admin - Part 46

How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Car?

These days there is something you can do rectify this situation. A new paint job works wonders but when you start looking around for an auto paint shop you realise that the cost to paint a car can be prohibitively expensive depending on what needs to be done. Or it can be relatively cheap but remember that old adage – you get what you pay for. There is a big variation in the quality and level of workmanship out there and all these factors directly influence how much it will cost to paint a car. Because of the cost of the car paint some rely on DIY kind thing, but there is a risk. I still prefer to consult a paint protection guys to assure the quality and good output.

Decisions That Influence The Cost Of Painting Your Car

The first order of the day is to decide what sort of quality and end result you are looking for in the finished product. Do you want a high-end paint job complete with customised airbrush artwork and two-tone metallic paint using top of the range paint? Or are you just looking for a good basic repaint using good quality, durable paint that will stand the test of time, at least for a few years. Your answer to this question will determine whether you look for a specialty high-end paint shop or one of the more middle of the road ones and whether it’s going to cost you a small fortune or somewhere in the vicinity of $1000 to $5000.

Secondly, can you do any of the preparation work yourself? Before any car can be successfully repainted there is a fair amount of prep work involved and this is where a lot of the expense is incurred. If you have the time, the skills, the tools and the knowledge to do some of this work yourself you could save yourself quite a bit of money. If not, don’t even attempt it because you may just create a mess that will cost you more money to have fixed.

What Contributes To The Cost To Paint A Car

Most of the costs involved in repainting a car can be narrowed down to two main components – the quality of the paint and the amount of prep work that needs to be done.

Paint Quality

Auto paint varies hugely in quality and cost so you really need to ask each repair shop what quality paint they use. At the top end of the scale are the expensive ones that usually have reduced chipping and peeling qualities, are very durable, don’t fade as quickly and will withstand the elements for a good number of years. These types of paints can cost several hundred dollars a quart and usually come with a lifetime warranty.

More economical auto paints, such as those used by many of the middle range auto shops, still offer excellent value and quality for money. They’re durable, have a reasonable life span on the vehicle, can withstand normal wear and tear and generally come with at least a few years guarantee.

At the bottom end are the cheap paints. These types of paints are rarely guaranteed to last, will chip and peel easily and fade relatively quickly. However, they’re super cheap in comparison to better quality paints and may ‘do’ the job if you’re just looking to smarten the car up for resale.

Preparation Work

This is the other big expense involved in the cost to paint a car. The old paint has to be sanded back from the entire area being painted, which in a total repaint job is the whole exterior of the car at least. Dents, bumps, rust and scratches have to be fixed before the new paint can be applied and this is labour intensive, time consuming work.

Things on the car like the windows, mirrors, lights, trim, door handles, bumpers, antennas, tyres and spoilers also need to be removed or masked to avoid over spray damage. The more upmarket paint shops will often remove what can be removed to give a cleaner, more professional finish and only mask what they can’t remove. Again, this is time-consuming work and so the costs mount up. Discount paint shops may cut costs here by simply masking everything rather than removing, resulting in a less professional look.

So the bottom line here is that if a good, clean, professional looking finish is what you’re looking for, choose a quality painter.

General Price Ranges For Painting A Car

A bargain basement paint job can cost as little as a few hundred dollars – anywhere from $300 to $900. However, the paint will inevitably be generic, cheap synthetic enamel and there will only be a minimum number of coats applied. Some areas of the car, like under the hood and inside the doorjambs, may not be painted at all and protected areas will have likely just been masked rather than removed. Dents and damage to the panelling will probably simply be painted over rather than repaired first.

A better quality job will set you back somewhere between $1,000 to $2,500 depending on make and model of the vehicle, its condition and how much needs to be painted. The paint will be higher quality, usually brand named and there will be enough coats laid to create a quality finish, including several clear coats at the end to protect the coloured paint and produce a glossy, smooth finish. More care and attention will be paid to protecting areas that aren’t to be sprayed and to repairing panels prior to painting.

Right at the top end is the ‘show-room quality’ auto paint job, costing anywhere from $2,500 upwards depending on the model and make, vehicle condition and how much you want done. The vehicle will be prepped to within an inch of its life, including a complete sand back to bare metal. Every dent, scratch and bit of rust will be repaired if required and everything that isn’t to be painted that can be removed will be removed. Up to 18 to 20 layers of high quality professional brand name paint will be applied with another 6 to 8 clear coats applied over the top and you can expect the entire process to take a month or more to complete.

Vicent Feldman is an Australian journalist specialized in writing rich, unique, relevant and interesting niche articles about the cost to paint a car.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Vincent_Feldman/1394828

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9189644

Making Sure Your Car Receives The Repairs It Needs

It can seem difficult learning about auto repair, but it will get easier. Gaining knowledge can really help you get over those fears. The article below details many tips and tricks you need to know to help your car stay in great shape without having to visit the mechanic. Superiorshine.com.au car paint protection Sydney is a more cost effective service than the over hyped protection packages offered by car dealerships.

If you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop, arm yourself with information and ask questions. You can use this time to tell them about the problems you have and to get answers as to what needs to be done. When you understand what’s going on and put preventative measures in place, you will save a lot of money.

Regularly check your radiator. Let the car run a couple minutes, shut your engine and open up your hood. Never open your radiator if your vehicle is running. Use a dipstick to check the radiator’s fluid level, and remember to always mix water in with your coolant if need be. Some coolants come premixed.

The best way to find a good auto mechanic is getting referrals. Ask co-workers, friends and family for recommendations. You can learn about the quality of work, the pricing and if they were satisfied with the service. You’ll get a real feel for the experience and the honesty of the mechanic.

Test drive your vehicle after repairs before paying the auto repair shop. Most people do not do this and end up with the same issues that previously existed.

Have you noticed that your headlights aren’t shining very brightly? If so, ensure you are cleaning them regularly. Sometimes there is grease and/or dirt on it, and it reduces the brightness of the light. Use a quality glass cleaner to keep your lights clean.

Try to find out whats wrong with your vehicle before calling a mechanic. You can save lots of money if you diagnose the problem on your own, and you may also be able to prevent yourself from being swindled. As you’ve probably heard, there are some mechanics that like to lie about issues to make some more money.

You may not be a mechanic, but your trunk should always have a spare tire and a jack at the very least. Most new cars come with them. Stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire is bad news. Stuck without a jack and spare tire is bad news and a big bill. Changing your tire is a simple process that can save you an expensive visit from an auto service club.

Before you settle on a car repair business, talk to friends and family for recommendations. You may have less of a search to do if they can give you the name of someone great. You should still always do some research on the person they tell you about. Online reviews can give you a quick overview of anyone that you have in mind.

Before giving your car to a shop, ask them about their fees. A few shops hide their rates, so make sure to read the fine print and ask questions whenever necessary. You need to know how you’re billed for the repairs. Some shops have estimated repair times that are established by specific manufacturers. Sometimes, minor jobs may take longer than indicated.

Make sure that you clean your car in the winter as well. Winter can be hard on your vehicle. Roads filled with sand and salt can really do some corrosive damage to your car. If you take the time to dry the vehicle well before hitting the road again, you can stop icing from occurring.

Before you take your car to the body shop, take photographs of your car from all sides. Most shops won’t damage your vehicle, but you never know. Should something bad happen, it is helpful to have images of what your car looks like.

Bring your car to the auto repair shop immediately if you sense a problem, no matter how small. A small problem could be a symptom of a larger issue.

Sometimes a mechanic will recommend you do an engine flush, but this is not usually a required maintenance procedure. This expensive service is only necessary if you have introduced the wrong fluids into your system or have not been changing the oil often enough.

Don’t allow people to sell auto parts to you that say they’re going to last forever. Often, this is how businesses try to reel you in. For instance, some vehicles come with a claim of “lifetime” transmission fluid. Transmission fluid needs to be changed every 80K miles or so.

If you know the basics, there is no need to fear having car performance issues. You will be able to rely on your skills so that you’re able to save some cash. Use the tips you’ve just read whenever your car needs some repairs.

Everything But The Chef’s Hat: Cooking Tips

How many times have you dreaded going into the kitchen to make breakfast, lunch, or dinner? You might need a new perspective. Cooking can be enjoyable and relaxing if you try to see it in another way. Here are a few cooking tips that are sure to get your taste buds tingling and entice your inner chef to come out. Chilternscatering.com.au catering company Sydney caters any offices within the area, all information about the services that they offered can be found in their website.

You should know a few things before you cook anything on a skewer. When using metal skewers, square or twisted skewers hold food better than the round skewers.

You should store your spices and herbs in a cool dry space out of direct sunlight to avoid flavor loss. The flavor of herbs and spices will be diminished if they are subjected to humidity, heat, or light. Another little known fact is that ground spices tend to lose their flavor quicker than whole spices. Spices that have not been ground have the potential to last upwards of five years. They’ll remain fresh longer if stored properly.

A great starting point when looking to expand your cooking repertoire is your local library or bookstore. Look for cookbooks which contain basic and simple recipes for you to practice and have fun preparing. Pick a few simple, interesting recipes and work up to more elaborate dishes as your skills increase.

Preparation is incredibly important prior to cooking a meal for loved ones. Always have all ingredients before starting to cook. Set all of the non-perishable ingredients and utensils out the day ahead. This can seriously reduce stress and anxiety levels.

Making a meal for someone important, such as a romantic partner or a boss, is not the time to experiment with new dishes. You should never attempt to cook new or extravagant recipes you have not already tried when you are cooking for someone that you want to impress. This will make cooking less stressful.

Apples tend to be a big ingredient during fall and winter, but they tend to spoil quickly if not stored properly. Warm, dry air can cause apples to rot, so keep your excess stock for cooking and eating in plastic bags, and place them where they will stay cool and moist, such as the basement or refrigerator. Sort your apples carefully before storing them, as one bad apple will end up spoiling the rest.

Cooking with fresh basil? You can cut basil by the stems, bunch it together, and put it in a glass. The stems should be thoroughly covered in water. Basil will stay fresh in bowl of water for up to four weeks. Frequent changes of the water might even encourage the basil to spread out some roots. Plant the fresh basil in a small pot with rich soil to have fresh basil available at all times.

They’ll just simply work as a sponge and soak up the majority of the water. To avoid this problem, use a damp cloth to wipe the mushroom clean.

When you are making chicken stock, think in terms of high volume. Make a giant pot and store what you don’t use in your freezer. Excellent chicken stock that is homemade is a great base for use in stews, soups, casseroles, and more. Let your stock come to room temperature before you freeze it.

When purchasing the ingredients to make a recipe, take the time to read the nutritional information on the food packaging. Many of the most common ingredients can contain unhealthy and unnecessary additives. Too much salt, sugar, and those dreaded unpronounceable chemicals can really alter the flavors of dishes and be generally unhealthy for you.

You should be as organized as possible when cooking to avoid burning food and other mistakes, which could be costly. An organized cooking station is a productive cooking station. If you just cook without a plan, you will waste lots of food, which is the same as wasting lots of money.

Invest in good cutting utensils to use in the kitchen. It’s safer to cut with a sharp instrument than it is to with a dull one, and you will also save some time. A greater number of accidents occur because of dull utensils. Therefore, purchasing sharper ones decreases the chance of injury.

Tying a turkey with a string is called trussing the turkey. This ensures that the legs and wings remain near the bird, which results in more even cooking. If you don’t truss the bird, the outer extremities of the legs and wings will become overcooked while the remainder of the turkey is still under cooked.

When cooking with fruits and vegetables that you have never used before, gather as much knowledge about them beforehand as you can. A little research can show you a whole new world of different foods. Giving yourself more knowledge prior to cooking anything will go a long way towards improving the overall experience.

Try incorporating a few of these tips into your meals. Once you try some of these tips, you will believe that perhaps cooking is not so difficult after all. The better your food gets, the more you’ll want to cook. Try cooking!