Vehicle painting is a skill that gets better with practice. The more cars you paint, the better you get! Experience will teach you how to avoid common mistakes when painting cars. However, even the most experienced pro makes mistakes.

Here is a short checklist of mistakes to avoid when you paint your car.

1. Not knowing whether the vehicle is worth painting

Applying a fresh coat of paint to a car adds value. You should, however, evaluate the time and expense involved in refinishing a vehicle to figure out if it’s worth it. If the car is an older model and not considered vintage, the answer may be no.

Older, less valuable cars are often not worth the cost of refinishing. A good rule to follow when considering whether to paint an older car is to figure out how much refinishing is going to cost relative to the value of the car. If the expense exceeds 25 percent or more of the car’s value, it’s probably not worth repainting.

2. Not doing the needed prep work  before picking up the spray gun

Properly preparing a car before painting is critical. Take the time to do it right. Never take shortcuts! Rather than masking non-painted parts of a vehicle, such as bumpers, turn signals, tail lights, and trim, take the time to remove them. The extra time and effort will prevent unsightly borderline paint marks.

3. Using cheap products when refinishing a car

Of course you want to minimize costs when painting a car. However, you don’t want a paint job that looks cheap. Using quality materials such as Gleam Automotive Finish and the right tools will help ensure your vehicle looks great when you’re done applying a new surface. Gleam Automotive Finish products are high quality and very cost effective.

4. Not leaving the painting to the pros

The average person may think they can refinish a car. Prepping and painting one, however, takes skills that are best left to the pros with the equipment and experience to do the job right the first time.

5. Attempting to paint over damaged areas

Trying to apply a fresh coat of paint over damaged panels, scratches, rust spots, and holes without first repairing them will just highlight the issues and make the car look worse. It’s always worth the time and expense to do necessary bodywork before painting.

6. Not allowing enough time to refinish a car

Refinishing a car involves several steps and you need enough time to do them correctly. You have to remove parts, sand down the body, and then apply multiple coats of paint and finish. This could require several days or more to complete. Plan your schedule accordingly.

Keeping these common mistakes in mind before you start a paint job will help you avoid them as you plan, prepare and complete your next paint job.