Aside from the usual recommendations and price; what do you look for?

I have two near me. One is a long standing family run business that does restoration work and when I went in they had a newish TVR in for repair work. However their premises aren't great, seemed untidy etc. BUt you can't jusge a book by it's cover etc and I get the impression they will take more care.

The other is what I would class as a more commercial set-up. They do a lot of work for the police etc which makes me think they may not spend the time to do a great job.

I'm inclined to go with the first but what do YOU look for?

Alternatively I could go with the overpriced dealer option....

 

If i was getting my car painted i would personally go and inspect a car that each of them has painted, and see what the quality is, as 1 persons " perfect" paintjob is definitely another persons " poor"

Sarah

 

Out of those two I would sway towards the first one. Restorations are very time comsuming and need a lot of skill.

 

As Rossco said Paul, i would use the one that did the restoration work. What are they called as i may have been in them (was a tech rep for Farecla)

Smudge

 

John King & Sons in Napton, Warks

 

Checking work out is the only way besides recommendations.

If you do want a recommendation, Jacko on here!

 

Looking at work they have done before.
Recommendations from other people.
Gutt feeling you get from someone.

 

ask for recommendations

then visit the one you choose

look round the premises at what they have in at the moment

look at the quality of some of their recent work

make your decision


i prefer places that have manufacturer approval from the big companies for repair work....ie porsche, ferarri, mercedes etc and places that do a bit of resto work too. The place I used had an e type having a full body resto and the attention it was getting was unbelieveable. I was sold when I saw that

Also, i've never seen a good paintshop that wasnt clean and tidy

 

Not been in that one sorry.

Smudge

 

Personally the first one due to the fact I think they may probably take more care, and not treat is as just another insurance claim. In my experience of getting any kind of bodywork done, the larger places usually arent interested in the average joe walking in off the street, they'd much rather deal with bigger customers like garages and insurance companies, so they can basically charge whatever they like and don't really have to be competitive, hence why they'll try and charge you heaps for next to fook all. Just my opinion, I'm sure they'll be those who disagree.

 

I'd want to see the spray booth and know if they used air drying, low bake or high bake paints. Also cast a close eye over finished cars.

 

You dont need a booth to achive a top notch job, most places will be having to use some form of air drying as it helps speed up drying the waterbased base coat. You also dont have to bake paint to achive a good finish, its all done for speed.

 

if you leve it to dry over night it will be a better result the only time you need heat is for the aplication (it runs when its cold)and you need excellent extraction the best booths have a grid covering the floor
and most of all some one that takes care and wants to do it right rather than just take your cash

 

Paul i have a bit of experience in this! i tried very hard to find someone to do a paint restoration on one of my cars i went with the most expensive quote Big big mistake for me, 2 years and Ł12.500 later the job was very poor. I am bound by terms of a settlement not to say to much.

I have now found what i think is the best man in the world http://www.alsaautomotive.co.uk/ Al has done my Escort Cosworth, you can see it on his web site and he will re-do all the work on my Ferrari that the other place messed up. Now if i had found Al before i would be around Ł7 k better off !!

Now for the best bit Al does not use a oven! And to be honest his place in not the best looking, but his work is just the best, He has just done a Ferrari for a friend and it was black and the guy who did the detail work http://www.sportscarprotection.com/index.html said it was the best paint finish he has every worked with and this guy does Enzoz zondas Astons Etc.

Whoever you ask make sure you get in writing what they are going to do and how much and a time scale.
Good luck

 

Think you're a leam local aren't you? If so Spa garage by the train station strongly gets my recommendation - me and a few mates have had work done by them and been very happy with the result. Prices are very fair too