How many coats of paint should you put on a car?

Q: How many layers of paint are on a car?

Its comprised of three layers: Primer, Base Colour Coat and Clear Coat (lacquer).

Home » Auto Repair » How Many Coats Does a Standard Car Paint Job Include?

- Posted on
- in Auto Repair
- on October 7, 2013
Friends that are car enthusiasts have told you that standard paint jobs are inferior and that you should pay extra for a premium paint job. So you want to know how many coats of paint are actually used when you pay for a standard paint job from your local auto body and paint shop. This will normally depend on the actual shop you take your car to. But generally speaking, most shops will spray two coats of primer and two or three coats of paint. Lower quality shops will spray two coats, while higher quality shops will spray three coats. This will be followed by two or three coats of clearcoat to protect the paint.
For more info, see How to Find a Car Paint Repair Specialist
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However, the difference between a proper spray paint job and a DIY disaster requires research, planning and prep work. Use our car painting guide to give your vehicle a shiny new coat of paint, and a new lease on life!

What You’ll Need

In order to properly spray paint your vehicle, you will need a few important materials:

A power sander
Sanding pads
An air compressor
A paint sprayer
1200- and 2000-grit sandpaper
A cleaning solvent
Newspaper
Masking Tape
Primer
Enamel, acrylic enamel, or polyurethane paint
Paint thinner
A face mask
Safety glasses
Undercoat/primer
A clear coat lacquer
A rag
Denatured alcohol or mineral spirits
Rubbing compound (optional)

Preparation

A proper paint job cannot be rushed – painting your vehicle requires plenty of time, so make sure that you have a few days set aside in order to do the job right.

Step 1: Choose Your Location Wisely

Before you begin any actual painting, you will need to find a suitable location for your DIY project. Make sure your location offers plenty of room for working around your car, and is well ventilated and well lit. Choose a place with electricity and minimal dust. Avoid residential garages, since these often have furnaces or heaters, which pose a fire hazard when coming into contact with paint fumes.

Step 2: Remove rust, dents, and trim

Make sure your paint job does not accentuate any imperfections – fix any visible dents, repair any rust, and remove chrome or plastic trim. Moldings and trim can be replaced after painting is complete.

Sanding

Step 3: Sand

Give your paint a smooth and even surface onto which it can adhere – sand your entire vehicle using circular motions, either all the way to the bare metal, to the original primer, or at least enough for your new coat of paint to adhere to.

If you are short on time, the 3rd option will suffice – however, you will get the best results from sanding down to bare metal.

Step 4: Clean

Using a rag and denatured alcohol or mineral spirits, wipe down all surfaces of your vehicle thoroughly, to remove any oil residue and ready it for painting.

Step 5: Tape Surfaces

Use masking tape and newspaper to cover the surfaces of your vehicle that you don’t want painted, including mirrors, window trim, glass, grills and door handles.

Priming

Step 6: Prime

If you have sanded down your vehicle to the bare metal, you will want to use a corrosion-resistant and self-etching primer in order to prime the surface of your car.

Step 7: Allow primer to cure

If you removed any rust, make sure to prime these properly by feathering them until they are smooth and applying enough primer to the areas. Allow all primer to cure thoroughly, according to instructions on the container.

Step 8: Sand once more

Sand the newly primed surfaces once more, but be sure not to sand too much and expose the metal surface again.

Step 9: Wipe down

Wipe the primed surfaces with a rag slightly dampened with thinner.

When you are ready for painting, make sure to follow manufacturer’s directions and prepare the paint for spraying.

Step 10: Paint

Holding your spray gun approximately 6 inches away from your vehicle’s surface, and using a side-to-side sweeping motion, apply paint in thin and even coats. Typically, it will take three to four coats to completely cover the surface. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s drying time – this can vary from 20 minute to an hour.

Step 11: Sand and Wipe

Before you apply your last coat, sand the surfaces once more to remove powdery residue, then wipe with a clean rag.

Step 12: Apply lacquer

Apply a clear coat lacquer, using the same painting technique.

Step 13: Remove masking tape

Remove masking tape while the clear coat is still wet, then allow the clear coat to dry according to your manufacturer.

Step 14: Buff

Using circular motions, complete your paint job by buffing out all painted surfaces. What’s more, you can use a rubbing compound to bring out a glossy finish.

Car Painting 101: Your Guide to Spray Painting Your Car

October 30, 2017

Whether your car’s paint job is looking a little worse for wear, or you just want a change of colour, spray painting your vehicle is a cost-efficient way to give your ride a whole new look.

How many layers of paint are on a car?

It's comprised of three layers: Primer, Base Colour Coat and Clear Coat (lacquer).

How many coats of paint do I need for a show car?

But generally speaking, most shops will spray two coats of primer and two or three coats of paint. Lower quality shops will spray two coats, while higher quality shops will spray three coats. This will be followed by two or three coats of clearcoat to protect the paint.

How many coats should be on a car?

When it comes to applying the final clear coat, after having finished with the paint job, three to four clear coats are generally recommended. Whether the dings were caused by daily wear-and-tear or by a minor fender bender, it's a good idea to have car insurance to cover your bases in case of more serious damage.

How long do you wait between coats of paint on a car?

For most types of car paint, you should wait about 15 to 20 minutes between coats. If you are applying a primer, you should wait about 24 hours before applying a base coat or enamel based paint. Also, between primer and paint applications, you should wet sand the vehicle with a 1000 - 1200 grit piece of sandpaper.