A trip to a painter or a self-repair?

A trip to a painter or a self-repair? – main image

It happens many times that a small but visible scratch appears on our car, which we want to remove as soon as possible. We can deal with many faults of this type on our own, but some of them should only be done by an experienced painter. So let's think about when and how we should make an effective touch-up on scratches, dents or chips.

Loss of paint on cars is something natural and every driver will eventually get this unpleasant moment. Sometimes they are minimal and that's when it is worth considering removing them yourself, which will be cheaper and faster. Of course, most painting work is quite complicated and time-consuming, and also requires specialist equipment and - most importantly - knowledge. dents or corrosion. In the event that a significant part of your car is covered with rust or there are significant scratches on it, you should not even think about repairing it yourself.

In the case of small scratches, the cost of repair at the painter's office will be very similar, among others because many of them always choose to paint the entire element. In such cases, self-repair is the best option because we can save up to several hundred zlotys. However, we should remember a few fundamental principles.

In the case of small touch-ups, the first thing we should do is check the paint code for our car and decide to buy a ready one or prepare it yourself. The code can be found on the car's nameplate, and in many cases also in its documents. We will buy the varnish in the form of a set, which includes a brush, and in the case of spot repairs, this should be a sufficient solution. However, if we have access to a low-pressure gun and compressor, we can also repair larger elements. Let us assume, however, that, as inexperienced painters, we do not take a hoe to the sun.

We have to find the optimal place where we will apply the varnish. Preferably one in which we do not expose our car to bad weather conditions in the form of rain or snow. The most common problem is rust. If you want to remove it, remember to thoroughly clean it at the very beginning, and then cover it with a rust-binding agent. After waiting for about a day, i.e. until the preparations are dry, we can start painting. Then we smooth out the unevenness, for example with sandpaper, and then polish the place with special preparations.

Painting a car is a quite complicated process, but in the case of minor faults and minimal knowledge, it is worth doing it yourself, because it will save a lot of money. Before performing the activities, you can use many instructional videos that can be found on the Internet. If the defect is greater, the only solution is to visit the painter . " - said a specialist from Auto Plaza in Warsaw.

If you are patient enough and the damage to the car is small, it is worth trying to paint it yourself. It would be advisable to consult someone who has performed a similar activity, which should help us avoid simple mistakes. If a major part of the car is to be repaired, a visit to a professional painter is a natural step.

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Motorhome accident repairs – image 1
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Motorhome accident repairs
When we have a motorhome with a minor or larger accident, or we intend to buy a collision car, it is always worth contacting a proven service, specialized in repairing motorhomes. The Elcamp company from Krakow, known as a manufacturer and seller of motorhomes and a distributor of car parts and accessories, also runs a camping car repair service. Not only what's outside Most often, during a collision, elements of the outer skin of the car are damaged. The effects, however, can be much more serious. It is always worth checking if the equipment inside the vehicle and installations: water, gas, electricity, TV and others have not been damaged. The next stage of repair is the replacement of damaged parts . It is safest to get a specific, new part directly from the manufacturer. Elcamp gives a guarantee for all work performed, unless the repair at the customer's request was not carried out in accordance with the recommended technology. Then no one will take responsibility for any future faults. The biggest enemy of any building is its leakage . The vast majority of motorhomes have "sandwich" coverings. After a collision, check if there are any leaks through which water enters the interior, causing the frame to rot. In the event of damage or leakage of the roof, we will usually have nothing else to do but replace it with a brand new one. This usually takes a lot of time and money. Is the repair worth it? In the autumn and winter period, the workshop is working at full speed. A company with as much experience as Elcamp undertakes every repair of a damaged vehicle . Clients usually ask two questions: about the cost and duration of the work. Unfortunately, post-accident repair can take up to several months . This is due to the fact that not all parts are available "out of stock". The cost obviously depends on the degree of damage to the vehicle or its equipment. When the initial cost , which is usually estimated at the first inspection, exceeds the value of the car, it makes no sense to undertake repairs. Repair expenses are, of course, a river topic. They can be up to 100% of the market value of the vehicle. It is worth emphasizing, however, that it is not synonymous with the actual selling price - well-kept cars, repaired with the use of original parts, reach prices above average market prices. Please check before buying Sometimes it's a good idea to buy a used vehicle. However, be careful with new (or almost new) cars at bargain prices . Then we can almost be sure that they have had an accident. Of course, you can do something with them, but it is important to know about a possible collision. The purchase of an accident motorhome can even be profitable, provided that the vehicle is thoroughly inspected and, during the inspection, as much damage as possible related to the incident (or even earlier) is noticed. It even happens that the cost of post-accident work is lower than in the case of non-damage repair. Remember that previous defects are easy to hide in a damaged car, in which the seller will not allow us to connect, for example, electricity or gas during the inspection, explaining that the installations may be out of order. Sometimes it is of course true, but in this way we are deprived of the possibility of checking individual pieces of equipment. Haste is a bad advisor To find a used motorhome in good condition, you need to spend some time searching for it. It is rare that the first copy that catches our eye is actually worth buying. Here there is a small problem - buying a car abroad. Since we are going far and spending money to see the car, even if it does not correspond to the description, we often decide to buy it anyway. This is a serious mistake. When we are not specialists ourselves, it is best to opt for an advisor - it is an expense much lower than the unexpected repair later. Elcamp's experts often advise on the purchase of damaged or used cars, both at the company's headquarters and at the seller, at the request of customers. However, as they say themselves, nothing can replace a car inspection in a professional service prepared for the comprehensive service of camping vehicles, which has all the necessary equipment. Thanks to them, it is possible to detect defects that even an experienced specialist will not notice with the naked eye.