If your car's paint is not in good shape, this can make your entire car look bad. Repainting the car is a good option to take care of this. If you decide to do this, below are some steps that a professional auto body shop will make or that you may want to consider doing on your own.
Repair Damage
The first thing that will be done is to repair any damage on the exterior car. This means removing rust that may be built up and repairing any dents that are visible. Plastic or chrome trim will then need to be removed. This trim will generally be replaced with new trim once the car is painted. This will be an added expense but is a vital part of repainting a car.
Sand the Car
When all repairs have been made, the paint will then need to be sanded. This will ensure there is an even and smooth surface so the paint will adhere to the car. This is an important part of the repainting process. The professional will use a sander and keep sanding until all paint is removed and the only thing left behind is bare metal.
At this point, the car must be cleaned. This will remove all dust and debris that is created after sanding the car. Any type of residue left on the car will affect the way the paint looks. You or the professional should use a damp rag in order to clean the car. Once clean, the car needs to dry completely. This won't take long if the car is in the sun.
Tape and Prime
The next step is using masking tape to cover all surfaces that do not need to be painted, such as the door handles, grills, glass, window trim, etc. Once the trim is applied, the next step is to apply a primer. This primer will protect the metal from corrosion and also gets the surface of your car ready for painting. Once the primer is applied, it has to cure before the car is painted. How long this takes is determined by the type of primer used.
Paint the Car
The car is now ready to be painted. The professional will use an air brush as well as other types of brushes in order to paint your car quickly. They may put on more than one coat depending on the type of paint used. Once painted, the paint has to completely dry, which can vary in how long this takes. Once the paint is dry, a clear coated lacquer is placed over the paint.
The professional that you hire can give you much more information about auto painting.
