Panel Refinishing

Panel refinishing prepares and sprays individual panels after repair or replacement. It covers substrate preparation, primer, color, and clear, with the sprayed area extended into adjacent panels as far as the color and finish require to keep the repair invisible.

The process

Panel refinishing follows the same discipline as a full respray, just over a smaller area. Substrate preparation, sealer, primer, color, clear, then cut and polish to blend the new clear into the surrounding surface.

The area we spray is determined by where the finish can be blended, not by where the damage was. On a large flat side that can mean spraying well beyond the repair.

Substrate assessment and preparation
Primer system matched to the material
Color application with blend into adjacent panels
Clear application across the blend zone
Cut and polish to unify the finish

Substrate differences

Steel, aluminum, fiberglass, and composite all need different primer systems. Using an automotive primer on a fiberglass cap or a composite trailer wall produces adhesion failure, usually within the first year and usually starting at an edge.

We identify the substrate first and select the system accordingly, which is unglamorous and is the main reason a refinish holds.

Pricing

What this typically costs

Ballpark range

$500 to $5,500

4 to 25 labor hours

Commercial damage varies widely, so this is a range rather than a quote. The number for your vehicle comes from assessing the actual damage.

Collision estimates for insurance claim walk-ins carry no charge. Systems estimates are $150 and diagnostics are $285 per hour, both credited against an authorized repair.

See the full rate card for labor rates, materials, parts markup and deposit policy.

FAQ