Why Does Rust Develop?

Although auto manufacturers put several layers of protective coatings and paint on a vehicle to protect its body, this exterior layer often gets chipped or cracked as the car ages and eventually exposes the bare metal.  From that point on, the exposed metal reacts with environmental elements and rust begins to develop.  The more metal that’s exposed, the larger the amount of rust that develops.  Although newer vehicles are given much tougher protection, older vehicles just don’t have it.

Can You Prevent Rust from Developing?

While you may not be able to completely eliminate rust build-up, there are 3 things you can do to slow down the amount of exposure to those environmental elements that occur:

• Park your vehicle in a sheltered area whenever possible – extreme cold and heat can cause a vehicle’s paint to crack, leaving areas of the metal exposed. If there is no paint in patches due to improper repairs or accidents, those areas will develop rust faster.
• Have MTJ Paint and Body properly repair any collision damage – if the bodywork isn’t done properly, cracks may develop and get exposed to the elements. Any gaps that remain can be prone to seeping water and leads to the development of rust patches.
• Wash your vehicle regularly – this will remove any chemicals that may have spilled on your vehicle and prevent any damage to the body.

Removing Rust from Your Vehicle

For smaller rust spots, MTJ Paint and Body can easily repair and seal those areas that are exposed to stop the further development of rust.  This may involve some sanding and applying primer before applying the paint.  This method typically works well for smaller areas of rust and helps to prevent additional damage to the metal of the vehicle body underneath.

For larger areas, more intense work may be required.  If the metal has rusted over a longer period, it could weaken the structural integrity of the body, thereby making it unable to function properly.  In these cases, the rusted body panel may need to be completely removed and replaced in its entirety.  For more information, call MTJ Paint and Body at (305) 632-1914 today.

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• Are you a certified auto paint and body repair shop? As a certified auto repair and auto painting shop in Miami, we’ll be happy to show you, our certifications.
• Can you paint my vehicle the same color? Our car painting specialists in Miami will identify the paint code on your vehicle to ensure we match the color of your vehicle as closely as possible. We only employ the best car painters and each of them has the required license and experience.
• Do you have experience with my make and model of vehicle? The MTJ Paint and Body specialists have experience with many makes and models of vehicles, both domestic and foreign. But, it’s still a good idea to ask us about your vehicle.
• Do you offer “loaner” rental vehicles? While we don’t provide loaner vehicles on-site, our concierge service will be happy to arrange getting you one when speaking with your insurance company.
• How long will it take to get my vehicle done? This just depends on the extent of the damage to your vehicle. We’ll provide you with an estimate, but we can’t rule out any unforeseen delays.
• How soon will I be able to wash my vehicle? In some cases, the Miami paint and body shop that works on your vehicle may wash it once the paint has dried before returning it to the customer. However, it’s always a good idea to ask about this before taking your vehicle to a car wash or washing it yourself.
• What type of warranty do you offer? Not only is this the most important question to ask, you should also ask what is covered and for how long.
• Will I get a written estimate? At MTJ Paint and Body, this is the first step in the auto repair and car painting Miami process.

For questions about auto painting, auto repair, call MTJ Paint and Body today at (305) 632-1914.

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However, you’re unsure if the companies on their list are right for your specific needs. That’s okay. You’re entitled to a second opinion when it comes to choosing the right company for the job. It is good to work with companies that are licensed, bonded, and insured so that you get the best service.

If you’re looking for the best Miami paint and body shop, MTJ Paint and Body recommends following these 5 steps before making your decision:

• First and foremost, understand the insurance company’s agenda – although you may be thinking that these companies are your only choices, you don’t have to choose one of them. These companies usually have an agreement with insurers for a discount or special rate for the customers they refer to them.  Remember, insurance companies are only interested in protecting their bottom line when it comes to accident claims.
• Be sure you choose a certified shop – this is a must. Body shop companies in Miami typically have more than one type of certification such as aluminum-certified collision repair or brand-certified repairs.  It’s important to research these certifications to ensure you’re choosing the right shop to work on your vehicle.
• Check them out in person first – if you’ve done your homework and have a list of Miami paint and body shop candidates, check each one of them out in person. Are they busy or is their lot empty? Do the customers seem satisfied or are there complaints about their service? This will provide you with more realistic expectations for the quality of repairs they provide.
• Choose quality, not cheap and quick – this is extremely important because quality work is going to last considerably longer than work that has been provided cheaply and quickly. It may save you money initially, but shoddy work could lead to more costly repairs down the road.
• Remember, it’s all about reputation – price matters more to the insurance companies than the quality of service. Check out customer feedback and third-party reviews of the companies on your list.  Google and Yelp.com will provide more honest reviews than what you’ll read on an auto body shop website in Miami.

In addition to the above, be sure you choose a collision center that can handle all facets of the body shop process in Miami.  For more information about choosing a Miami paint and body shop, call MTJ Paint and Body at (305) 632-1914 today.

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Unfortunately, no auto paint lasts forever and eventually, the time will come when you’ll have to consider getting your vehicle repainted.  There are basically three signs that indicate your vehicle is in need of a professional paint job:

• Fading – this is one of the signs that indicate the need for car painting in Miami.  Auto paint typically starts to fade because of exposure to the sun’s damaging UVA and UVB rays.  Faded or fading paint is also attributed to the absence of proper vehicle exterior care. In other words, if your vehicle isn’t washed and waxed on a regular basis, it’s almost a guarantee that the paint is going to fade.

• Peeling – another sign that indicates the need for painting your vehicle is peeling, or when the paint starts to peel away from the vehicle’s surface.  The passage of time combined with your geographic location could cause the vehicle’s clear coat to loosen up and break away from its paint job. Peeling is extremely unsightly and not something you want to neglect.  You should take your vehicle into a car painting in Miami specialist as soon as possible if you detect this.

• Scratches – severe scratches on the surface of your vehicle is a clear indicator that it needs to be repainted.  If the scratches are relatively minor, the problem can be solved with a quick touch-up. However, more severe, significant scratches will require a total replacement of the exterior paint.  Plus, really deep gouges into the surface will have to be filled and sanded as well before any painting can be done.

The beauty of taking your vehicle in for professional car painting in Miami is that you’ll be able to restore its appearance to what it looked like the day you drove it off the lot.  It might take time so it is best to get a quote and timeline for the job. Oftentimes, the body shop services offer a replacement vehicle at low rent, so that you don’t face inconvenience in commuting.

Having your vehicle repainted at the first signs of trouble will prevent costly problems in the future.  But most importantly, having your vehicle restored to its original luster will instill confidence and a sense of pride in who you are.

The post Signs that indicate Your Vehicle needs a Professional Paint Job appeared first on MTJ Paint and Body Shop.

First and foremost, there are 2 main factors that can influence the cost of an auto paint job – the amount of prep work that’s involved and the quality of paint that’s being used.  Prep work involves a number of tasks including:

• masking the antenna, door handles, headlights, outside rear view mirrors, tail lights, tires, and trim
• repairing dents, dings, and scratches
• sanding the body from top to bottom

The next factor is the quality of the paint that the car painting shop in Miami will be using.  The quality factor can easily be the difference between a $750 paint job and one that costs around $7,500.

So what factors must be considered next once the preparation and paint quality have been decided upon? We’ve already established a broad price range based on how much prep work there is and the quality of the paint.  Keeping the original color could be a more cost-effective option depending on the age of the vehicle and availability of the paint color.  The bottom line is that if you want a paint job that lasts for years, don’t take it to big name auto painting chains that advertise on a national basis.

The better paint jobs are going to be labor-intensive and cost more.  However, when you look at longevity and quality of that paint job, the investment made up front will have paid for itself.  For example, you can pay less money by taking it to a car painting shop in Miami that tapes over all the trim work or you can pay extra at a top notch auto body and paint shop where they remove all the trim, so that it isn’t ruined by overspray.  This is one step in the process that cheaper shops characteristically omit.

The last factor to consider is how long you want to wait for the job to be completed.  If you want it in two or three days, take it to a cheaper, lower quality shop.  However, if you want the highest quality paint job out there, you’ll be patient enough to wait a week or even longer at a highly-rated car painting shop in Miami. You may schedule an appointment in advance, if you need your vehicle painted by a certain date. The staff at such companies is highly efficient and courteous.

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No vehicle is going to last forever, regardless of how much you pay for it.  So you have to be prepared to take it to a mechanic for regular maintenance and repairs or in for auto body shop services in Miami in the event of a collision.  If you’ve been considering the purchase of a new high-end or luxury vehicle, then you need to be aware of the costs involved.  But more importantly, you should understand the two primary reasons why auto paint and body shops are going to charge you more to repair it.

More advanced Parts / More Labor Expense

There’s a reason that expensive vehicles are so costly.  High-end and luxury vehicles, as well as sports cars, are manufactured using advanced, high-performance parts and components.  Furthermore, the engineering techniques that are used in these vehicles are high-tech.  When you’re dealing with imports such as Audi or BMW, these parts and components originate in European manufacturing plants.  Plus, in most cases, you have to buy factory original replacement parts for these vehicles when having them repaired at an auto body shop services in Miami.

High-End and Luxury Vehicles are designed and developed to perform

The average consumer vehicle is manufactured with ease-of-servicing, ease-of-use, and longevity in mind.  In fact, most of them are designed to last the owner 100,000 miles or more.  So they’re easy to assemble or disassemble and manufactured with regular maintenance and servicing in mind.  Conversely, high-end or luxury vehicles and sports cars designed and manufactured for power and performance.

As a result, servicing these types of vehicles costs more because they typically have to be disassembled in order to maintain, repair, and service their different systems.  This is especially true if you get into a collision and need auto body shop services in Miami to get them back on the road again.  This inevitably leads to paying higher costs than what you’d experience with the consumer vehicle. However, there are many auto body shops that have the requisite staff and tools to work on such vehicles. It is important that they adhere to the set standards, have the license and insurance.

The post Reasons Why Auto Paint and Body Shops Charge More for Repairing High-End and Luxury Vehicles appeared first on MTJ Paint and Body Shop.

However, there are so many shops to choose from that the task of choosing one could be extremely tedious and time-consuming.  Whether you want to invest in a total paint restoration or you just need a few simple dents removed, here are 5 characteristics that will help you choose a top-notch Miami paint and body shop:

FREE towing service – the better auto paint and body shops will provide FREE towing for customers who bring their collision repair and paint jobs to them.  Furthermore, the better shops will pick up your vehicle at the accident scene once the police report and all other paperwork have been completed.  Be sure you get copies of everything.

Fully-certified mechanics – the better quality auto paint and body shops will only hire mechanics that are I-Car certified or certified by an equivalent company or organization.  These professionals have been certified in all of the latest industry techniques.

Lifetime warranties – naturally, you want to take your vehicle to a Miami paint and body shop that guarantees the quality of their materials and workmanship.  Every shop out there should offer a lifetime warranty.  If they don’t, remove them from your list of prospective candidates for the job.  The better shops will be willing to correct their mistakes or make you happy without making you pay again.

Water-based paints ONLY – these types of paints are considerably safer your health and are environmentally-friendly unlike regular vehicle paints.  The best body shops are known for leaving a smaller carbon footprint by using safer materials.

Willingness to communicate with the insurance company – whether it’s the at-fault driver’s insurance company or yours, the Miami paint and body shop that you choose should be willing to talk directly with that company.  If you were involved in a collision, the body and paint shop you’ve taken your vehicle to should do whatever it takes to get you back in your vehicle and on the road again with as little stress as possible.

With plenty of auto body shops available to work on your vehicle, it is important to work with the one that is affordable, licensed and insured.

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Enamels – these are more durable than lacquers and dry to a harder shell.  Paint and auto body shops will bake these paints on using an “oven” or heated bay.  However, you can also find enamel paints in aerosol containers or they can be used with spray guns.  Despite being more durable or tougher than lacquer paints, enamels are more difficult to apply or lay down.  As a result, more finishing work is involved when using enamel paints.  Some enamels can be used alone while others require a clear topcoat or “two-stage” system.

Lacquers – although paints that are lacquer-based were extremely popular from the 1920’s until the 1960’s and are still available today, they have been deemed illegal in certain areas of the US.  There are three key advantages of lacquer-based paints – 1) it’s cheaper, 2) it dries to a nice high gloss, and 3) it’s easier to apply.  However, it’s a “softer” paint and chips easily.  Furthermore, lacquer-based paints don’t hold up well against chemicals and the sun’s harsh UV rays.  As a result, there are a number of auto painting shops in Miami that shy away from using lacquer-based paints.

Urethanes – like enamels, urethane paints are available in multi-stage systems or can be used alone.  The two-stage system is the most popular because it’s easy to apply, requires a minimum amount of finish work, and delivers optimum results.  Furthermore, a protective clearcoat is utilized in the multi-stage urethane paint systems.  With these types of paints, you’ll have a high quality paint job requiring very little maintenance to keep looking brand new for many years to come.  The urethane-based clear-coat is comprised of three products – a catalyst, clear, and reducer.

Water-based – the newest auto painting technology in Miami is water-based paints.  You could say these are eco-friendly in that they are non-toxic.  Plus, they are extremely versatile in that they can be applied to bare metal, existing body paint, and primer.  If you want to add graphics to your motorcycle or vehicle, this is the type of paint to use.  But you can also paint the entire vehicle with it.  This is perfect for DIY use as well since it’s non-toxic and can be used in your garage.  However, you’ll need to protect the paint with a clear urethane top coat.

The post All About 4 basic Types of Auto Paint appeared first on MTJ Paint and Body Shop.

Consequently, scam artists are coming out of the woodwork in order to capitalize on the miseries of these many victims.  Unfortunately, many vehicle owners who’ve already been devastated by the home and vehicle damage they’ve sustained or having to be extra careful when it comes to selecting a reputable auto paint and body shop.  For certain Floridians, this means being careful when they respond to Miami paint and body shop ads or advertisements for other southern Florida shops as well.

Rule #1:  If it sounds too good to be true . . .

There have been numerous articles published about vehicle owners who had recently been scammed by door-to-door salesmen who offered to remove all dents from their vehicles and repair all paint damage for as little as $70 or $80.  In one specific case, the price quoted was far too good to be true, yet the vehicle owner still fell prey to the scam.  They took their vehicle to a reputable Miami paint and body shop where the scammer’s damages were estimated at $600, nearly double what those repairs would have cost had they brought their vehicle to the shop in the first place

Was the Job done professionally?

Vehicle collisions can be frightening and traumatic, but finding a trustworthy Miami paint and body shop can be even scarier.  The following tips will ensure that you are getting your vehicle repaired and painted by professionals:

Get at least 3 estimates beforehand
Review each estimate thoroughly
Inspect all parts to ensure that they are OEM and not aftermarket items
Inspect the repairs and paint on other customer’s vehicles
Examine the consistency and quality of the paint that was used
These 5 helpful tips should make it easier to determine whether or not you’re dealing with a reputable paint and body shop.

There’s only One Way to protect Yourself

The only ways that you can protect yourself from these paint and auto body scammers is to politely tell them “No thank you”, shut the door, and then call the police immediately if you’re the least bit suspicious.  If you want to have the damage and paint repaired professionally, your best option is always a reputable Miami paint and body shop.  These specialists and technicians have been trained in all aspects of their body work or painting specialties.11

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The Purpose of Priming a Vehicle

Essentially, priming your vehicle is similar to putting a decoration on a wall in your house.  If you just put it on the wall, let go of it, and walk away without using glue, tacks, or tape to hold it in place, it’s going to fall to the floor.  That’s basically what primer does.  It’s similar to a bonding agent in that it allows the paint to remain on your vehicle without running off of it.  Otherwise, your vehicle body’s surface would, over time, react with the paint negatively and eventually rust, thereby ruining the paint job altogether.

When should Primer be applied?

Whenever the bare metal of your vehicle’s body gets exposed, you’ll need to apply a coat of primer before proceeding with the car painting process in Miami.  There are a number of reasons for sanding everything down to the bare metal, especially if you’re having your body work and painting it after a collision.  Once the bare metal is reached, the most sensitive area of your vehicle’s body is exposed to the elements.

If you don’t protect that metal with primer and paint, it’s going to rust out.  Furthermore, one of the better qualities of a primer is that it can actually make the body of your vehicle even stronger once it’s applied.  Plus, the best auto body and car painting shops in Miami know that sanding between every coat that is applied helps to smooth out any lumps or bumps that occurred.

When is Priming unnecessary?

Although priming is an essential step in creating the perfect paint job and ensuring the health of your vehicle when you’ve had body work done, there are certain times when it isn’t necessary to apply it.  For example, if it’s a smaller repair job and you’re only removing a minimal amount of paint, you may not need to apply any primer.

In fact, that could make painting and repairs more difficult.  Besides that, if you’re not taking the existing paint down to the bare metal of the body, you definitely won’t need to apply any.  Adding primer to your vehicle’s surface prior to continuing ensures a perfect quality car painting process in Miami.  It will also ensure that your vehicle won’t rust.

The post Is Priming the Key to the perfect Paint Job? appeared first on MTJ Paint and Body Shop.