Lovebugs, slender black flies with red thoraxes, swarm twice a year, once in spring and again in early fall. One study found when the remains are left in place on your car’s surface, they turn acidic and begin etching your paint within 24 hours.
In the United States, approximately fourteen teenagers die each day in a car accident. That totals nearly five thousand teenagers each year that are fatally injured.
One of the most important parts of painting a car is adding multiple layers, including primer, color layer, and a clear coat. You’ll want to make sure that everything you use plays well together, and an auto paint supplier can help.
When getting repairs done to your vehicle, make sure to ask if the shop that you chose offers a repair warranty. Did you know that insurance companies do not guarantee the repair, but only pay for the repair? Only the shop may offer a warranty or guarantee.
Curing lights are a must for your auto body paint booth, as they both increase performance and save you time in the process. Remember, infrared lighting is best and can increase efficiency, while fresh air moving vents can make hours of painting less tiresome.
In an overwhelming number of states, a driver’s license is issued to a sixteen year old with no state official ever actually seeing the teenager drive an actual car on an actual road.
Car repair has become so sophisticated and precise that we are usually able to restore most cars to pre-collision condition. An insurance company considers a vehicle “totaled” only when the cost to repair it exceeds its value; so sometimes, if conditions are right, they will approve repairs you did not think were possible.
Finding a body part while your car is still new isn’t too hard, but once it gets a few years old, a lot of OEM suppliers just won’t carry parts. Body supply experts, on the other hand, have the experience needed to track down parts others don’t carry.
Following a collision, coolant leaks can occur anywhere in the cooling system. Collision repair technicians will thoroughly inspect the collision damage area for any signs of stains, leaks, damage, or kinked lines.
Car paint is available in hundreds of different colors, which can make it incredibly hard to match paint when repairs are needed, especially if you have a custom paint job. If your paint was done by a pro in the first place, they'll keep a record to make repairs easy.
If you’re a fan of muscle cars, check out the Muscle Car Museum in Sevierville, TN. It features restored and custom-painted performance cars from the 1960s and 1970s, including classics like the Barracuda, Camaro, Firebird, GTO, Mustang, and more.
When you bring your car to us for collision repairs, we will return it to you with the requested repairs made. Your vehicle will be safe to drive and will be both structurally and mechanically sound.
It is important to properly clean your car if you want to protect your new paint job. Washing your car by hand, towel drying, polishing, and waxing are all important steps to help maintain a glossy paint job.
Sometimes high winds and bad weather can cause tree limbs to break and come crashing down on whatever is beneath them. If they happen to land on your car or truck, all is not lost. We will inspect the extent of the damage and provide a repair estimate for your insurance company.
Scratches are unavoidable in vehicles; however, metallic automotive paint colors, especially silver, hide scratches. While silver metallic is the best at hiding scratches because of its highly reflective nature, other metallic paint shades always make scratches harder to detect than standard flat paint colors.
If your car was involved in a minor fender bender, it’s smart to have the vehicle thoroughly examined and major systems checked. For instance, even minor collisions can harm critical safety and operational factors like wheel alignment.
If you are considering a new custom car paint job and safety is a priority, then consider going with the "safer" colors. White, for example, (as well as other bright and lighter colored paints) is more visible at night and is thus considered safer than other colors.
If you have been involved in an accident, chances are that damage has been done to your hood, bumper, and/or fender. In some cases, minor dents and scratches can be repaired, but in other instances, the repair might include total replacement.
TIG or tungsten inert gas welding can be used on aluminum, some types of steel, and components made of different alloys. It uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to create an arc between the electrode and the material being welded.
It’s a common misconception that a vehicle is totaled if the frame is damaged in an accident. This isn’t necessarily the case. As long as the cost of repairs isn’t more than a certain percentage of the total value of the car, insurance will pay for the body shop to repair frame damage as well as other types.
Are you looking for a car color that’s easy to take care of and will keep you cool in the heat? White paint jobs are not only good for hiding dirt and blemishes, but they also don’t absorb heat which makes your ride cooler than a darker color.
Did you know that the Volvo company was responsible for introducing the modern side impact protection system in 1991? This system reduces passenger and driver injuries in the event of a side collision.
Resin is the part of automotive paint that will determine the durability of the paint. This portion of vehicle paint is also the part that will determine the quality of the application of the paint.
There are a number of different tools used in auto collision repair that help ensure a seamless, like-new appearance, where it’s impossible to tell that the accident occurred in the first place. This includes CNC machines for cutting and fabricating, as well as frame machines for frame repair and air flange tools for body panel work.
Dropping a sponge used for washing your car can make the sponge unusable. If a sponge picks up large dirt particles when dropped, using it can scratch the paint.
Body shops can be very helpful even when you haven’t been in an accident. Virtually all collision repair centers will also remove dents and repair damage from weather, such as hail. They have the equipment and know-how to get your vehicle back to its former condition.
What are pearlescent paints? "Pearlescent paints," writes the website carwow, "replace the metal particles with ceramic crystals (often called ‘mica') that don't just reflect light but refract it, too."
When your body shop talks to you about parts, they might use terms you’re unfamiliar with to describe them. These can include OEM (original equipment manufactured, parts from your vehicle’s factory supplier) and aftermarket (a part that has been copied from the original and manufactured at a third party factory).
Not all collision damage is immediately visible to the eye. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, body parts and equipment may have suffered damage that is not revealed until the vehicle is being prepared for repair. If we uncover additional damage, we will notify you immediately, and will not proceed with additional repairs without your approval.
The Gross Combination Weight Rating, or GCWR, is the maximum weight for the vehicle and the trailer. This measurement also includes all people and objects inside both the vehicle and trailer. Exceeding these will cause extra stress on the vital parts of the truck.
An adhesion promoter is a type of automotive undercoat meant to ensure quality adhesion of future paint layers to the main surface. This is particularly helpful for plastic components of the vehicle.
While your insurance company must restore your vehicle to the condition it was in before your collision, the type of parts that can be used to do this can vary. Check your individual policy to see if it specifies whether original equipment manufactured (OEM) parts must be used, or if aftermarket parts are acceptable (which is more common).
Shielded Metal Arch Welding, or SMAW, commonly called Stick welding, is a process that uses a welding rod (electrode) to carry the current and provide the majority of the weld metal. The temperature is approximately 6,500 degrees Fahrenheit.
There is always a bright side to everything. If you have been involved in an auto collision, and are driving a rental vehicle around while your car is being repaired, just look at it as a fun and extended test drive with a new car.
A fresh coat of automobile paint can expose all dents, scratches and rust spots. Make sure you properly sand, repair and prep all of these areas before painting to avoid complications.
Did you know that frontal collisions often result in damage to mechanical components? This is why a pre-repair inspection is always recommended, so that these types of damages are identified at the onset and properly repaired.
Although paint protection film (PPF) can last up to 7 years or longer (if you are careful with washings and polishings), on average it will last anywhere from 3 to 4 years. A garaged vehicle that is protected from the elements and driven in a limited fashion can see their PPF last over 7 years.
Can you name the major types of vehicle collisions occurring on U.S. roadways? In no particular order they are: head-on, road departure, side impact, rear end, sideswipe, single car, roll-over and multi-vehicle.
According to the Federal Highway Association, there are more than 5.8 million vehicle crashes each year. Nearly one-quarter of all crashes are related to adverse weather conditions such as fog, rain, sleet, snow, severe crosswinds and blowing snow.
Even if the body of the car is mostly undamaged, an auto paint specialist will still spend time perfectly prepping the surface, such as filling cracks, removing rust, and sanding scratches smooth. All of these take careful work to make sure your paint job is perfectly smooth.
What you wash your car with is just as important a decision as when to wash it. If you use a rag that is too rough or abrasive, you could end up damaging your car's paint job. If you don't have one already, we recommend a designated chamois just for washing and drying your car.
Following a major collision, all suspension and mechanical components of the vehicle need to be thoroughly inspected. This way, they can be repaired or replaced as needed to ensure the vehicle’s continued safety and performance.
Do you know who was the first country to attempt welding in space? If you guessed Russia, you’d be right! In 1969, the cosmonauts first attempted to weld in space. Since then, the advances in welding has made it possible for projects like the ISS, the International Space Station.
After your house, your car is usually the second-largest investment that you make, so why compromise with a substandard job? Taking it to a collision expert is the best way to take care of your investment and protect it.
One of the best ways to avoid getting wet road paint on your car is to pay attention to construction signs and watch out for safety cones and other markers indicating fresh or wet paint is present.
Intersection collisions are among the more serious and most expensive in terms of repair. This is because cars tend to be traveling at a high rate of speed as the result of someone running a red light, leading to severe damage to one or both vehicles.
If you have pulled a fender or a door from a car to replace the dented or damaged one on your car, we have the technology to match the paint from your vehicle exactly. We can work from a chip, or you can bring your car by to let us look at it.
Collision damage doesn’t just have to come from a collision with another vehicle. It can also come from an object hitting your car, like dings from hail or shopping carts. Fortunately, collision repair experts can fix these dings and dents, often without even damaging the paint.
Some insurance companies may want you to visit their drive-in claim center before having your car repaired. However, you have the option of bringing your car to the shop of your choice, and having it inspected there instead.
Auto paint pros who spend all day creating masterpieces use the best quality sprayers, but not everyone needs that much power (or expense), especially for a small job. Fortunately, many paint shops can put the paint in a pressurized spray can for you to make it easy.
Planning on doing a simple repair, such as replacing a bumper or side mirror? You want to make sure that it’s painted to match the body of the car. A paint expert can perfectly match your color to make that part easy.
When it comes to collision repairs, the selection of high quality materials is more important than you might think. High-grade parts used in the repair ensure both durability as well as the best fitment possible to restore your vehicle to its factory look.
The first step of giving your car a paint job is usually to strip down the existing paint to the bare metal of the car. This needs to be done carefully to avoid damaging the car, but body supply shops can steer you towards the right equipment.
While no one wants to, or plans to be, in an automobile collision, it is still a good idea to be prepared just in case. Take time to periodically review your collision insurance, so you understand its terms and conditions and exactly what is covered.
Planning on doing a simple repair, such as replacing a bumper or side mirror? You want to make sure that it’s painted to match the body of the car. A paint expert can perfectly match your color to make that part easy.
When it comes to collision repairs, the selection of high quality materials is more important than you might think. High-grade parts used in the repair ensure both durability as well as the best fitment possible to restore your vehicle to its factory look.
Want a classic color for your classic car? Hagerty, a specialty car insurance company, identified the top five classic car colors as British Racing Green, Fly Yellow (Ferrari), Grabber Blue (Mustang), Hugger Orange (Camaro), and Plum Crazy (Barracuda).
If your vehicle needs to have any paint work done to it after being in an accident, make sure that the repair shop that you chose uses only the highest-quality products and latest technology in mixing and color matching.
The first step of giving your car a paint job is usually to strip down the existing paint to the bare metal of the car. This needs to be done carefully to avoid damaging the car, but body supply shops can steer you towards the right equipment.
While no one wants to, or plans to be, in an automobile collision, it is still a good idea to be prepared just in case. Take time to periodically review your collision insurance, so you understand its terms and conditions and exactly what is covered.
Planning on doing a simple repair, such as replacing a bumper or side mirror? You want to make sure that it’s painted to match the body of the car. A paint expert can perfectly match your color to make that part easy.
When it comes to collision repairs, the selection of high quality materials is more important than you might think. High-grade parts used in the repair ensure both durability as well as the best fitment possible to restore your vehicle to its factory look.
