Where can I get my car painted?
Have a major chip on your vehicle’s exterior? Too much rust? Or maybe you just want a new colour to give your vehicle more personality? Having your car painted covers all those scenarios and more. We’ll cover the two main types of painting projects, why you can’t carry out some painting projects at home, and where you can have any of them done.
Touch-ups
A touch-up is done to repair a scratch, a small dent or a similar type of minor damage. Touchups require the least amount of work and materials. They can be done at home if you have the tools, matching paint and a shady area.
However, a touch-up can still take up to three hours, time you may not have. Moreover, if you’re new to this task and the damage is in a highly visible spot, you may want to have a professional take care of it.
Partial or full painting
If the damage to your vehicle is significant (e.g., someone scratched the whole side of your car as they backed out of their parking spot), an auto body technician should repair it.
Although you’ll find articles online about how to build a paint booth in your garage, painting your vehicle is complicated. Moreover, municipal, provincial and federal regulations may exist around such construction and operations. Bylaws, for example, can range from applying for a building permit to not disposing of any chemicals down your home drain or the closest sewer.
How a paint booth helps
Another reason to have your car painted at a garage is your safety. The small amount of paint and other products needed to clean up minor damage is generally safe. (Always read safety instructions on products before proceeding.)
However, painting a large section of your vehicle, e.g., a door panel or the hood, uses products and tools that require personal protective equipment and a well-ventilated but clean and enclosed space that keeps the chemicals away from others.
Paint booths (sometimes called spray booths) also have a special filter that removes dust and debris from the air. Not only does this keep the air as clean as possible for the auto technician, but it helps ensure your car remains absolutely clean during the process.
Lastly, paint booths can heat up the air inside, speeding up drying time.
What happens in a paint booth
Auto technicians specializing in auto body repair will first repair any exterior damage. For example, if you have a giant dent in your vehicle, they’ll push it back out. If there’s rust, they’ll clean it up. If the area to be painted has decals on it, the technician will remove them.
The technician will then prepare the vehicle for painting. First, they’ll cover all parts that won’t be painted. This requires an exacting attention to detail: no one wants a spot of red on a bumper or hub cap. They’ll then sand down the vehicle to smooth out any uneven spots on the original coat and prepare the exterior for the new one.
The auto body technician will then prime, paint, and lacquer your vehicle. In a paint booth, these products are sprayed on, which results in an even finish.
The last step, buffing, is done once the final layer of lacquer, often called a clear coat, has fully cured.
Where to get your car painted
When you visit the garage you’d like to have paint your car, ask for photos of their work. They should have no difficulties showing you their portfolio.
Next, ask questions about the work they’ll perform, including what products they’ll use. Unfortunately, not all products are created equal, with some coming off easily on their own in the not-too-distant future.
And lastly, enjoy your new coat! Nothing beats the look of a fresh coat of paint on your vehicle.
Find your local NAPA AUTOPRO shop to ask if they offer paint booth services.*
*Not all NAPA AUTOPRO shops offer paint booth services.