Three Common Issues When Repairing Paint Following A Collision
If you've recently experienced a serious collision, it's very likely that your vehicle's paint has been damaged -- even if it seems as though the damage isn't serious. Paint scratches and scrapes can be more detrimental to a vehicle than they seem. Many assume that paint is purely cosmetic, but it's really an important barrier between the vehicle body and the environment. With that in mind, there are some issues you might encounter with your paint repairs.
Using a Non-Automotive Paint
Though it can seem preferable to at least temporarily fix a vehicle with a spray paint or latex paint application, non-automotive paint differs from automotive paint in more ways than just durability and cost. A non-automotive paint may damage the rest of the vehicle's paint job. It may also capture moisture next to the vehicle's metal, ultimately increasing the chance of rust rather than decreasing it. This is especially true if the painting is attempted in a high humidity environment. If you can't afford automotive paint, simply priming the vehicle can help -- but it's by no means a permanent situation.
Not Properly Cleaning, Sanding or Curing
If you pick up your car and notice that the paint job is either shinier or duller in the affected area, it's likely that it hasn't been cleaned, sanded, or cured properly. Regardless, it's not likely to last as long as it should. Ideally, you shouldn't be able to see a difference between your vehicle's old paint and your new paint; automotive paint should not dull or fade over time, so the new paint shouldn't be noticeable.
Improper Color Mixing
Many vehicles use a proprietary paint based on their brand and make. Some auto shops will seek to mix very similar paint colors, but they won't always hit the mark. The best way to test this out when picking up your vehicle is to take your car out in bright sunlight and inspect it thoroughly. It can be expensive to get the actual paint from a manufacturer, but a good auto body specialist will be able to blend even slightly mismatching paint in a way that makes it look seamless, utilizing airbrushes.
An auto body shop can give you more information regarding the severity of the damage and what is needed to repair it. Sometimes it may actually be more important to fix the paint than other issues -- at least temporarily. The auto body shop may be able to prime your vehicle without painting to protect it for some time.
For more information about auto collision repair, visit an auto body shop.
