How deeply your car is scratched can affect how easy it is to fix the exterior damage. Minor scratches can be buffed out at your home; major damage takes a little more work to restore your vehicle to its original glory. Boulevard Auto Repair is a full-service auto shop, and that includes bodywork. We can fix the scratches on your automobile’s exterior paint. Here are the differences between the damage.
Vehicle Paint Jobs First
Before we get into the different types of car scratches, let’s talk about your automobile paint. A good paint job has three layers: primer, base coat (paint), and the clear topcoat. Underneath these three layers of paint is the metal body panel, i.e. the different pieces that make up your car. Depending on how deep into these four layers the scratch goes determines how bad the scratch is.
Minor Scratches
Minor scratches only penetrate the clear topcoat of your car’s paint job. These scratches are easy to buff out. In fact, you might not even notice some of the minor scratches on your automobile. You may also end up with marks on your vehicle, such as rubber smudges from a shopping cart, that only affect the clear topcoat. You can clean off the marks with the same polishing compound you use for the minor scratches. Make sure the surface is completely clean before you buff anything.
Paint Scratches
Paint scratches are deep enough to scratch the base coat as well as the clear topcoat. In this case, a rubbing compound will likely not be enough to get the scratch out. Rather, the scratch will need to be buffed out using sandpaper with a fine grit and then the paint patched and protected with new clear topcoat. If the paint scratch isn’t horrible, you might be able to buff it out without removing any of the paint. In this case, you won’t need to repaint the area. You’ll only need new topcoat.
Deep Scratches
If the scratch goes through the topcoat, base coat, primer, and into the metal, it’s a deep scratch. Usually, these scratches are caused by an auto accident or intentional damage. They can also happen if you are hit by road debris or drive past a tree with branches extending out into the street. In this case, the scratch will need to be filled and then new primer, base coat, and topcoat applied. Many people turn to professionals with the experience needed to repair this kind of scratch.
We can fix deep or any other scratches on your automobile. Just give Boulevard Auto Repair in Sherman Oaks, CA, a call to schedule an appointment.