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How to Choose Paint for a Car
There are several factors you need to think about when choosing paint for a car. Paint is very important and the entire painting process takes a long time. You don’t want to make a mistake with your paint choice and have to go through the tedious process of repainting your car. There are several different types of paint for a car, and they are used for different results.
Step 1 – The Different Paints
You want to think about the type of paint. A popular type is urethane paint. There are many different colors and kinds of urethane paint. This paint will shield your car from UV rays and holds up well against all types of weather. The depth of color provided by urethane paint is quite vibrant. Other types of paint include lacquer, enamel and acrylic. If you’re painting the car yourself at home, urethane is your best choice.
Step 2 – Primer, Color Coat and Clear Coat
To apply paint on a car you will need several different kinds besides the color coat. You will also need a primer or base coat, as well as a clear coat or top coat. It is best that all of these paints come from the same manufacturer as they will have been developed to work together. Paints from different manufacturers may have difficulty adhering to the lower layer and may not last long. Choose your desired color and then purchase the primer and top coat from the same manufacturer.
Step 3 – Paint Color
Get several paint books and see what appeals to you. You want to take into account the type of car, your personality and any artistic elements that you like and can be applied to the car. If you’re using your car for business, more classic colors work best. If this paint is for a classic or muscle car then more wild and bold colors can be used. If you have seen a car color on a specific car, call up the dealer to get the color code. There are six main paint colors, red, grey, black, silver, blue and beige, though there are many variations of these colors. Other less popular colors are still available, though they may be more expensive.
Step 4 – Paint Quality
Purchase the best quality paint possible within your budget. Higher quality paint will look better once it is applied and will last much longer. There are many different quality paints and if you purchase a lower quality one, you may find you need to repaint and retouch your car frequently.
Step 6 – Resale Value
The type of paint you use can also affect your car’s resale value. Very loud or odd colors on passenger cars will decrease the resale value significantly. If you eventually want to resell your car, it’s best to use paint colors that are timeless and classic.
Step 7 – Hide Defects
Certain colors are also used to hide issues. You can make a car look larger or smaller based on color. Certain colors hide dirt while others will show dirt. You can soften body lines using paint. If you want to hide any defects or you want your paint to serve a function, then do a bit of research on colors to see which is the best for your needs.
