It’s the first thing you see and often the subconscious driving force in choosing an automobile – manufacturers learned long ago that we buy with our eyes. They say don’t judge a book by its cover but the quality and colour of a car’s finish go a long way in determining a vehicle’s appeal. Painting a car combines mechanical procedures with artistic talent and can be one of the most time-consuming and expensive automobile projects. Three quarters of the cost of building a car plant is put into the painting system. A paint job is really a multi-step process leading up to the final polish and takes a lot of patience and perfectionism.

Automotive painting can be done at home but with the time and expense involved, most will turn to a professional. Automotive refinishing technicians are specially trained for all types of paint jobs, whether it’s a custom design, restoration work or due to a collision. Today’s paint systems are better than ever – no longer containing volatile pollutants or lacquer. Refinishing requires calculating how much paint is needed, mixing paint to match existing colours exactly, and blending paint to the correct thickness. A meticulous eye is needed for colour matching and fine-finishing details.