Maintaining the paint job on your car with that vibrant, unscratched and untarnished look is the difference between getting top dollar when you come to sell it. In a country which has extremes when it come the environment, sun damage can be a major problem but, if you follow these top tips to protect car paint, you can guard against patchy and heat blistered paintwork.
Park in the shade
It is not just the paintwork that will be protected but the interior as well when you keep the vehicle away from the harmful rays of the sun. Avoiding direct sunlight will keep the bodywork of the car from cracking and fading. If this does happen, then secure the services of a car paint match specialist who can source the factory colour paint and carry out a respray so the vehicle looks as good as new. If you cannot find a shady place to park, then consider buying a good quality cover to put over the car while it is parked out in the heat. Otherwise when you have finished using the car for the day, park it in the garage or under a roofed drive to keep it looking as new as the day you bought it.
Wash the exterior regularly
Heat and sunlight cause fading and, in some cases, the paint to bubble and crack which not only ruins the look of the car, but can cause rust damage in the long run. The paintwork acts as a protective skin over the metal frame stopping water and oil residue getting into the metal structure where rust can form. Washing the car on a regular basis will not only remove dirt and debris that can scratch the surface of a car but also other more harmful elements as well. Bird droppings consist, amongst other things, of uric acid in minute quantities. If these droppings are not removed from the car then the acid can start to damage the paintwork. Plus, the sun on the faeces causes the chemical reaction to work even quicker, so get them washed off as soon as you have spotted them. If the damage has already occurred, contact your local car paint match repair shop and get it sorted out before any more problems occur.
Once you have washed the car, the next step is to hand dry the exterior and for this, you should use a clean and dry cotton rag or chamois leather. It may take a little longer to do but you should not skip this step. If you just leave the car to air dry, then it becomes vulnerable to some spot damage which is caused by minerals that naturally occur in the water you use for cleaning the car.
Polish and wax the surface
One of the ways to protect the paintwork of the car from the sun’s ultraviolet rays is to follow up the washing and drying of the bodywork with a polish and wax finish. Remember to use a good quality wax which can be bought from a number of automotive outlets and ensure you don’t skimp on the waxing. Waxing will add an extra protective layer to the paint and help prevent UV rays from penetrating and discolouring the surface. When waxing and polishing, remember to check for any dints and dents as you work across the surface. These can be easily rectified by the method of paintless dent removal in Melbourne based panel workshops, that have experienced technicians and the right tools to smooth out any dints without causing damage to the paintwork.
Follow these easy steps and your car will keep its factory finish paintwork for many years to come. If you have any questions about the best methods for keeping your car paintwork looking good, contact Brighton Panel Works, a trusted body repairer for over 50 years, servicing Melbourne’s inner city and the bayside precincts.