Types Of Automotive Car Paints And Painting Process

Maintaining the appearance of your car isn’t just about keeping it clean – the paint job plays a significant role in how your car looks and is protected from the elements. Automotive paints are designed to provide both aesthetic value and essential protection against rust, UV rays, and environmental damage. There are several types of car paints available in the market, and choosing the right one for your vehicle can be challenging. We explain the different types of car paints and take you through a step-by-step car painting process.

Types of Car Paints

Acrylic Lacquer Paint

Acrylic lacquer is a traditional type of automotive paint known for its ease of application and high-gloss finish. This paint consists of acrylic polymer, which is dissolved in a lacquer thinner. Acrylic lacquer paints are best for the restoration of old cars where a high-gloss finish is a priority and longevity is less critical. Here are certain benefits and disadvantages of acrylic lacquer paints.

Acrylic Enamel Paints

Most enamel paints are oil-based paints with toxic thinner. They require a longer drying time and emit volatile organic compounds (VOC) and toxic fumes during painting application. Acrylic enamel is more durable than lacquer and provides a tougher finish that can last longer, especially if properly maintained. It’s a single-stage paint, meaning you don’t need to apply a clear coat on top.

Durability and Usage Scenarios: Suitable for daily-driven cars or those that need a simple, long-lasting finish without the need for a clear coat. It’s also a good option for those looking for affordability and durability.

Urethane Paints

Urethane paints are known for their exceptional durability and environmental resistance. These paints are used by professional car garages to offer excellent car painting services to their customers. Their long-lasting characteristics and resistance to UV rays, chemicals, and chipping make them quite popular. Urethane paints are ideal for vehicles that need maximum durability and to tackle harsh environments such as sun and rain.

Water-based Paints

With the evolution of car painting technology, modern paints are becoming more environmentally friendly by using water as a thinner instead of toxic oils. These paints are becoming popular as most manufacturers have shifted to water-based acrylic polyurethane enamel paints for painting new cars. They have a far lower amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) compared to solvent-based paints. This ensures that water-based paints are safer for the environment and the person applying them.

Step-by-Step Car Painting Process

Car painting involves multiple steps that should be followed to get the best paint finish. Here are the steps.

Surface Preparation: Surface preparation is the first and the most essential step before painting as it allows the paint to adhere well. The car is thoroughly cleaned to remove dirt, grease, and contaminants. Further, the old paint, oxidation and rust is removed by coarse-grit sanding. Then, fine-grit sandpaper is used to achieve a smooth surface. With a well-prepped surface, no bubbling, peeling, or uneven finishes will occur.

Priming the Surface: The primer is applied after the surface is prepped. Primer is the bonding agent between the surface and the paint. Paints cannot stick to the metallic surface and will start peeling and chipping over time. Primer also protects the car from moisture and rust.

Applying Base Coat: As the primer is dried completely, the colour layer is applied. To get the right brightness of the colour, multiple thin coats of paint are applied. Here, the experience of skilled automotive painters is required to apply a fine coat of paint with the spray gun. Inexperienced hands can lead to poor paint finish or drip marks on the surface.

Applying the Clear Coat: Before applying the clear coat, let the base coat dry, which can take around 15 to 24 hours, depending on the type of car paint used. A clear coat is crucial because it adds shine and protects the base coat from UV rays, environmental contaminants, and minor abrasions. Multiple layers of clear coat will enhance the car’s gloss and depth, further enhancing its appearance.

Drying and Curing Process: After the clear coat is applied, the drying and curing process begins. While the paint may feel dry to the touch in a few hours, complete curing can take several days or weeks, depending on the paint and weather conditions.

During the curing process, it is a general rule to avoid driving or exposing the car to extreme weather, which can damage the fresh paint. Keeping the vehicle in a controlled environment will speed up the drying process and reduce the risk of damage.

Additional Considerations for Car Painting

Car painting is a complex process requiring various tools and equipment. Thus, it must be done by experienced car painters at modern car garages like FourDoor, which are equipped with high-tech paint booths.

All steps of painting a car must be performed in a controlled environment, which can be achieved in a modern paint booth. A spray paint booth offers various benefits over local car painting.

• Controlled environment: Offers the right temperature and humidity for painting
• Controls hazardous materials: Fumes and chemicals are safely contained 
• Dust-free surroundings: No bubbles, drips, chips or peeling of paint
• Longer-lasting finish: Controlled heating for quicker paint drying and curing 

FourDoor can be your one-stop shop for all your car painting needs, as we provide denting and painting services for all cars in India. All cars are painted following a rigorous process, from surface preparation to curing. We use premium AkzoNobel paints for all car painting services, offering excellent gloss and finish.

Professional car painting services can range from ₹20,000 to ₹1,00,000, depending on vehicle size and the type of paint used. On the other hand, a DIY paint job, especially one attempted at home, could prove to be a considerable expense owing to the sheer number of materials that would be required. A DIY paint job would require purchasing or renting a spray nozzle gun, an air compressor, sanding and polishing materials, cleaning materials, and more. This approach may not be feasible when attempting to paint a single car.

Conclusion

Choosing the right automotive paint and following the correct painting process is critical to maintaining your car’s appearance and protection. Whether you go for the durability of urethane, the eco-friendliness of waterborne paint, or the glossy finish of acrylic lacquer, each type of paint has its own advantages. Following this car painting process can ensure a smooth, long-lasting finish that keeps your car looking at its best.

FAQs

Q. How are cars painted step by step?

Cars are painted through a detailed process:  

• Surface preparation – Clean and sand the surface to remove old paint or rust
• Priming – Apply a primer for better paint adhesion and corrosion protection
• Base coat – Spray the base colour coat evenly
• Clear coat – Add a clear coat to seal and protect the paint while enhancing shine
• Drying and curing – Let the paint cure properly before further handling

Q. What are the different types of paint coatings for cars?

Car paint coatings for protection include:

• Paint sealants
• Wax coatings
• Teflon coatings
• Ceramic coatings
• Graphene coatings
• Paint protection films

Q. What kind of paint is used on cars?

Most vehicle manufacturers use water-based acrylic polyurethane enamel paints to paint new cars. This paint offers an excellent finish, longevity, and is environmentally friendly.

Q. How many types of automotive paints are there?

There are four main types of automotive paints:

• Acrylic lacquer – Shiny but less durable
• Acrylic enamel – More durable, with a glossy finish
• Urethane – Long-lasting and resistant to fading
• Water-based paint – Eco-friendly with good performance