A Paint Primer for Consumers

Thinking of getting your car painted?

The experts answer your questions:

An interview with Dennis Beeler, instructor, Auto-Body Excellence Centre, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

and Bob Hamilton, regional leader for Western Canada, DuPont Canada.

Question: Is a paint job a wise investment if you're going to sell your car?

Answer: People who know cars often like to be able to see what they're getting. New paint could hide rust or corrosion -- buyers may prefer to see the original finish. On the other hand, some buyers are impressed because a repainted vehicle looks good -- it's a strong selling point. Then there's the matter of economics. A good paint job will cost about $2,000. Will you recoup the $2,000 in the selling price?

Question: Is a paint job a wise investment if you're going to keep your car?

Answer: If your car's body has chips or scratches and is showing signs of wear, a paint job is a wise investment. The paint will not only take years off your car's appearance, it will protect it from rust and corrosion.

Question: Should I change my car's color?

Answer: Changing the color increases the cost of the paint job because areas such as the inside of your trunk need to be painted. And if scratches or chips occur, the old paint color may be exposed.

Question: Can new paints be applied over the existing paint?

Answer: In most cases, yes. The best base finish for applying paint is the original. If your car has an acrylic lacquer finish, however, it should be removed before repainting. Since acrylic lacquers don't contract and expand like other finishes, they tend to crack, damaging the new finish. Lacquers are no longer available due to their high solvent content and tightened environmental regulations.

Question: How do I know I'm getting a fair price?

Answer: Generally speaking, you get what you pay for. For example, a single-stage paint is cheaper than a base coat /clear coat combination, but is less durable. Additional prep and detail work is also required to apply a two-stage finish. Be sure each bid reflects the same caliber of preparation.

Question: What's the difference in single-stage and multi-stage paints? What about different types of clear coats?

Answer: A single-stage paint is less than a base coat only. The two-stage process combines a base coat and a clear coat, providing a more durable finish with a deeper, longer lasting shine.

Question: What about warranty?

Answer: Most paint companies certify autobody technicians to apply their products. The warranty may be directly with the paint company or with the body shop. Most paint companies stand behind their products, if they are applied properly. Most body shops guarantee workmanship for a specified period. The vehicle's condition, however, may affect the length of warranty. If, for example, the vehicle is rusty, the warranty is likely be shorter than if it were not.

Question: If I'm only getting part of my vehicle repainted, will the paint match?

Answer: Generally speaking, yes. To reduce the possibility of noticing this difference, most painters feather the new color with the existing color on the adjacent panels. This process is called blending and should be specified on the work order.

Question: How do new paints protect the environment and affect costs?

Answer: High solids paints contain less solvent, and therefore less VOCs, than acrylic lacquers. The new high volume, low pressure paint guns that are used to apply high solid paints spread the product more efficiently than traditional spray guns, therefore emitting fewer VOC's to the atmosphere. Since the guns produce a softer spray than traditional spray guns, more paint lands on the vehicle, eliminating over spray and allowing less solvent and contaminants into the atmosphere.

Question: I'm a vintage car owner. I understand vintage paints will not be available. What do I do?

Answer: Some of the older paints are no longer going to be available because they contain volatile organic compounds (solvents) that evaporate and exhaust into the atmosphere, depleting the ozone layer. The exact colors of the vintage paints, however, are available with current base coat/clear coat finishes.

Question: How will my car be protected against corrosion?

Answer: Part of the refinishing process includes replicating the factory corrosion protection processes. An E-coat, the factory protective coating, is applied to the bare metal prior to priming.

Question: How should I care for my new paint finish?

Answer: Keep it clean. Most of today's paint finishes are base coat/ clear coat finishes that don't need to be waxed. Dry your vehicle thoroughly when washing it in sub-zero temperatures. But beware: if your vehicle is very dirty and you use a brush to wash it, the dirt can get onto the brush and cause scratches in the finish. Try using a pressure hose to remove the heavy soil before using a brush.

Some waxes, such as silicon based or sealer waxes, seal the car's finish so that the finish can't contract and expand adequately, causing the finish to crack and allow moisture to enter. Wax build-up also yellows the finish, giving it a hazy appearance. Although new paint finishes do not require wax, those who wish to wax should use a high quality natural wax.

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