Image of car painting being done to a car's auto body

The 6 Most Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Car Painting

Whether you’ve been involved in a motor collision or are just looking to upgrade your vehicle, a visit to your local auto body shop is in order and the option of car painting will almost certainly come up. Once you’ve fixed the dents, replaced the broken parts, and all other problems have been resolved, the option of repainting will be presented. But how long will it take? Will the whole car be repainted? Does it make sense to paint over rust? Our auto body shop in Vancouver hears you and we’re here to answer your most common questions before you need to make the decision.

1.    Will my whole car be repainted?

No! Or at least usually not. At Grandcity, our auto body shop tries to reduce the cost on your end by only painting and matching the parts that need to be painted. For example, if your back bumper was dented, we would repair the dent and then only repaint the back bumper.

Some shops may try to paint your entire vehicle. Unless this is cosmetically desired, we limit the cost by only painting what is necessary. If you notice an auto body shop painting your whole vehicle, always inquire as to why they might be doing so.

2.    How long does it take to repaint part of my vehicle vs. my entire vehicle?

Repainting part of a vehicle will take 2-3 days. Repainting an entire vehicle will take 1-2 weeks.

Although this might sound long, it’s because our team takes great caution and uses various layers of paint, sealer, and clear coating to ensure a seamless finish. Also, the final coat often takes a full 24 hours to fully dry. So even if we completed the job in one day, we would still need another full day to allow everything to dry properly.

3.    My car is rusting, can I still repaint my car?

If there is rust forming, it’s best to get it examined before repainting. Rust on a car is often a symptom of underlying corrosion taking place underneath the paint’s surface. This can be the result of an accident, moisture, and/or road salt. Our auto body shop uses specialized equipment to determine the root cause and extent of your car’s corrosion. We will not recommend car painting unless it is safe to do so.

4.    How do you determine the perfect shade to match my car’s shade?

Because we usually won’t paint your entire car, it is extremely important that we match your car’s paint shade perfectly! An error in doing so can lead to an obviously discoloured area and will leave the car owner dissatisfied.

Before we paint your car, our auto body shop in Vancouver finds the exact colour code that is tied to your car’s manufacturer, make, and model. This leaves us with no margin for error and a coat so precise, you won’t even be able to tell where we painted.

5.    When is it safe to wash and wax my vehicle?

After the car painting has been completed, we recommend only washing by hand with cool water and a mild soap for the first 30 days. Avoid using hot water, harsh soaps, and automated car washes until a full month has passed or you’ll risk damaging the paint job.

A damp, cool rag will do for the first four weeks. If you happen to find any bubbles or cracks in the car painting while washing it by hand, avoid the area and be sure to come back in so we can take a look at it. Bubbles and cracks in paint are often symptoms of rust, which needs further attention.

Be sure to look up what types of products are safe and what products are not to be used on your particular made and model’s sealer and paint.

6.    What are some tips for post-paint maintenance?

Wash and wax your car regularly in order to avoid grime build up and the potential for rust. Be sure to not miss hard-to-reach areas like wheel wells where corrosive chemicals can sometimes build up. You can also get your car professionally detailed once a year to stay on top of any maintenance and problems before they become larger problems. Lastly, keep your car protected in a secure garage or covered parkade in order to keep it safe from the elements.