Ways You’re Sabotaging Your Own Car’s Paint Job Without Realizing It

Paint doesn't just give color to your car and make it look like new, but it also protects it from premature rusting and corrosion. This is why it is very important to protect your paint from things that fades it sooner than it should like ultra-violet rays, chemicals, and natural pollutants. More importantly, car repainting can be expensive! The thing is, sometimes it’s not those things that causing damages on the paint but the car owners mistakes and carelessness.

If you don’t like to spend a huge amount of money trying to fix your car’s paint, then better do a better job at protecting your car’s paint before you end up with nasty blistering and rusting as well as a huge car repair bill.

You Don’t Have A Car Cover Ready In Your Trunk

There will be times when you won’t be able to find a covered parking lot. Times like this calls for a car cover but if you don’t have it on hand then you end up getting your car get soaked in the sun. 

You Get Lazy When Looking For A Covered Car Park

Even a warm covered parking lot beats being parked in the sun all day. So whenever there’s an available one, use it. Not only that your interior will stay cool, but your paint job won’t suffer to premature damage either. I know it can be difficult to find a parking spot sometimes let alone a covered one, but this is exactly why you should have a car cover. This way you can be lazy and park at the first spot you find and just whip it out to protect your car paint.

Spraying Water From The Hose Equals Car Wash To You

People don’t just seek car servicing in Singapore due to engine problems, more often than not it’s due to exterior damage from different kinds of dirt like grease, grime, and bird poop. When left unattended for extended period of time, they can cause serious paint damage on your car. Avoid the stress and unnecessary expenses by keeping your vehicle clean. 

You Don’t Think Wiping Your Car Dry Is Necessary

Yes the sun and wind can easily dry your car, but letting your vehicle dry that way will leave unsightly water marks which renders your hard work useless. Use a microfiber towel or preferably a weave drying towel to absorb the water and dry the car.

You Haven’t Discovered Clay Bar Yet

Washing your car with water and car specific cleaning agent is a great way to prevent any dirt from causing damage on the paint. However, even after washing, some contaminants still cling to the paint. To totally get rid of them, using a clay bar is the way to go. Using this product is very easy but time consuming. First, use a good quality auto detailing shampoo to wash the paint and get rid of dirt and grime as much as possible. After that, you can use the clay. Many clay bars in the market come with a lubricant but if it does not, there are products that you can purchase separately. It is extremely important to lubricate the surface first to enable the clay to glide easily across the surface. You’ll know it’s working because the clay gets dirtier as you go because of all the contaminants it’s grabbing.

You Skip Car Waxing

Remember that a good wax will easily last 8 – 10 months on a car that will protect the paint of the car from external elements like scratches, dust, contaminants, and UV rays. To be on a safer side, apply a coat of wax every six months on your car to keep it clean and smooth. 

For Some Reason, You Had Misconceptions About Car Polishing

Polishing is one of the most misunderstood paint care procedures and as a result many individuals skip this important step. Polish is an abrasive compound, which, when worked into the paint using the hand or a polisher, shaves off imperfections of the paint. It levels out the surface and makes it smooth, thereby preparing it for the next step of applying wax or paint sealant. If you wax without polishing the surface first, not only will the paint look dull, but you will also notice that the wax layer will wear off quicker than usual. So ultimately it is a huge waste of your time and resources. Because polish is abrasive as mentioned above, it is important to master polishing techniques especially if you are using a rotary buffer, or you risk burning right through the paint.

You Get Stingy And Forgo Applying A Clear Coat Protector

Most new cars come with a clear coat over the paint layer to keep the car shiny and protected from external elements. The clear coat offers a more glossy finish to the car, and will keep harmful elements like UV rays and dust at bay to protect the paint of the car. Any minor issues can also be buffed out, if the car has a clear coat. However, clear coats are sensitive to scratches and are prone to oxidation. It is still not a substitute for wax and needs to have a wax job to protect the shine of the car.

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What You Should Check Before Trusting Your Car To A Detailer

What You Should Check Before Trusting Your Car To A Detailer

Whether you like it or not, your car is bound to get damaged or look less pleasing at some point. So, despite religiously following your regular maintenance schedule, you will need a car detailing shop that you can trust. You’d want to find one that you’ll stick to whenever you need to have your car serviced. Here’s how you can tell that it’s “the one”.

Location

Well, this isn't exactly a must, but it’s definitely a plus if it’s near your place or the place you work from. This way, you won’t have to go out of your daily route if your need to drop your car to or retrieve it from the shop. Aside from that, this way you can actually check their actual working space because those detailer who couldn't give you a physical address and just offers to pick your car up and deliver it when they’re done just doesn't sound like they’ll do a satisfactory job. You want to be able to easily identify their business, and they shouldn't hesitate if you want to see the products and tools they've brought with them to ensure you’re getting a quality detailing package. 

Time Commitment

If you’re the type who needs to be in a lot of places every day or simply have public transportation, you would want your car to be done in the shortest amount of time. But if the detailer works alone, chances are it will take hours before your vehicle will be ready. You don’t even know if you’ll like the finish work because a tired and rushing worker can make a lot of mistakes or straight up just cut corners on his work. Compare this to a detailing shop with a couple of workers, you’d be more likely to get a high quality detail in probably just an hour.

Are Fully Equipped?

How will a car detailing shop be able to work on any car if they don’t have necessary and appropriate tools to guarantee a professional finish on your car? Sandpaper and spray paint are basic, but they should also be equipped with tools like high-speed buffer. 

They Are Well Experienced And Capable Of Doing Wide Range Of Detailing Work

Car washing won’t be the only detailing work your vehicle will need, especially if your vehicle has been with you for quite some time. So, they should be able to do things like car waxing, polishing, car sealant application, paint protection coating, etc.

Their Services Pricing

Price shopping is normal, but a price that is significantly lower than other detailer in the area is often a reflection of the quality of work you’re going to get. It is truly a situation where you’ll get what you pay for: inexperienced, low-quality products and tools, and not enough time spent to get the job right. For instance, there are detailer won’t touch a paint correction job for less than $500, because polishing is a very time-consuming project and takes a lot of training to get it right. Another thing you should expect from a professional detailer is a request to see your vehicle before finalizing their quote. Don’t expect a detailer to give you the final price over the phone because they need to see the vehicle in person and in the right light to assess if your vehicle has any unique problem areas that may require extra time or equipment.

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Invest In Paint Protection For Your Car Exterior

Invest In Paint Protection For Your Car Exterior

Rusts on your car is not only unsightly to look at but also means your vehicle’s value drops as the damage develops. If the area affected by rust is very small, repairing it on your own is still an option. But if the rust has eaten through the metal or if the damage is extensive, you’ll need to seek professional car repair services. But you can also do the paint job on your own provided that you prepare carefully and study the techniques thoroughly.

How To Do A DIY Paint Job

· Wash the exterior of your car using the bucket of soap and water. This will keep any dust and dirt from causing any more abrasion on your car’s paint or get in the way of a smooth paint job finish. Don’t forget to wipe it dry.

· If it's just the exterior you're looking to improve, then simply mask the areas you don't want painted.

· Sanding the area is an important step you can’t skip out because it smoothens the area you want to work on which allows a consistent look when you apply the new paint.

· Scuff the surface. To further break down the area you want to work on and prepare it for new paint, use a scuffing pad. Scuffing pads create a rough surface, which is easier for the paint to stick to. Rub the scuff pad along the surface back and forth until the surface feels rough to the touch.

· Wipe the whole surface down with a clean rag and thinners to remove dust, and wait until residue from the thinners evaporates completely before continuing.

· Apply primer. But don’t forget to mix the primer with thinners using the ratios recommended on the paint can instructions. It will vary for different paints. Let the primer dry overnight before you begin painting.

· Practice priming if you haven’t done it before. When you've got your technique down, start applying the primer on the car, working from the roof down. Apply the primer in thin, even coats. It will usually take two or three coats to cover the surface completely.

· Don’t forget to mix the paint with thinners using the ratios recommended on the paint can instructions. Apply the paint the same you did with the primer.

· Each coat will take about 10 minutes to apply per panel and between 20 minutes to an hour between re-coating for the paint to cure.

· It usually requires three to four coats of paint to cover the surface completely. Make sure you’re following the recommended drying time specified on the paint can instructions between coats.

· Before applying the last coat, remove any powdery residue with 2000-grit wet-and-dry sandpaper and wipe down with a clean rag. Repeat the last two steps with the clear-coat lacquer.

· While the clear coat is still wet, slowly remove the masking. Let the clear coat cure for the recommended time. Once that time is over, check for any imperfections. If you find any, use the 2000-grit wet-and-dry sandpaper to sand that area and respray.

· Buff paint in circular motions with a buffer, being careful not to burn the paint by holding the buffer in one spot too long.

It sucks to find that rust has slowly developed on your car right? Well, even getting an unsightly scratch on your car’s paint is never fun because touching up even the smallest one cost time and money. So why not invest in a paint protection film for your car and avoid paint damage in the first place? We can’t really help the kind of weather you’ll have in the place you live. Whether you have four seasons or two extreme weathers, all you can do is take extra step to protect your car from these. Paint protection in Singapore’s tropical weather will prevent your paint job from fading fast, it also keeps it from expanding and contracting which results to cracking where water or moist can seep through the cracks and create rust.

But for paint protection, it is highly suggested that you seek a professional to do it! Okay, maybe you’re a bit reluctant to avail custom installation because you know it costs more and you want to save money as much as possible. But, remember that smart investments, in terms of paint protection, are those where you spend quite a bit but offer better fit and best coverage which you know will last longer.

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7 Reasons To Invest In Ceramic Coating For Your Car

7 Reasons To Invest In Ceramic Coating For Your Car

We can’t really help the kind of weather you’ll have in the place you live. Whether you have four seasons or two extreme weathers, all you can do is take extra step to protect your car from these. Paint protection in Singapore’s tropical weather will prevent your paint job from fading fast, it also keeps it from expanding and contracting which results to cracking where water or moist can seep through the cracks and create rust. When it comes to paint protection, there are different ways to do that.

One way to do that is by paint coatings. Paint coatings are relatively new and are one of the up and coming leaders to car detailing in the automobile industry. It serves as an all in one protective layer to a car’s paintwork and UV ray protection is included in its specifications along with many others. With this paint coating in place, you will not need to go through the regular hassle of consistently finding sheltered parking lots or frequent waxing sessions for your car. 

1. It Gives Permanent Protection

It is able to keep your car’s paint looking polished, comparable to that of a showroom standard car and the best thing is that no re-application is required at all as it is highly durable.

2. It Is 9H Hard On The Ceramic Coating Scale

Ceramic coating can be best measured on the Pencil test scale, where it scores above 9H - which is the highest level on the scale used in the coating industry to determine clear coats. In other words, the 9H means that ceramic coating always stays hard if applied and maintained correctly.

3. It Is 100% Chemical Resistant

Ceramic coating is so durable that it can only be removed through abrasion. So you can rest assured that it won’t be damaged by chemicals that waxing or traditional coating can’t stand.

4. It Prevents Oxidation And Corrosion

Given that harsh chemicals can hardly penetrate ceramic coating, then you won’t have to worry about water or moisture seeping into your paint job and result to oxidation and corrosion.

5. It Is Temperature Resistant And UV Protective

Aside from water and other chemicals, it can also protect your vehicle from damages caused by extreme temperature. So whether it’s heavy rainy days or super-hot days, which are what Singapore experiences, your car won’t be affected paint job-wise.

6. It Offers The Best Gloss And Shine

If you think it’s already amazing that it can protect your car paint to that extent, you’d be even more impressed because it can also provide gloss and shine!

7. Your Car Won’t Attract As Much Dirt And Liquid As It Does Now

Another huge benefit that ceramic coating for vehicles brings to the scene is the hydrophobic protection. If you don't know what it refers to, it basically has everything to do with preventing water and dust from contacting the surface. While it obviously cannot block liquid, dust or dirt from sticking to the car, ceramic coating offers protection that minimizes the amount of water and dust that attaches to the surface. This will make your car cleaner and flashier - even after a drive in the morning rain.

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Which Is Better?  Ceramic Coating Paint Protection Vs Car Glass 

Which Is Better? Ceramic Coating Paint Protection Vs Car Glass

We can’t really help the kind of weather you’ll have in the place you live. Whether you have four seasons or two extreme weathers, all you can do is take extra step to protect your car from these. Paint protection in Singapore’s tropical weather will prevent your paint job from fading fast, it also keeps it from expanding and contracting which results to cracking where water or moist can seep through the cracks and create rust. When it comes to paint protection, there are different ways to do that. In this article we’re going to talk about two options you can try which are ceramic coating paint protection and car glass.

The problem is, if you’re not as well versed in car grooming, it’s easy to get confused with what option to go for since they may look similar.  In fact, some car owners get tricked by auto detailing and grooming specialist into availing deals that your vehicle may not even need at that moment. To save yourself and your wallet from that, take note on their differences so that you’ll know which suits your car’s needs in the future.  

Ceramic Coating Paint Protection

Another way to protect your car is via paint coatings. Paint coatings are relatively new and are one of the up and coming leaders to car detailing in the automobile industry. It serves as an all in one protective layer to a car’s paintwork and UV ray protection is included in its specifications along with many others. It is able to keep your car’s paint looking polished, comparable to that of a showroom standard car and the best thing is that no re-application is required at all as it is highly durable. With this paint coating in place, you will not need to go through the regular hassle of consistently finding sheltered parking lots or frequent waxing sessions for your car. 

Glass Coating

Other people assume that glass coating is the use of material like car windows or windshield, but it’s important to know that it’s not. Glass coating is a form of paint protection. It is performed using a sticky substance made from randomly arranged and transparent compounds. While ceramic coating paint protection and glass coating products may look the same, their structural compositions usually differ. This results to varying characteristics when done to your car. But since both procedure can be performed based on nanotechnology, glass and ceramic coating can properly blend into the paint job, creating a strong and lasting layer of protective shield to the paintwork and surfaces of your car exterior. However, unlike ceramic coating, glass coating often bonds to the paintwork quickly. This then results to better insulation of the paintwork from effects of harsh chemicals and other elements of damage in the environment. Glass coating is quite strong and easy to apply.

So the question remains, which procedure is better for your car? Well, the answer actually depends on where and how your car is used. Ceramic coating is a cheaper and takes less time to perform but doesn’t last as long. But if your car isn’t used often or isn’t exposed to harsh environment, ceramic coating may do. On the other hands, glass coating may be best for you if you drive a lot and take your vehicle to a lot of different locations. Though glass coating is pricier compared to ceramic, it is highly durable and shiny. So, even though cost is a huge factor when car owners are seeking car paint protection, you should consider what’s best for your car with your existing lifestyle because it may actually save you more money in the long run.

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13 Things That You Should Keep In Your Car At All Times

13 Things That You Should Keep In Your Car At All Times

People tend to hoard a lot of things in their car, which isn’t so bad considering that we spend a lot of time on the road. But before anything else, make sure you have emergency-essentials in your trunk first. A driver can bail out of a lot of sticky situations if he plans ahead. More often than not, things go south on you when you think nothing could go wrong. So it pays to hope for the best and plan for the worst, especially on the road. Here are some things that should always be kept in your car for all those just in case moments.  

1. Jumper Cables

Being stranded with a dead battery sucks. Having these bad boys in your trunk will save your day. They should at least let you get by and look for the nearest car repair if the case of your battery is more complex.

2. First-Aid Kit

Road crash statistics says that there’s an average 3,287 deaths a day, which could mean fatal car accidents occur every 15 minutes. Needless to say a first-aid kit is a definitely a must have in your glove box or back seat.

3. Tire Repair Kit

Who hasn’t had a moment of frustration with a flat tire before? Basically anyone who drives a car can relate to this. This makes tire repair kits available, whenever the situation calls for it, more that reasonable. Car repair shops aren’t always available, so it’d be better if you can fend for your own tires.

4. Flashlight

This is probably very basic. But yeah, smack your head on the dashboard if you don’t have it in your glove box when you need to check your engine in the middle of nowhere at the middle of the night.

5. Water And Non-Perishable Snacks

Emergency kits shouldn’t only contain stuff for your car, how about you? If your car needs fuel, you need to be fed too.

6. Hazard Triangles/Roadside Flares

These will let other motorist know there’s an accident or stalled car up ahead so they can slow down or re-route.

7. Cellphone Charger

At this day and age, you should always make sure your phone can make a call when you need to since not many places still have pay phones. Have your charger or power bank in handy in case your phone dies.

8. Insurance Information And Vehicle Registration

Nobody wants to be caught in a collision, but when you’re already there you will surely need both of these. You don’t want to be in a desperate situation and not have legal documents to at least help you with damages and clearing your name, just in case.

9. Disposable Camera And Notebook

The police officers will thank you for taking pictures and notes in case of an accident before they arrive. Trust me, you didn’t just help them, you also made your case stronger.

10. Emergency Cash

Unexpected toll and emergency gas can be hefty. It helps to have a stash fund for them, especially when you’re out of cash.

11. Glass Hammer/Seat belt Cutter “Life Hammer”

This can literally save your life, hence the name. It can cut seat belt after an accident or break glass from inside if water enters the car.

12. GPS And Map

Not all cars have built-in navigation system. Therefore you’ll find a map or GPS handy when you are headed somewhere you’re not familiar. This should keep you from going around circles and get to your destination. Don’t be that person who insists on relying on his inner compass, they’re usually the ones who get lost.

13. Oil

You should have at least a quart or two of oil as emergency supply, especially if your car requires a specific kind of oil. This should help you run your vehicle further in a safe zone when it suddenly stops in the middle of the highway.

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Reasons Why You Should Polish Your Car

Reasons Why You Should Polish Your Car

Polishing is one of the most misunderstood paint care procedures and as a result many individuals skip this important step. Polish is an abrasive compound, which, when worked into the paint using the hand or a polisher, shaves off imperfections of the paint. It levels out the surface and makes it smooth, thereby preparing it for the next step of applying wax or paint sealant. If you wax without polishing the surface first, not only will the paint look dull, but you will also notice that the wax layer will wear off quicker than usual. So ultimately it is a huge waste of your time and resources. Because polish is abrasive as mentioned above, it is important to master polishing techniques especially if you are using a rotary buffer, or you risk burning right through the paint.

Increases The Value Of Your Car

Every time you do something on your car to either upgrade its look or performance, it either maintains or increases its value. By polishing your vehicle after washing it you increasing its value because it removes stubborn dirt that are difficult to do so by just washing.

Brings Out The Bright Color Of Your Car Again

Since car polishing is an abrasive compound, it helps remove imperfections off the paint. By scratching off the topmost layer of paint, polishes help reveal the bright color of your car again and leaves behind a glossy surface.

It Eliminates Minor Imperfection Like Scratches

It’s such a bummer when your beloved car’s good looks get ruined due to scratches. When this happens, it loses its shine, it appears worn out than it really is and no longer looks covetable. The thing is that it doesn’t even take an accident for your car to get scratches, even bird poop that you failed to clean soon enough or loose stone that hits your car while driving can cause that. But don’t worry, car polishing removes scratches and creates a perfectly clean and even surface that also shines more brightly.

You Don’t Have To Do It As Frequently

Car polishing effectively removes surface impurities as well as under-surface imperfections, therefore the procedure needs to be repeated only 2-3 times per year, depending on the initial condition of the paint and on the location where you usually park the car – cars kept in the garage are more protected, so they don’t need too frequent polishes.

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How To Maintain That Showroom Gleam Of Your Car