Common DIY Car Painting Mistakes in Fayetteville, NC

If you need to touch up your auto’s paint, it may be tempting to do it yourself. But this is something best left to the professionals at Reed-Lallier Body Shop. If you try DIY car painting in Fayetteville, NC, or even hire a cheap repair shop, you will likely make mistakes. Take a look at some of the most common DIY car painting mistakes. 

Not Using the Right Paint

Choosing the right paint for your car is much harder than you may think. There are so many colors available, and the average person doesn’t know how to choose the right one. But if you don’t get an exact match, the result looks off. On the other hand, professionals know how to match colors when car painting in Fayetteville, NC. 

Not Using the Right Sandpaper

One of the most common DIY mistakes with car painting in Fayetteville, NC, is not using the right sandpaper – or even forgetting to sand the area in the first place. You will need to sand the area a little, as this lets the paint stick to the surface. But if you use the wrong sandpaper, you will scratch your car. 

But it’s not just about choosing the right sandpaper. You must also remember to wash off the area after you sand it. Otherwise, you will paint over dust, dirt, sandpaper particles, road grease, and more. 

Painting on a Hot Day

You will notice that reputable car painting in Fayetteville, NC, is not done on hot days or in an area with fans and air conditioning. That’s another common mistake. The paint behaves differently if you paint your car while it is too hot outside. You’ll typically end up with discoloration, blotches, and bubbling. Car paint professionals know to avoid extremely hot or cold weather when painting. 

Waxing the Car Too Soon

Even if you get professional car painting in Fayetteville, NC, this is a mistake you can make. Paint, especially spray paint, typically has solvents and thinners. But those thinners can take up to a month before fully evaporating from the paint. You need to wait at least 30 days after painting your car to apply wax. If you wax your car too soon, you lock the thinners and solvents into the paint, and it never dries. The result is discoloration, thinning out, and rippling. 

Have Reed-Lallier Body Shop Fix Your Car’s Paint

The best way to avoid these DIY mistakes is to let professionals paint your car. The team at Reed-Lallier Body Shop in Fayetteville, NC, is ready to handle this for you. We have the proper supplies on hand and will get a perfect match for your paint. Before you leave with your newly painted car, we’ll also give you instructions to ensure the paint lasts, including letting you know how long to wait before you can wash and wax your car without damaging it. Schedule an appointment via our website, and soon your car’s paint will look new.