Your Essential Tips
If you are going to spend a lot of time and effort painting your car, then you will want to keep it looking as good as new for as long as you can. Some wear and tear is inevitable, but there are some things that you can do to keep your car paint looking vibrant. By keeping up with even just a few of the following, you can extend the life of your paint and save yourself some money in the long run!
Do your prep work
If your car paint is going to last as long as possible, you need to lay a strong foundation for it. Sand down your old car paint until you are left with bare metal, and then clean and tape off the car’s surface. Then you need to apply 2-3 coats of primer before sanding away the powdery finish. Only then are you ready to actually paint the car.
Wax
Once you have finished painting your car and it is completely dry, it’s time to give it a wax. Car wax has two main benefits. The first is that it gives the paint a deep sheen, showing off your hard work. The second is that it protects your car against dirt, rain, you name it! So not only does it make your car paint look great in the short term, but it can also help to preserve its finish for many years to come.
Be careful where you park
Where you park your car can have a really big impact on how long its paint lasts. The best place to park a car by far is a garage, as it will be shut away from the elements and other things that can damage the paintwork, such as bird droppings and UV sunlight. If you don’t have a garage, try to avoid parking your car under a tree and use a cover to protect it when not in use.
Clean regularly
Cleaning is a huge part of your car paint upkeep. You should be cleaning your car once a week, but that can often fall by the wayside when you are juggling a busy work and personal life. Aim to clean it as often as you can, using specialist cleaning products suitable for car paint. You don’t want to use anything too harsh, and if you only have soap and water to hand, that will work wonders too.
Touch up scratches
If you notice any scratches on your car, it’s important to touch them up as soon as you can. When left, they can begin to rust and damage the surface of your car, leaving you with an even bigger issue to fix. You can touch up minor imperfections with tools such as car paint pens, but bigger areas of concern will require a coat of paint. In this case, be sure to colour-match it properly using the colour code.
Enjoy your car for longer!
Spring is the perfect time to give your car a fresh coat of paint, and the above advice will help you to keep yours in great condition for as long as possible.
