How to fix paintwork damage, chips and scratches
Minor scratches, scrapes and damage to your car’s finish can be tough. However, if you work methodically and carefully, it’s possible to achieve a satisfactory car finish repair at home.
Here’s our guide on how to fix paintwork damage, chips and scratches. By following our guide, you can enjoy a smooth, scratch-free car once again. Not only can this save you money, but you’ll also give yourself the best chance of securing the best price when you come to sell your car.
Before you start your car paintwork repair, you’ll need:
- Protective gloves
- Safety glasses
- A dust mask
Car paint is made up of multiple layers, so there can be different types of damage require different repairs:
How to remove light scratches from car paint
Light scratches on the surface of the paintwork can usually be fixed by polishing. To find out if the scratch is light, run a finger over it. If you can’t feel it, then it can be polished out.
To polish out a car scratch, grab a fine cloth and some clear polish and start buffing the scratch. If you feel confident, or already have a polisher, then you can use this to remove surface scratches.
Deeper scratches
If you can feel the scratch or can see that it has gone down to the primer or metal, then you’ll need to perform a more involved scratch repair.
Scratch repair solutions like T-Cut are often the best solution, as they’ll fill the scratch as well as providing a suitable colour match.
How to use T-Cut
Pick up a very light grit abrasive pad suitable for repairing paintwork and clean away any rough edges. Then, apply the T-Cut or scratch solution to the scratch. T-Cut may take some time to cure, so try to fix the scratch in good weather conditions and try to avoid driving for 24 hours or so.
Other paintwork scratch damage repairs
Bodywork scratches or chips that have removed patches of paint from your vehicle can sometimes be restored using paint repair pens. Halfords paint repair pens come in a huge range of different colours that can be colour matched to your vehicle. Using a car repair is simple. All you need to do is swipe the pen over the area that needs it and it’ll cover the scratch.
Pro tip: To get the best finish on car chip repairs, use a sponge to evenly build up your layers. Once the paint is cured (this will take a few hours), use a 2500 grit sandpaper to lightly wet sand the surface, then use a rubbing compound, and finally polish. This same process is effective for small scratches too.
Remember, you’ll need to know the exact name or code for your car’s paint to be able to get the right match, so check your car’s documents or look for a code in the glove box or inside the wheel well. You can also check out our guide to finding out your car colour for more information.
Damaged paintwork and scuffs
If the damage to your car goes beyond the superficial layers to the metal, then repairs are jobs a little more complex. If a dent has changed the contours of your car, you may need to apply a filler to restore its shape.
If this is the case, then you’ll need to smooth the damaged surface using a fine grit sanding block designed specifically for paintwork, or potentially a buffer if the damage is particularly bad. After this, you can prime, paint and protect your finish. How? Check our guide on car body repairs.
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