Have you ever heard of paintless dent removal & paint correction? Many people have experienced hail damage to their vehicles, but few understand the ins and outs of this repair process. Knowing the facts helps you make an informed decision about how to best repair your vehicle’s damage and enables you to get back on the road in no time.
A home paint sprayer knows the frustration of taking your car outside and waiting for it to dry. It’s a hassle, but at least you know that you won’t have any issues with the finish when it comes time to reseal it. But what if you took that process outside? And what if that sprayer could make your car look better instead of just matching its finish? The first thing that might come to mind is paint correction, or “refinish painting,” as some auto manufacturers call it. This is taking an imperfect area on your car and hiding those flaws with a coat of paint. Without the need for expensive equipment or skilled labor, you can save yourself some time and money in the long run.
What is Paint Correction?
Simply put, paint correction is taking an area of a vehicle’s bodywork and repainting it to match the rest of the body. For example, you might have a small chip or ding on your car’s hood. Instead of taking it to the body shop and having it repainted, you can take those chips, buff them out and repaint the hood. This can save you time and money compared to taking your car to a paint shop for a full repaint. Some people also use it to refresh paint, where it has faded or oxidized over time. For example, if your car has been in a saltwater environment, you can take the panel, strip it of corrosion, and repaint it with a coat that matches the rest of the vehicle.
How Does Paint Correction Work?
Paint correction is a simple process where you take an area of paint on your car and cover it with new paint. There are many different ways to do this, but the most common is to use a paint mask to protect the original paint area and paint over it with new paint.
Depending on the method needed, it can be done with a spray or paintbrush. The fresh paint should match the rest of the car as closely as possible. If the paint is not close enough to the original color, it’s known as a “color correction.” If the color is too close to the original, it’s known as a “color match.”
Paint correction kits are available for both spray and brush. The kit will include a paint mask, paintbrush, and primer if a brush method is used. If a spray method is used, the kit will consist of an air compressor, paint sprays, and a gun hose. We at paint correction in Dallas have top-of-the-line equipment and products that have yielded excellent results in late models to older rare sports cars.
Can Paint Correction Make Your Car Look New?
Because of this, paint correction can save you both time and money. If your car only has a small chip or ding, the paint correction process is similar to how you would paint a new car. You will mask the area, paint over it, and reveal the area underneath without any of the flaws. For more extensive damage, such as a large scratch or a panel that has been severely oxidized, you will need to use a paint correction kit with color correction capabilities. This is because you will need to mask the area with a wax paper overlay and then use a specific color to restore the piece of paint.
Pros and Cons of Paint Correction
Paint correction is an easy process that can make your car look new again, but is it worth it? The pros of paint correction are that it saves time and money, allows you to correct paint flaws instead of repainting, and doesn’t require using new paint or paint sprayers. The cons are that it does require some patience, a bit of skill, and a little bit of chemical knowledge. Some paint correction kits also come with a sprayer and need a bit of setup beforehand. A significant disadvantage of paint correction is that it tends to be more expensive than repainting your car.
Is your vehicle safe from paint correction?
It depends on your vehicle and how much damage you need to fix. A skilled detailer can safely correct paint damage. Several variables could dramatically affect whether or not the process is safe for your car.
- Detailer skill
Vehicles with body lines and edges tend to have thinner paint than other panels. Please consider this to avoid clear burning. The heat generated by a machine can cause paint to swell and melt if it is not managed correctly.
- Paint thickness
Is your vehicle repainted before? What number of paint corrections has the car received back? Apparent coat failure can result from treating a vehicle with thin paint as if it had plenty.
You can polish the paint but wait for the clear coat.
A clear coat protects the paint surface from the elements. It is vital to keep as much clear coat as possible. This is why you should be able to trust your detailer’s skills and experience.
- Damage level
Removing a scratch that has penetrated the base coat or the clear is unsafe. A skilled detailer will know how to reduce or make it less visible without causing irreparable harm. This is where the experience comes in.
Final Words
Paint correction can save you time and money. It doesn’t require using new paint or paint sprayers, and it’s a seamless process that creates a look as if the surrounding paint has never been damaged. In addition, it only takes patience and chemical knowledge to do it right. Paint corrections can make your car look new again.
