Chipped Paint - Auto Body Repair Processes

If a minor fender bender chipped paint from your car's hood or bumper, you may be concerned about the impact the cosmetic flaws will have on your vehicle's value. If you will eventually be selling your vehicle, seek repair services through a licensed auto body shop.

The Preliminary Assessment

A licensed technician will perform an assessment first. This assessment will indicate whether a touchup process or a respray process will be necessary.

A touchup process is used to apply paint to small surface areas. A respray process involves painting an entire automotive panel. This type of work is conducted when there are a lot of chipped areas across a large portion of a vehicle panel.

Your Service Appointment

After your technician has outlined the paint upgrade steps that will need to be performed, schedule your auto body repair appointment.

Let the technician know if you intend to file an insurance claim. Some auto body shops work directly with insurance providers. The technician will let you know how the claims process should be handled.

The technician will confirm how long it will take for the paint repair to be completed. Some paint applications may need to dry overnight. If the technician will need to conduct a lot of finishing steps after the painting process, this could increase the amount of time that you can expect to leave your vehicle at the automotive shop.

Sanding Steps

A wet sanding process is used to remove loose paint. Wet sanding will fade scratches that occurred as a result of the car accident. After the sanding process concludes, the technician will rinse the surface that they sanded.

Buffing The Surface

Buffing the area that was sanded will provide the surface with a smooth texture. A buffing wheel is used to polish exterior surfaces.

Painting Steps

Professional paint jobs are performed in a controlled environment. A technician may use a paint booth or a paint building to perform automotive repairs.

Before the paint is applied, a technician will adjust the exhaust system within the confined space. The exhaust system eliminates contaminants from a booth or building while a paint project is underway.

An automotive technician will prepare the paint. They will use spray equipment to apply paint to each surface that lacks paint. One or more coats of paint will be applied. Your vehicle will remain in a paint booth or paint building while the paint dries. These structures come equipped with a ventilation system that will support the drying process.

To get started, contact an auto collision repair service in your area.