How long does it take to repaint a car?
3 Answers
Repainting a car takes at least one day. Reasons for the long painting time: From picking up the spray gun to completing the paint baking in the paint booth, the most time-consuming part is the pre-painting preparation. If the car's primer is damaged, rust-proof treatment is also required, which naturally takes a certain amount of time. Common types of car paint: Solid paint, metallic paint, and pearl paint. These three types of car paint differ in both process and materials, achieving different display effects and protective properties. Solid paint: Solid paint is the most common type of car paint, representing the simplest and most basic process. Most single-color cars in white, red, and yellow use solid paint. Its composition includes resin, pigments, and additives. In the car paint production process, solid paint is a single-stage paint. Due to the absence of mixing with other materials, it is cheaper and simpler to produce. Maintenance and touch-ups are also less complicated. However, being a pure single-color paint, its appearance is relatively plain compared to other types of paint that can achieve dazzling, glitter-like finishes. Additionally, solid paint surfaces are softer than other types, making them more prone to chipping when hit by stones. Metallic paint: Metallic paint, also known as metal flake paint, typically contains aluminum or copper powder mixed into the paint base. When light hits these metal particles, it reflects through the clear coat, creating a sparkling metallic effect. In the painting process, metallic paint is a two-stage system, requiring a clear coat to achieve the desired gloss and hardness. The refraction of metal particles enhances the car's visual appeal, making its contours appear more dynamic. The added metal components also increase the paint's hardness compared to solid paint, making it more resistant to scratches. Pearl paint: Pearl paint, also called mica paint, contains mica particles in its composition. When light hits these mica particles, it takes on the colors of titanium dioxide and iron oxide, creating complex refraction and interference effects within the particles. Pearl paint has strong oxidation resistance and produces varying visual effects from different angles. However, because the mica particles are meticulously aligned during the original painting process, touch-ups can be problematic—similar to how fish scales can never be perfectly realigned once disturbed. After touch-ups, it's nearly impossible to realign the mica particles uniformly, and even slight differences in orientation or color are easily noticeable.
Last time I sprayed a small scratch myself, it took me almost three hours to finish. First, I had to sand it clean, then use masking tape to protect the surrounding area, followed by applying primer. After letting it dry a bit, I sprayed the topcoat. The actual spraying process was quick, just a few minutes, but the drying time took the majority, especially on cloudy or humid days when it dried even slower. After spraying, I also applied clear coat for protection and waited for it to fully dry before driving out. For small areas like a tiny section of the door, it can be done in half a day; for larger areas like the entire hood, it's best to leave it for a full day. I recommend keeping some spray paint tools handy—DIY saves money, but be careful not to spray unevenly. Choosing a sunny day to spray makes the process much more efficient.
I haven't been driving for long. Last year, I accidentally scratched my car and was in a hurry to get it repainted. I asked some friends, and they all said minor repairs are quick—spot painting takes just a few minutes to apply, but it takes several hours to dry completely. For example, a small scratch on the door can be fixed in three to four hours; repainting an entire side mirror might take half a day. However, a full car repaint is more complex—the technician said it would take three to four days, including sanding, cleaning, applying multiple coats of paint, and drying time. It's best to book an appointment with the shop in advance to avoid waiting in line and wasting time. That time, it took me an afternoon for the touch-up, and the result was decent.
