There is nothing like soaking in the sun’s rays — unless you are the paint of a car.
Much like human skin, your car’s paint can be easily damaged when it is made to withstand prolonged periods of sunlight. However, for many of us, it is often necessary that our car spend at least some time out in the sun. This is especially true for those of us who are not fortunate enough to have a garage.
In this article, we will go over the steps in which you can take to prevent sun damage to your car’s paint, to hopefully help save you an expensive trip to the auto body shop.
How Does the Sun Damage Car Paint?
As anyone who has experienced a painful sunburn before knows: the sun is a powerful source to be reckoned with. Have you ever noticed how a tool or toy that is left in the sun tends to have its color fade? The reason for this is because the sun is breaking down the molecules that exist in these object’s paint, and therefore dulling the color. Much to the chagrin of well-meaning automobile owners, the same thing happens to our cars.
How to Prevent Sun Damage: Four Ways
1. Keep Your Car Covered Whenever Possible
This may be the most obvious entry on this list, but it’s still worth saying. Of course, for many of us, keeping our car in a covered vestibule may simply not be an option. However, even if you are not planning on adding a covered garage onto your house any time soon, even something as simple as an overhead covering can go a long way to save your car from the harsh rays of the sun.
If you live in an apartment building and are given a choice between outdoor parking and indoor parking, it may be worthwhile to opt for the sheltered parking. Even if this may cover a slightly higher monthly cost if you’re somebody who closely monitors the appearance of your car it may go a long way in saving you car maintenance costs.
2. Keep Up With Your Car Washes
Although it’s not possible to literally wash the sun off your car, you can help keep your car’s paint looking new by keeping up with basic car maintenance such as washing your car frequently. If you are washing it yourself at home, it’s best to perform the washout of direct sunlight using a gentle cleaning product before cleaning the car off with a dry, clean cloth.
If you do not have the utilities required to perform your own car wash, you can always take it in for a professional wash. This can be performed in many car wash businesses, and sometimes even at certain gas stations.
3. Consider a Car Cover
If covering your car is absolutely not an option, there may be another avenue that you can take. A car cover is a type of specially designed tarp that covers your car’s entire body, therefore protecting it from the sun. However, although this is generally better than nothing, it is important that most tarp materials are still somewhat permeable, and your car will still be somewhat susceptible to sun damage.
4. Have Your Car Polished
Much like washing, polishing your car can go a long way in keeping its colour vibrant. Although it may sound intimidating, you can actually easily polish your car yourself, provided you use high-quality car polish. These can come in many forms, such as natural waxes (usually made from beeswax or the like), synthetic wax, and hybrids.
Waxing your car helps protect you from sun damage as it works as a kind of sealant, creating a layer over your car that will then protect it from the harshest reaches of the sun’s rays. Car wax can easily be applied after your usual car wash routine.
If this article is coming a bit too late, and you find that you are already dealing with the effects of sun damage, then there is still hope for your car. Grandcity Autobody Ltd. is your go-to auto body shop in Vancouver — our friendly professionals can help get your car looking as good as new.