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Scratched Bodywork? Types of Scratch, and How to Fix Them

Scratched Bodywork? Types of Scratch, and How to Fix Them

It is common knowledge that scratches and scuffs don’t look great, and that they can affect your car’s value when it comes to resale. All too often, vehicle owners fail to get their car bodywork repaired, because they are afraid that it will cost a huge amount of money.

The fact is, that the cost of repairing scratches to your vehicle will depend on the size and type of scratch. Some can be easily fixed, while others may require a little more work.

A vehicle’s finish is made up of three layers: primer, paint and a clear coat. The cost of repairing a scratch will depend on the size of the scratch, but its depth makes a big difference too: the deeper the scratch the harder (and more costly) the repair. We take a look at the different types of scratches, and what you can do to fix them.

Scuffs

Scuffs are by far the easiest paintwork scratches to repair. A scuff is a light surface scratch that hasn’t penetrated the clear topcoat of your vehicle’s paintwork. If your scratch is just a scuff, it should disappear when you rub over it with a wet finger. Just lick your finger and see if the scratch rubs away; if it does, your vehicle is just scuffed. Scuffs can be easily fixed with scratch removers, which you can buy from hardware shops or car specialists for under £15.

Top-coat scratch

A top-coat scratch is deeper and bigger than a scuff, but has still not penetrated the top coat, which means that it is still relatively easy to repair. You may be able to eradicate the scratch with scratch remover or, if it is deep, you may need to sand the area before applying scratch remover and buffing the surface.

Paint scratch

A paint scratch goes through the top-coat and damages the paintwork itself. Run your fingernail over the scratch, if it gets caught in the scratch, then you have gone through the top-coat into the paint. You may want to try to repair the scratch yourself; if this is the case, you will need to make sure you perfectly match the colour of the paint and invest in the correct equipment. If in doubt, consult a garage or bodywork specialist about the best course of action.

Deep scratch

A deep paint scratch will go through the top-coat and paint and expose the plastic or metal. This can be fixed with the correct equipment, or by a bodywork repair shop. While deep scratches are likely to cost the most to repair, they are also the most important to fix, as exposed metal is more likely to rust.

Of course, we all want to save money by doing as much scratch repair as possible ourselves, but sometimes it pays to consult a car bodywork repair shop, to make sure that the job is done properly, and to help maintain your vehicle’s value.

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