Many people today have suffered minor paint damage and don't know what to do. Some automatically want the damage refinished but do not understand the repair process and what has to take place in order to refinish that minor damage. If you are looking for an invisible repair you may be asking for too much. Why? Well look closely at the factory paint jobs on many vehicles next time your at the new car dealer. Many factory paint jobs have paint flaws.
What should I do if I have minor paint damage?
Well first of all the good news is it's not too serious to really effect the value or your vehicle as almost all used cars even only a few months old have some paint damage. The most common damage we see is door edge chips from opening the door and hitting something and stone chips on the front bumper from regular driving. Also minor paint damage from bumping something with your bumper.
These types of damage can easily be touched up with a touch up paint brush, and this is what we recommend. Why? Because what people do not understand is the refinishing process. I have to do a lot more "damage" to your paint to repair the damage and refinish the paint.
I will have to scruff (scratch or sand) the entire area to be refinished with a semi-coarse scuff pad so the paint adheres properly, and then I have to sand the damage and I may need to use filler in some parts of the repair, then it has to be sprayed with primer, and then based coated and finally clear coated. (If you have a difficult color the color may not be a perfect match.)
Some things to consider then. How noticeable is the damage? Also, keep in mind this may not be the only damage you have to the vehicle over the time you own it. How new is the vehicle? If it only has a few miles on it you could decreased the value of the vehicle by painting it!
Are you concerned about rust? Plastic bumpers don't rust. This may seem funny but I have had more than a few people thinking their bumper will rust. No doubt they do not realize the bumper is made of plastic but they are. The only vehicles now a days that have metal bumper covers are trucks and some SUV's and they are usually chrome. So what about touch up? Well do not take your car to a body shop thinking you can get it touched up. They are in the paint business. And if they will touch it up, do not expect it to match or look good.
Grated touch up is only going to look so so any way, but you want it to look as good as it can. I recommend you take it to the dealer and ask to have their on-site paint repair person touch up the damage. In fact if it is just a bumper and you need to have it painted I recommend you use the dealer's on site painter. Ask them first what kind of work he does. Try to find out from 2 or more sales people what they think of him.
You want a quality paint job, not a cheap paint job. Keep in mind however, this painter will always be cheaper than the body shop. He will have way more experience doing small repairs and blending paint than the body shop and he will be cheaper, so it is a win win situation for you the customers!
