going to be to tow your vehicle to a local auto body shop. To do this you’re going to have to have an shop that you trust implicitly. If you haven’t already picked out a shop, you’re going to have to do it on short notice. Here are a few things to look for in a prospective shop.

The first thing to check out in an auto shop is their customer service. While this might not seem like a very important piece of the puzzle, it can actually make a lot of difference. There are so many logistical details to go over in this situation, you want to make sure that you and the shop are on the same page. A great customer service staff will ensure this.

The next thing to look for is a business that is efficient at what they do. The last thing you want is a company that is willing to be lazy when it comes to repairing your vehicle. We all know how difficult it is to go about our daily business without the help of our car or truck. Don’t let the repair shop take weeks or even months when administering their repairs.

While it might seem like all body shops are going to be offering roughly the same service, it would be naive to think so. It might require a little extra research to find the shop that is offering the best service in your neighborhood, but the time you invest in this project is going to be well worth it, as you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that your vehicle is getting the best attention available.

About Our Company

Most of the damage resulting from everyday vehicle collisions can be repaired,

and vehicles can be refinished to look and drive like new. This damage may be

relatively minor, such as scraped paint or a dented panel, or major, requiring

the complex replacement of parts. Our collision repair technicians are

knowledgeable in the field of auto body repair and possess the necessary skills

to perform related repairs and custom refinishing according to the manufacturer's

specifications.