Which Paint Layer Did the Damage Reach? V
A Ford paint researcher's slide gives each paint layer a job: clear coat for gloss and UV protection, basecoat for color, primer for adhesion and electrocoat against corrosion. BASF counts four such layers in most factory finishes and compares the whole system to the thickness of a human hair, one-tenth of a millimeter.
AAA points out that minor surface scratches can often be polished out, while more significant damage generally calls for panel repair at a body shop. The Ocala shop offers a wide range of services, whether a car has a minor dent or needs major collision repairs, and paintwork is where scratches and chips fit in.
- Clear coat: shine and a UV shield
- Basecoat: the color and any metallic flake
- Primer: grips the color and guards the e-coat
- Electrocoat: corrosion protection at the bottom
- Paint repairs for every make and model
Collision Services
Check the Damage, Then Use Your Phone V
Start with the fingernail check a Meguiar's trainer shared with AAA Northeast: seeing a scratch without feeling it is a good sign, but a nail that catches means it may be beyond an easy fix. Treat it as a screen, not a diagnosis. Chips concentrate up front; PPG's chip repair guidance centers on the leading edge.
Then let the Ocala team see it. The Virtual Damage Assessment opens in a phone's web browser because it uses the phone's camera, and a how-to video walks you through the photos. On a computer, the page shows a QR code or offers a text link. The right fix is decided at the estimate.
- Nail test: a screen, not a diagnosis
- A catching nail may mean deeper damage
- Chips gather on the leading edge
- Assessment runs in your phone's browser
- Desktop: QR code or text link
Virtual Damage Assessment
Industry Guidance on Fixing the Damage V
Take chips first. Small chips can be filled with touch-up paint, AAA explains, applied in several thin layers after cleaning, and newer cars may need a two-step color and clear coat process. Aluminum panels add a step: one automaker's bulletin has the exposed metal treated with an anti-corrosion product before touch-up paint goes on.
Once refinishing is on the table, the clear coat matters as much as the color. Volkswagen is one automaker that says a final full coat of clear ensures maximum adhesion and UV protection, and Axalta warns that a clear blend edge can turn cloudy or dull with continued exposure to the sun.
- AAA: touch-up paint goes on in thin layers
- Two-step color and clear for some newer cars
- One automaker: treat bare aluminum before touch-up
- Volkswagen: full final clear for UV protection
- Axalta: clear blend edges can cloud in sun
Before & After Photos
Painters, Paint Matching and Credentials in Ocala V
Plastic parts add a wrinkle. A 2016 Ford presentation separates body paint, applied by the automaker, from the softer, more flexible paint that outside suppliers apply to plastic parts, so pieces such as bumper covers may use a different paint system than the body panels beside them. Staff painters handle paintwork at the Ocala shop, backed by computerized paint matching systems.
Four automaker programs recognize the shop: Honda ProFirst, the Nissan Collision Repair Network, and the Recognized Collision Repair Center title, which Hyundai and Kia each grant. Rounding out the certifications page are Certified Assured Performance and an I-CAR Gold Class Certified Team. Ocala customers are covered by a lifetime warranty that applies to all repairs performed at Jenkins Collision Centers.
- Ford: plastic parts get softer, flexible paint
- Paintwork done by in-house painters
- Computer-aided paint matching in the shop
- Honda ProFirst Collision Repair Facility
- Hyundai and Kia designations for collision work
Why Choose Us
What Happens to Neglected Chips V
Once a chip breaks through the primer, AAA says, rust and corrosion follow without proper treatment, and Volvo advises treating paint damage right away to avoid rust. On aluminum, filiform corrosion can start at a chip and make paint bubble, the Aluminum Association explains, typically in warm, humid conditions.
Strong sunlight, year-round heat, heavy rain and high humidity are why the weathering firm Q-Lab calls Florida the ideal place to test exterior durability. A scratch through the clear coat opens a gap in the color's UV shield. To start, request an estimate online, then pick a preferred day and a time slot.
- Untreated chips past the primer rust, per AAA
- Volvo: treat paint damage right away
- Aluminum: corrosion can bubble from a chip
- Florida's climate is a paint stress test
- Pick a day and time slot online
Request an Estimate