Painting a car can be exciting, but the number of paint options can also overwhelm it. Once you’ve finally decided on your color and whether or not you want any decals, you’ll find out that there are still choices to be made – namely, what type of car paint and finish you want. Whether you want to paint the car yourself or get a professional to renovate your paint job, this article can help you decide on the right paint for your car. There are four different car paint types on a regular commercial basis. While other paints are available, these are the most common and will get the job done.
Solid Color Paint
As the name implies, a solid color paint job is the most simple and affordable means to paint your car. This is usually a common color like black, white, or red, making them an affordable option. Also, the more common color is, the easier it is to fix scratches and dents with matching touch-up paint or pen, compared to a “sunset orange” or “deep sea metallic blue,” for example. Even a major touch-up can be done relatively cheaply and easily at a body shop.
The downside? They are more susceptible to weathering compared to a metallic finish. Also, they can be a little boring. A solid-colored coat of paint may have great utility but not much style.
Metallic Paint
The answer is metallic paint if you’ve ever wondered what gives certain cars an eye-catching, subtle sparkle. The aluminum powder in metallic car paint can catch the sun’s light for a dazzling shine, and its light-catching abilities can help cover up small dings and scratches.
Metallic auto paint tends to be more expensive. Since the color is hard to match, it’s usually more difficult to repair dings and scratches, so this paint is more expensive in the short and long term. Furthermore, when choosing metallic paint, you’re slightly more limited on color options.
Pearlescent Paint
Pearlescent paints shine even more brightly and deeply than metallics.
Mainstream manufacturers offer a limited range of pearlescent colors, but high-end brands offer dozens.
The pearlescent luster is created by ceramic crystals in the paint reflecting and refracting light. That gives the color a depth that even metallics can’t match. And under bright light, lighter shades become iridescent, appearing to be different colors from different angles, sometimes to spectacular effect.
On the flip side, pearlescent paints are even more susceptible to marks and harder to repair than metallics.
Keep it mark-free, and pearlescent makes it fantastic.
Matte Paint
Non-shiny matte finishes aren’t a common choice because they tend to only come in shades of silver, grey, or black. And because they cost thousands.
There are various methods for achieving a matte finish: a primer with a high epoxy content, a high PVC content in the paint itself, or a flattening agent in the lacquer.
Whichever method is used, the paint absorbs more light than it reflects, producing a dull sheen with a certain texture to the color with an appeal.
Matte finishes are very high maintenance: they must be cleaned regularly with specialized shampoos and polishes. Bird droppings need to be cleaned as soon as possible, as they contain acids that quickly eat through the finish.
When BMW sold a special edition M3 with matte paint a few years ago, a warranty waiver required the owner to take scrupulous care of it.
Predictably, matte finishes are very difficult and expensive to repair properly.
You either love matte finishes, or you don’t. If you do, you may feel the extra expense and hassle are worth it. But don’t be surprised if your car turns out to be difficult to sell.
Conclusion:
There is a car paint type for everyone, just as there is a car type for everyone. Some want their car to stand out from the crowd with a flashy pearlescent finish. Others prefer utility over aesthetics: Your car will get scratched at some point, and fixing it should be cheap and simple.
In summary, a solid finish is cheaper and easier for the budget-conscious or those with vehicles that work hard for a living. If money is no problem, pearlescent and metallic paints can make any car look like it belongs on the Hollywood strip and improve the resale value. It comes down to your preference for car paint types and whether style or utility is the most important factor.