Protecting Your Car’s Paint

There are few things that will decrease the value of your vehicle faster than paint damage. Rust spots, scratches, and paint swirls are all too common, and we want to help. Today, we are going to talk about easy steps you can take to protect your car’s paint.

Even when your vehicle is in good mechanical condition, if it doesn’t look good you aren’t going to be as happy driving it. And if you are trying to sell it, you aren’t going to get top dollar.

Whether or not you have the nicest vehicle on the road, you probably still like it when your car is shiny and clean. Wouldn’t it be great if it could look that good all year long? In Edmonton, there are a lot of factors that play into the condition of your vehicle’s paint. Salt, sand, and even the sun can all eat away at your vehicle’s paint.

We know you want to keep your car looking good and keep the resale value high, so Southern Auto Body has put together 5 easy tips to help you protect your car’s paint.

First, let’s look at some of the biggest hazards affecting the condition of your vehicle’s paint on the Edmonton roads:

Sand & Salt

With heavy snowfalls year after year, Edmonton roads are often covered with sand and salt to help keep them safe. But, this doesn’t help keep your paint safe.

While sand is particularly harmful when spit up, as it can chip your paint, salt is especially harmful as it eats away at metal and can cause early rust.

During the winter months, remove salt build up as quickly and often as possible to help protect your car’s paint.

Bird Droppings

Much like salt, bird droppings can eat away at your vehicle’s paint very quickly. The key to protecting your car’s paint against damage caused by bird droppings is to clean it off as soon as possible.

The Sun

Unfortunately, as much as we love when the sun comes out in Edmonton, it is also damaging to your vehicle’s paint.

Just like your skin, your car’s paint is affected by the sun and will deteriorate more quickly when exposed.

The sun’s rays can cause fading, as well as the expansion of the paint’s particles, allowing for more dirt and dust to be absorbed, slowly breaking your paint down.

Keeping your car indoors, or covered, when possible will slow this process down and help protect your car’s paint.

Sap

Did you know that sap can actually dissolve the paint on your car? Not only that, but it acts as an adhesive, collecting dirt and debris from the air.

Although this problem is most prominent in the spring, when trees are starting to gear up for the warm summer months, it is important to carefully wash any sap off your car immediately, no matter what time of year it is.

How To Protect Your Car’s Paint

Keep Your Car Covered

Keeping your car out of the elements is going to be the most effective way to protect your paint against them. Not everyone has access to a covered garage, especially at work, so car covers are often the best, most cost-effective alternative.

To avoid the harmful bleaching affect the sun can have as well as bird droppings, sap, and even pollen, consider parking inside or purchasing a car cover.

Keep Your Car Clean

Although taking your car to the wash regularly will extend the life of its paint, you can take this even further with exterior detailing and waxing.

Ideally, during the winter months a wash a week will help to remove the road salt before it can do any damage. And as long as you are not driving on gravel roads, a wash every 2 to 3 weeks in the summer is often plenty.

We understand that washing your car every week, let alone paying for professional detailing, can be very expensive, but washing your car as often as you can, will make a difference.

Also, consider keeping some cleaning supplies in the trunk so you can deal with any sap or bird droppings right away.

Wrap Your Car

Have you ever wished you could just wrap your car in a plastic to protect it? Well, you are not alone.

Many people will wrap the front of their car (bumper, hood, mirrors) with 3M, but there are actually full-car wraps available.

Plastic wraps, or films, will protect your car’s paint from sand and salt in the winter, as well as bird droppings, tree sap, bugs, and gravel in the warmer months. However, this is not a cheap alternative and requires professional installation.

Remove Snow From Your Car Carefully

We have all done it – raced to remove snow from our car as quickly as possible so we can get on the road. But what most people don’t realize is that the nylon brush, let alone the ice scraper, can cause serious damage to your car’s paint.

Southern Auto Body recommends using a foam broom or foam brush to remove snow from your car. The foam is significantly easier on your car’s paint and won’t leave find scratches like the nylon bristles on regular scrapers.

When it comes time to remove the snow, pull it in straight lines towards you, using only as much force as is necessary, and never use a circular motion.

Keep Your Car’s Paint Sealed

Most cars now have a protective clear coat of paint, but if yours does not, or your not sure, contact a professional Edmonton body shop to ensure you are protected.

Particularly in a climate as diverse and hard on a car’s paint as Edmonton, it is worth the extra time and money to ensure your car’s paint is sealed.

If you already have a clear coat and are looking for further protection, or don’t want to spend the money to have one put on, considering regular waxing.

It is always worth the time and money to have a wax finish applied when you clean your car. Wax coatings act as a protective layer against many of the paint damaging elements we are faced with on Edmonton roads.

Adding Years Of Life To Your Car’s Paint

Not only will owning a car that looks great make you feel better, but it will last longer, retain its value, and save you money.

No more scrapping a car simply because it’s covered in rust, no more costly panel replacements, and no more resale woes.

When you are looking for professional auto body services in the Edmonton area, Southern Auto Body is the answer. We offer a wide variety of services ranging from Auto Body Collision Repair and Bumper Repainting to Wheel Repair and Full Detailing Packages. Contact us today to learn more.