8 Things to Consider Before Painting Your Car In Arizona

Before you start painting, it’s essential to know which applicator to use. When it comes to car painting, HVLP is highly recommended because of its advanced technology. The paint transfer is 80% from the applicator to the surface, reducing the paint loss. The transfer efficiency is extremely high, and it diffuses less paint into the air.

If it’s a luxury car, you should be extra cautious. According to professional paint sprayers, supercars use advanced Nano-lacquer paint coating to protect the vehicle from corrosion. As a result, they're very sensitive and need special care during painting.

Here are eight things you should think about before deciding whether to paint your car.

1) Exterior & Custom Auto Paint

This is the first and most important question you should ask yourself before painting your car. By "painting," I'm not just talking about exterior paint, but also any other custom paint that's applied to parts of your vehicle like center consoles, interior pieces, engine bays, etc. 

If you want a custom auto paint job like engine bays or other pieces to be painted, then you must find someone with experience in custom paint. For example, I recently had a customer contact me about painting the chrome piece on the top of his engine. If it's just painted on your exterior that you're looking to have changed, you should be okay getting the job done at most quality retail shops or by good painters. Custom painting isn't something you can just learn overnight.

2. Can the Shop Guarantee the Auto Paint Job?

Painting a vehicle is different from detailed work. To paint a car correctly, many things have to be thought about and prepared before painting can even start. The prep work that goes behind a paint job is much longer than your average detail work, so it's essential that whoever is doing the job for you has all the necessary equipment and knowledge to get the job done correctly. Not only will a proper paint job look better in the end, but it will also last longer. Some things that have to be considered before painting a car are:

• Are all the panels straight?
• Can the auto paint be blended without making lines or grooves in the paint?
• Is there any Bondo on any of the panels? If so, can it be taken down smooth enough for good paint adhesion?
• Are all the necessary steps in the painting process done, like degreasing and surface cleansing?
• Is all of the correct paint available to do the job? In many cases, custom colors are an extra cost.
• Can a proper base/clear coat be applied without runs or orange peel?
• Can all panels be masked off properly without any wrinkles or imperfections?
• Can all the work be guaranteed after the fact, like if there's a scratch or something in the clear coat down the road?

If you want a paint job done right, then expect to spend about twice as much as what a detail shop would charge for the same type of work. If you find someone that can do this kind of work for cheap, then chances are it won't come out looking perfect.

3. Beware of Cheap Auto Paint Protection Packages

I can't tell you how many times I've heard about people getting scammed into buying cheap paint protection packages, like waxing with $5 carnauba that ends up wearing off in less than a week anyway. Even though it might be tempting to save some extra money on these kinds of things, you get what you pay for. It's almost like the old saying, "you get what you pay for." You'll never hear me say that. So if you want to take care of your paint properly and get it done right, then expect to spend an average amount on quality products. With the summer heat in Arizona, it's important to make sure that your paint job will last by sealing it correctly with a sealer that will keep it looking good for a while.

4.  How Long Will the Protection Last?

If you do plan on getting some sort of auto paint protection for your vehicle, there are many different choices available. Depending on the quality of products that have been used and the type of environment it is being exposed to, a certain degree of durability can be expected from any given product. Just keep in mind that many waxes and sealants out in the market today will claim a certain amount of durability when in fact, they only last around 3-4 months especially in the summer heat we experience here in Arizona. If you're going for this type of protection, then consider working with us as we know the climate here and what works best.

An auto paint coating can offer better beading, anti-static properties, UV protection, corrosion protection, chemical resistance, and more.

5. You should know about the benefits of a auto paint coating

If you're on the fence about whether or not to get some sort of paint coating for your car, then think about some of these possible benefits that come with it: More efficient use of time in cleaning/waxing your car since most dirt and water will just bead up, roll-off or be easily wiped away. This will save you a great deal in the long run. It also provides better protection against corrosive elements like water spots, bug guts, bird droppings, etc, which can destroy paint over time. 

The shine is longer lasting with paint coatings compared to waxes and sealants. Paint coatings do not require as much elbow grease to remove old waxes and sealants from the surface before applying a new protective layer. Paint protection or a paint coating isn't going to be for everyone, but if you want your car to look its best and last a long time, then it would be worth looking into. Just make sure to do your research and find the right product for you and your vehicle!

6. An Estimate of the work

The type of paint protection that is chosen will be the deciding factor on how much time and money you end up spending. If you do decide to go for top-notch, then chances are it will take longer than usual to complete your car's detail due to the added steps involved in making sure everything is done correctly. On average, though, most detailing shops will charge you anywhere from $200-$500 for the paint protection alone. Many different factors contribute to its cost, which is why it can be pretty hard to estimate how much you're going to end up spending on these kinds of services.

7. Why not DIY?

Paint protection by itself can be done as a DIY job as well. Many different types of DIY paint protection kits can be bought from your local auto parts store with varying degrees of durability and prices. Just keep in mind, though, that there is a 50% chance of error when attempting to go this route. Many people don't know the proper application and removal techniques and end up ruining their paint protection job by reapplying it a second or even a third time.

If you're going to go this route, then it's best first to educate yourself on the proper application and removal techniques. If you don't, then chances are you'll end up wasting a lot of money instead of saving some.

8. The legality of changing your car’s color

Many people choose to make modifications and upgrades to their cars.  Changing the color of a vehicle is far from being the most expensive or difficult modification, but it can be one of the most permanent!  It can also be illegal.

• Color change legislation varies from state to state, but it’s illegal in 17 states.
• It is possible to obtain permission for a color change, but it can be quite expensive.
• Be aware that the more you change on your vehicle, the more likely you will need to obtain permission before painting it.
• Permission for your car’s new color can be given by the DMV or state officials.  If they refuse permission, there may be legal consequences in some states.