How Do Body Shops Fix Scratches?

Scratches on your car’s paintwork are not just a cosmetic concern—they can lead to more serious issues if left untreated, including rust and further paint damage. At Tucson Auto Collision Center, we understand how much your car means to you, and we’re here to ensure it looks as good as new. In this post, we’ll walk you through how body shops fix scratches, detailing the various methods for different types of paint and scratch depths.

Before any repair can take place, the type and depth of the scratch need to be assessed. Each scratch is unique, and understanding what lies beneath the surface helps technicians determine the right approach. Here are the main types of scratches we encounter:

Clear Coat Scratches: These are superficial scratches affecting only the outermost layer, the clear coat.

Paint Scratches: These scratches penetrate the paint layer but haven’t gone deep enough to expose the primer or metal.

Primer and Bare Metal Scratches: These are deep scratches that reach down to the primer or metal, often needing more extensive repair techniques.

Repairing Clear Coat Scratches: Polishing and Buffing

For minor surface scratches that only damage the clear coat, Tucson Auto Collision Center typically uses polishing and buffing techniques to restore the finish.

Machine Polishing: Using a high-speed electric polisher, our technicians apply a specialized polishing compound to buff out clear coat scratches. This compound works to smooth the surface, blending the scratch into the surrounding paint.

Hand Buffing: For ultra-light surface scratches, hand buffing can sometimes be sufficient. With a microfiber pad and a quality buffing compound, the scratch is gently worked out, leaving a smooth, shiny finish.

Clear coat repair methods are effective for small, shallow scratches but may not be suitable for scratches that penetrate the paint layer.

Fixing Paint Scratches: Touch-Up Paint and Blending

Paint scratches require a bit more finesse to achieve a seamless look. For these, we turn to touch-up paint and paint blending techniques.

Touch-Up Paint: If the scratch is localized and small, we use color-matched touch-up paint. Tucson Auto Collision Center has a wide range of paint colors that match your car’s factory paint. Our technicians apply this paint carefully, ensuring it fills the scratch and bonds with the existing paint.

Paint Blending: For scratches on more visible areas, our technicians blend the paint to ensure a smooth transition between the repaired and original paint. Using an airbrush tool, thin layers of paint are sprayed around the scratch, followed by a clear coat, creating a seamless finish. We also use UV curing lamps to accelerate the drying process and give a polished result.

Paint blending and touch-up techniques work well for scratches that don’t reach the primer. These methods maintain the vehicle’s integrity without extensive repainting.

When dealing with scratches that reach the primer or metal, the repair becomes more complex. Here’s how we handle these deep scratches:

Sanding and Filling: First, our technicians sand down the area to remove any rough edges, creating a smooth surface for the repair. In some cases, fillers may be applied to fill in the scratch completely.

Applying Primer: Once the area is smooth, a primer is applied to protect the metal and help the paint adhere. This layer is essential for durability, especially on areas exposed to Tucson’s sun and dust.

Layering Paint: We then apply color-matched paint in multiple thin layers to ensure even coverage and a factory-like finish. This process takes precision and time, as each layer needs proper drying time to avoid unevenness.

Finishing with a Clear Coat: Finally, a clear coat is applied over the repaired area, sealing and protecting the paint. This layer also adds the glossy finish that blends the repaired area with the surrounding paint.

Deep scratch repairs are more involved and require more time and care, but the results ensure that the scratch is invisible and that your car’s paintwork is restored.

Not all car paints are the same, and at Tucson Auto Collision Center, we take the type of paint into account when repairing scratches. Here’s how different paint types impact the repair process:

Single-Stage Paint: This paint type combines color and clear coat in a single layer. Repairs on single-stage paint are often quicker but require careful matching to achieve the right look.

Multi-Stage Paint: Common in modern vehicles, multi-stage paint requires separate layers of color and clear coat, adding complexity to repairs. We match each layer to ensure a flawless result.

Pearl and Metallic Paints: These paints require additional care due to their unique finish. Pearl and metallic paints are known for their shimmer, which can be challenging to replicate without advanced color-matching technology. Our technicians use specialized tools to achieve the exact color blend, ensuring that the repaired area matches perfectly.

Matte Finishes: Matte paint requires a different approach altogether, as it can’t be polished or buffed. Scratch repairs for matte finishes are handled with specialized paints and application techniques to preserve the non-glossy look.

Combining Dent Repair and Scratch Repair: Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)

In cases where scratches coincide with dents, we may use Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) in conjunction with scratch repair. PDR is a technique that removes dents without affecting the original paint, making it ideal for areas with minor dents and shallow scratches. After the dent is repaired, we can then apply appropriate touch-up paint or polishing to address any remaining scratch marks.

Full Panel Repainting: When Extensive Damage Calls for a Fresh Start

For large or deeply scratched areas, sometimes the best approach is to repaint the entire panel. Here’s why:

Cost and Quality Considerations: Extensive scratches are difficult to fix without affecting a large portion of the paint. In these cases, repainting the entire panel can be more cost-effective and provide a higher-quality result.

Panel Removal and Replacement: Some scratches are easier to repair with the panel removed. Tucson Auto Collision Center’s experienced team can detach the panel, repaint it, and reattach it seamlessly, ensuring a factory-finish result.

Full panel repainting is ideal for severe or extensive scratches that can’t be easily blended. By repainting the entire panel, we ensure the car’s finish looks consistent.

Once your car’s scratches are repaired, keeping the new finish protected is key to long-lasting results. Here’s what we recommend:

Regular Washing and Waxing: Hand washing and waxing help protect your car’s paint from Tucson’s intense sun and dust. Automatic car washes can be rough on paint, so hand washing is often a gentler choice.

Ceramic Coatings: For added protection, a ceramic coating can be applied to the paint. This coating forms a durable layer that repels dust, UV rays, and minor scratches, extending the life of your paint job.

Paint Protection Film (PPF): Consider applying PPF on high-contact areas like the hood, bumper, and side mirrors. This film acts as a barrier against minor abrasions, chips, and scratches, keeping the paint intact.

If you’re dealing with scratches on your car, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for a consultation. We’re here to help you keep your car looking pristine and protected, no matter the scratch severity. Contact Tucson Auto Collision Center today for trusted, professional scratch repair in Tucson, AZ.