Thinking of getting a new paint job on your vehicle? Auto body paint job not only makes your car appear fresh but also protects the underlying metal. However, if you’ve experienced that your bright and shiny car paint eventually dulls after a few weeks, you may want to settle in and read ahead. Chances are you may have overlooked the weather in your area. Weather conditions significantly impact the outcome of auto body painting.
In this article, we will explore how different weather elements can influence how long the paint lasts, and we will also share a few good tips to ensure your car’s paint last longer. Let’s dive in.
The Connection Between Weather and Auto Body Painting
While auto body painting helps protect your vehicle, weather conditions can still affect it, especially if you’re doing the job yourself or using a subpar service provider.
Let’s understand how:
High Heat
Have you ever been tempted to get your car painted in the summer when rain isn’t much of a problem? Well, then the heat could be. High temperatures cause paint to dry out too quickly. While that may seem like a good thing, it’s far from it.
When paint dries too fast, it can result in visible brush strokes, bubbles, or an uneven finish because it didn’t have enough time to level out. Plus, if you’ve noticed that certain parts of your car are fading faster than other parts, it’s because they are more exposed to direct sunlight.
UV rays cause paint to oxidize and lose its shine over time.
Cold Weather
On the flip side, painting your car in freezing temperatures is also problematic.
Just as paint drying too quickly is a problem, so is it taking longer to dry. This results in not sticking to the surface properly. When the paint won’t adhere to the surface, it cracks or peels.
Auto body paint service providers make sure to avoid painting cars if temperatures are below 55°F (13°C) for this very reason. In case you have a heated garage, you need to make sure that the warmth is enough for the paint and the car’s surface for the job to be done right.
ALSO READ: How to Enhance Vehicle Value of a Car After Accident?
High Humidity
Rain and humidity can also wreak havoc on auto body painting. As a result, you end up with a hazy finish, sometimes also known as “blushing.” You are likely to experience this on a rainy day. Even if your vehicle wasn’t in direct contact with the rain, high air moisture levels mix with the paint, causing it to dry unevenly.
Even on days when it is not raining and the temperature is perfect, high humidity levels can still be an issue for auto body painting. The paint may eventually bubble or blister as it dries, which can lead to peeling down the line. That’s why experts carefully consider all these factors before delivering a pristine, long-lasting paint job.
Wind and Dust
Wind might not seem like the worst enemy of auto body painting, but it can be. Have you ever washed your car only to find the wind blowing dirt right back onto it? The same thing happens during painting—only worse.
As wind blows onto a freshly painted vehicle, dirt can get trapped, causing an uneven finish and permanent flaws. On top of that, wind can also lead to uneven drying, with some parts of the car drying faster than others. This results in patchy, inconsistent coverage.
Tips for Maintaining Your Car’s Paint
Along with invaluable expert services, there are a few things you can do to help extend the lifespan of auto body painting. Here’s how you can keep your car looking the best:
- Washing your car regularly removes the dirt, grime and road salt, ensuring a shinier finish to the paint job.
- Waxing your car every three months protects it from UV rays, moisture and pollutants. It also repels water and dirt.
- Park in the shade or use a car cover to protect your car from harmful UV rays that would otherwise cause it to fade and oxidize.
- Touch up any chips or scratches as they may lead to bigger problems if left untreated.
No More Bad Paint Jobs with A1 Auto Body Shop Brooklyn
The auto body painting process includes surface preparation, applying primer, painting, and finishing with a clear coat to protect the vehicle from elements like temperature, humidity, and wind.
However, all that time, effort, and money can feel wasted when the color of your vehicle starts to lose its freshness just a few days later.
So next time, leave the job to the experts. A1 Auto Body Shop Brooklyn pays extra attention to the impact of the weather on the paint.
