How Paint Matching is done at an Auto Body Repair Shop

 Most people expect auto body shops to paint vehicles after accidents and restore their external appearance. It’s, therefore, not surprising that paint jobs are some of the most popular services offered at auto body repair shops. But, what does an auto body shop use to match the new paint with the old paint of a vehicle? Here is what you should know about auto paint matching.  

How Auto Body Repair Shops Create a New Layer 

A question that might be lingering in your mind is how an auto body shop ensures that the new paint layer looks like the old one. Well, knowledge, experience, equipment, and the right paint play a role in ensuring that the new finish looks like the original one. Repairing a car after a collision might be easy. However, the major concern for a vehicle owner is that the new paint job might not look like the previous finish. 

Professional auto body repair shops have invested in modern technology that enables them to match the new paint with the old one. Modern paint matching is done using computerized equipment. This equipment makes matching the paint finish easier. As such, you should take your vehicle to a professional auto body repair shop to have the paint matching job done using the right technologies and methods. 

Proper Preparation 

Proper preparation is very important when it comes to ensuring that the vehicle ends up with an excellent look. Essentially, proper preparation plays a major role in ensuring that the auto body repair shop ends up with seamless results. 

The preparation work should be done using innovative, high-quality equipment. It should also be done by technicians that know what they are doing. The best auto body repair shops have state-of-the-art equipment that they use to prepare vehicles for painting. What’s more, they use the best equipment for paint matching to achieve identical results. 

Paint Drying 

Proper paint drying is also very important. If the drying process is extended, the vehicle paint looks darker. What’s more, the paint type used can also affect the final look. Nevertheless, professional auto body shops know how to choose the right paint and match the finish properly. 

The most important thing is making sure that your paint job is done by the most qualified specialists. Therefore, take your vehicle for quality auto paint matching and application.

Things You Might Not Know About Paintless Dent Repair

Dents are serious auto body imperfections that should always be fixed properly as soon as they are noticed. Paintless dent repair is swiftly becoming the ideal remedial procedure for car dents. The following are some of the most important things that you may not know about paintless dent removal. 

The Procedure Does Not Require Repainting 

Paintless dent repair removes dents, creases, and dings from the exterior of the car. It does so without causing any impact on the car’s factory finish. As a result, you will not need to repaint the car after the removal of the dents. 

PDR relies on the Car’s Shape Memory 

Car manufacturers usually design and create them in unique shapes, which should remain in their original forms. Paintless dent repair uses the shape memory of the particular car, carefully applying pressure to smooth out the imperfections. That revives the original shape of the car. 

Paintless Dent Removal is Cost-Effective 

Other common forms of dent repair are usually expensive, costing between $60 and $100 or even more depending on the impact. Paintless dent repair is quite affordable, costing up to 60% less than conventional dent repair alternatives. 

Paintless Dent Repair Preserves the Value of Your Car 

Paintless dent repair is considered to be the best option by auto experts because it not only revives the appeal of the car but, also enhances its value. Unlike conventional dent repair alternatives, PDR brings back the original shape and look of the car before it got the dents, which preserves its overall value. 

Paintless Dent Repair Takes Less Time 

Most traditional auto body repair shops could take several days to fix dents on your car mainly because of the numerous procedures involved. Paintless dent repair, on the other hand, usually takes just a few hours. That ensures greater convenience. 

Paintless dent repair is proven to properly fix all auto body imperfections but, you should engage a professional to get the best results in your car. 

Must You Use the Auto Body Repair Shop Recommended by the Insurer?

Most people often think that whenever their cars need repair, they must take them to the auto body repair shops recommended by their car insurance companies. But, that is far from the truth. You do not have to rely on the repair shop recommended by the insurer and, the decision entirely lies with the car owner. Legally, the car owner has a choice on where to have their cars repaired in case of an accident. 

Insurance Companies Have Contracts with Some Auto Body Repair Shops 

Today, many car insurance companies have contracts with auto body repair shops in various areas where they operate. The contracts enable the shops to do auto body repairs at lower pre-negotiated rates for the labor and replacement parts. That means the shops meet the expertise and equipment requirements set by the insurance companies. Besides, the shops are also mandated to issue a lifetime warranty. As a result, it could be more cost-effective to use the auto body repair shops recommended by your insurance company. 

Insurance claims adjusters are usually given specific targets by their employers, which require that at least 40% of the claims are directly handled by their approved repair shops. Thus, they will try to persuade you saying that your claims would not be handled efficiently if you choose a different auto body repair shop. Some may even threaten you that the insurer cannot promise the repairs if you do not go to their recommended shops. 

The Choice is Yours! 

No insurance company should force you into having your car repaired by their recommended auto body repair shops. Reputable auto body repair dealerships offer a lifetime warranty to all clients regardless of who is paying for the services. Whether your insurer has recommended an auto body repair shop or you have a different one in mind, the most important thing is to choose a shop that can be trusted to deliver quality work. 

Auto Paint Maintenance- Simple Ways to Protect the Paint of Your Car

Every vehicle owner wants to maintain the cosmetic appearance of their automotive. This is the first thing people notice when they see your vehicle. But, how do you keep your auto paint gleaming the way a mirror does? Here are simple ways you can do this. 

Avoid Writing on the Vehicle with Fingers 

Laying hands on a car that looks dirty might be fun for some people. However, you should not drag fingers on this dirt because you can leave the body of your vehicle with scratch marks. Fingers have the same effect sandpaper can have when it grinds on a dirty auto body. So, to protect your auto paint job, avoid running fingers on a dirty body of your vehicle. 

Wash Regularly

Ensuring that your vehicle is washed regularly is a great way of protecting its paint job. However, you need to avoid dish detergents when washing your car. That’s because these can hurt your vehicle’s paint job. Instead, use high-quality car wash products. Alternatively, take your car to professionals at a local car wash. But even then, make sure that they use quality car wash products. 

Use Paint Sealant 

Apply quality paint sealant at least once every year. This protects auto paint with the creation of a protective layer. The sealant should be applied in a circular motion and rubbed with a soft towel if the texture changes. 

Wax up Your Vehicle 

You should apply wax after applying a paint sealant.  Also, use it after a week or month, especially if you prefer liquid or spray versions. Paste wax can last longer without requiring frequent applications. 

Synthetic Coating 

Apply a polymer or ceramic coating once to protect your auto paint for over 6 months. But, the synthetic coating might not give the desirable mirror-like shine the way a quality wax does. However, it is more efficient when it comes to preventing things from sticking to auto paint. 

If you want to keep your auto paint in perfect condition, talk to experts at a reputable auto body shop. These will guide you on the best technique to use depending on the make, model, or type of your vehicle. 

Are Smaller or Bigger Cars Safer During Collision?

Car accidents are never ideal. The size of a car is not really an issue when it comes to devastating accidents. Nevertheless, the size of a car can play a role during a minor accident. An accident can wreck your car, affect your budget negatively, and leave you frustrated. Nevertheless, if nobody is injured during an accident, it means that the car played its role.

After that, take your car to a reputable collision repair shop. This will enable you to have the damage fixed the right way and in a timely manner.

So, Does the Size of a Car Matter During an Accident?

The assumption made by most people is that bigger cars are safer during an accident. However, technology has eliminated the gap between car sizes to hone more on the larger safety spectrum of new cars. Here are factors to keep in mind when determining whether size of a car matters during collision.

Newer Cars of All Sizes are the Safest

New or modern cars have safety features for minimizing injuries during an accident. The standard features for minimizing injuries include the rear, side, front airbags and side curtain. Some cars have control for electronic stability. This stabilizes them when they spin out of control thereby reducing the chances of a rollover. Modern cars also feature backup cameras and back up sensors that prevent rear-end collisions. When changing lanes, drivers can use sensors or camera for blind spot warning.

Size and Weight Matters

A big car is heavy. This enables it to absorb impact force better than a small car. Risk and damage are minimized by higher weight. Larger hoods are also advantageous when a car is involved in a head-on collision because they provide a sizeable crush zone or crumple zone. This is the area in front of a car that absorbs the most impact during a front-end crash.

Momentum

Momentum goes up as a car’s weight increases. A bigger car’s energy is transferred to a smaller car during collision. This can cause more damage to the small car. Impact force can also injure the passengers in a smaller car. Thus, a smaller car has a higher risk during collision than a larger car. A big car can push a smaller car thereby increasing injury risk like whiplash.

The most important thing is to drive safely. But, if you are buying a car, consider one with the latest and more safety features.

How to Keep a Car Clean with Children

Keeping a car clean can seem impossible for a car owner or driver with children. That’s because your car will have clutter and sticky fingerprints everywhere when you drive with kids. As such, some people clean their cars occasionally because they assume that they are bound to get dirty.

Although keeping a car clean when you have children may seem difficult, you can do it. Here are some of the ways to do it.

Come up with a Routine

Have a routine that you can stick to when it comes to cleaning your car. You can do something little each day or clean your car extensively every month. This will keep the car from become dirty and cluttered thereby making cleaning it difficult.

Get Clean Glove Box Supplies

Lack of clean glove box supplies is a major obstacle for regular cleaning of cars. However, there are products that you can use to clean your car with ease. You can store these products in your console or glove box. The ease of storing these products makes using them conveniently easier.

Avoid Drinking or Eating in Your Car

This might be easy to say than do. However, if you don’t bring beverages or food in your car, you avoid the difficulties of keeping your car clean. When you don’t drink or eat in your car, you eliminate spills, crumbs and garbage that make keeping your car clean stressful.

Get a Trash Bag

Litter will stick in your vehicle when you don’t have a place to keep it. But, if you get a trash bag, you will have a place to keep snotty tissues, juice boxes, and candy wrappers. This will keep your car clean even when you travel with kids.

Use Organizers

Children carry many items into your car to entertain them. Using organizers will enable you to reduce clutter in your car. It will also teach your kids to keep items in the right places.

Keeping a car clutter free and clean can be challenging when you have kids. However, following these tips will enable you to tame the mess that seems hard to deal with.

Caring for the New Paint of Your Car after Leaving an Auto Body Shop

Once you leave the collision repair shop with the new paint of your car looking amazing, you want your vehicle to maintain this look. But, how do you do this? Generally, technicians of reputable auto body shops are meticulous in making sure that your vehicle gets new paint that matches its old paint. However, the paint of your vehicle should keep it protected from rust in addition to making it look good. Therefore, you should keep the paint job of your vehicle in a top shape. Here are tips on how to care for the new paint of your vehicle after repair.

Check for Flaws

Just like with other repairs, say something if you notice something that is not right. Matching the old paint color is the major challenge when it comes to painting a vehicle after an accident. Therefore, have a look at the vehicle’s color during a sunny day. Check it closely and from a distance. Check for dirt, overspray and hairs. Make sure that your vehicle has a smooth paint before you leave the auto shop.

Be Extra Careful in the Next 30 to 60 Days

You were definitely careful with your car when new. You need the same fragility when it comes to protecting the shine of the new paint of your car. Essentially, the new paint will still be curing over the next 30 to 60 days. This is the time when the paint will be hardening to ensure that it protects the vehicle. New cars spend this time in properly protected environments. However, your car will be back on the road after a few days following repair. Therefore, it’s your responsibility to ensure protection of your vehicle during this time. Avoid things and conditions that can damage the paint job of your vehicle.

These include:

• Construction zones and dirt roads
• Chipping or scrapping at ice or snow
• Splattered bugs
• Bird droppings
• Direct sunlight
• Commercial washes

Follow these tips and the new paint of your vehicle will look amazing longer.

3 Reasons to Let a Professional Auto Body Shop Paint Your Car

There are several reasons why you might want to have your car painted. One of them is scratches that can damage the paint job of your vehicle. You may have also been involved in an accident that left your vehicle with unsightly dents. Painting your vehicle will give it a face lift after an accident. 

However, you can also consider painting your vehicle if you want to restore its brand new look or sell it. But, regardless of the reason to paint your car, it’s important to ensure that it is painted by professionals of a reputable auto body shop. Either way, here are the 3 major reasons to have your car painted at a professional auto body shop.

Use of the Right Tools

Professionals at a reputable auto body shop use specific tools to paint cars. These are the tools required to paint a vehicle properly. For instance, these professionals have tools that aid in drying a vehicle after painting. Remember that new paint can take even 30 days to dry or cure. Nevertheless, experts of a professional auto body shop have tools that reduce this time drastically.

Proper Preparation of the Car

Your car should be prepared for painting. For instance, windows and handles should be covered. Rust should be removed. The metal that needs painting requires priming. These are time consuming tasks but they are very important. Taking your car for painting at a professional shop ensures that they are completed properly so that the process can yield the desired results.

Chipping Protection

The final coat is very important in the car painting process. This is a clear coat that provides protection to the paint against scratches and chips. As such, it should be applied properly. Experts at a reputable auto body shop know this and they have the necessary skills, experience and tools to apply this coat properly.

Painting a car is a tedious and long process especially if you decide to complete it yourself. However, it is easier and results are better when it’s left to the experts of a professional auto body shop. Check out one of my favorite sites that gives excellent tips and its updated daily. Click Here