Your automobile is like a hat or jacket that you wear everywhere you travel. Because you are seen in your automobile so much, it makes sense to keep the paint in good condition to enhance your image. First impressions can go a long way. A well-kept automobile says a lot about your character and how you manage your affairs. Below, we have published the top 7 signs that your car is due for a respray or color change.
#1: Rust
If your car has rust spots that are eating through under the paint, you need to get it fixed immediately. Cancer in a car will spread like wildfire once it starts to develop under the paint. Typically, you will see the paint bubble up and deform in large spots or even patches. If you remove the damaged paint, you will likely find a big rusty patch that is eating away at the metal of your automobile. If you let it go, the water will build up in this area and accelerate the oxidation and deterioration of the panels even quicker.
Special care must be taken with rust cases to remove it all from the frame and to change any particles at a molecular level with a rust converter. If great care isn’t taken, the rust will return. Even the tools used, themselves, can become contaminated. Always take your vehicle to an expert such as Brisbane Panel and Paint. They have decades of experience working with rust and can produce the best results.
#2: Scratches
If you have a lot of scratches on your vehicle, it can really detract from the appeal of the paint. Scratches that are in circular patterns may be due to a dirty orbital buffer. Other scratches may be from trees hitting the roof when going through dense overgrown areas or scratches near the wheel wells from debris being kicked up. While it may be possible to buff out some light scratches with a rubbing compound and polishing compound, most serious scratch cases require a full respray for rust protection.
#3: Fading
Paint fades from exposure to UV radiation. Although the fading is very gradual, it can be noticeable if you have parts of your car covered with a car bra or some other protection. While there are sealants on the market that boast of UV-radiation blocking power, not everyone keeps up maintenance and protects their vehicles as they should. Keeping your vehicle in a garage can also make a huge difference. But a faded vehicle simply lacks the impressive halo that draws attention.
#4: Peeling Paint
Paint can start to peel for a number of reasons. In some cases, the paint is thinner in one spot and wears down, exposing under layers. Peeling typically occurs when the car was painted before but was not prepared properly. The paint can literally fall off in flakes because the surface was not clean enough for a solid bond. Paint can also peel if it is exposed to harsh substances and heat. If your paint is peeling, the only solution is to bring it in for a new coating of paint and proper prepping.
#5: Dents and Dings
Dents and dings happen. You can back into a tree by accident, open your door too close to a pole, or get in a little fender-bender. You can even get damage from hail and ice storms. When your vehicle gets poked with dings and dents, fixing them and spraying fresh paint to blend them in is the only solution to reclaim the full value of your investment.
Dings and dents can also develop rust if the metal is exposed. While some soft dings can be removed using a method called paintless dent repair, most dents and dings need to be sanded down, hammered, pulled, and then smoothed out with a fiberglass resin filler. Once the body panel is smooth again, the surface can be prepped and painted.
#6: Dullness
Paint doesn’t have to be faded to look dull. Sometimes, it is just the lack of clear coat or a proper finish that can make a vehicle look very matte. If your clear coat is worn down and it won’t even polish to a bright marble shine anymore, you may need a fresh coat of paint.
In some cases, it may be possible to simply have a fresh coat of clear coat sprayed onto your vehicle to return the luster. Dullness usually occurs due to weather damage. The paint simply gets worn down from the wind and weather and loses its shine.
You may be able to use a polishing compound and a buffer to restore the finish. Some people even swear by using a clay bar to remove all the fine particles and toxins that get absorbed into the pores of the paint. In any case, you should always consult a professional to determine what type of paint or polishing process is best for the job.
#7: Fine Cracks
Your paint may not be peeling. However, it can still get dried out and start cracking over time. This can happen after a bad paint job if the paint doesn’t cure properly or any car is not waxed enough. Carefully inspect your finish for any fine cracks or etching. These areas will eventually begin to peel and look even worse.
Fine cracks demonstrate that the paint is dried out. Leaving a vehicle in the sun for long periods of time without any wax or other protection can cause this condition. In order to repair it, the paint has to be sanded down until the cracks are gone. Then, a new color coat can be sprayed on in layers. Once that dries, the clear coat can be applied.
Of course, there are other types of painting methods that may be more economical for a particular situation. A particular type of durable paint is called urethane paint. These paints are often used for buses, taxis, and other vehicles that face a lot of hard weather, wear, and tear.
Featured Photo by Fancycrave
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