You might notice minor scratches or dings in your bumper and want to repair the damage. You can quickly fix the surface and repaint the bumper if the damage is minor. Any severe damage will take longer and require more money to fix. If you want to know how much it will cost to give your bumper a fresh look, here are a few things to expect.
Does a Bumper Need New Paint?
There are a few reasons why you need to paint or repaint a bumper. If you replace an old bumper, that new one will not have any paint color. You will need to paint it to match your vehicle.
Repainting a bumper must be done after any repair. Whether you have a crack or dent, you must repaint the bumper. Otherwise, you will have a mismatched bumper prone to cracking and chipping. Even if the bumper has minor nicks and scratches, it could be worth considering repainting your bumper. All those small scratches and chips could lead to further damage down the road.
Finally, if you want to sell your car in the future, you need to repaint the bumper to give your vehicle the best possible appearance to impress potential buyers.
Steps To Paint a Bumper
Whether you take your car to a bumper paint shop or handle the job by yourself, there are several steps to the process. Painting a bumper is not as simple as putting on a layer of paint and walking away. You need to follow specific steps to ensure the proper application on your vehicle.
First, you must remove your bumper from the vehicle. The surface must be clean. You need to wash away debris with soap and a degreaser. Take wet sandpaper and rub over those rough areas of the bumper. Afterward, wipe the bumper down with a microfiber cloth. Now you can apply the paint.
Paint the bumper with a base coat. Once again, you must wet sand any imperfections and wipe the surface with a microfiber cloth. This process will need to be done at least three times. After that, you can apply the two layers of clear coat. Finally, allow the bumper to dry for at least six hours before reattaching it.
Professional auto body repair shops will have tools to get the job done for your car. They may complete the repainting process with these same steps to get a professional-looking paint application for your vehicle.
Average Bumper Repaint Cost
How much to paint the front bumper of the car? Unfortunately, the price can vary. In most cases, the average cost will be around $500. It might seem steep, but you must factor into the price of the paint, prep work, and the technicians’ expertise. The repair shop will take time to custom-match your color for a flawless repair.
Proper prep work is just as important as the paint application process. You are paying for the shop to prepare the surface for the paint. When this step is not completed correctly, you can see the difference between a professional and an inexperienced job.
You have a decision whether to choose an amateur shop or an experienced one.
If you are concerned with price, you can spend anywhere from $200 to $300 to paint your bumper at an amateur shop. Remember that these economy-level jobs often do not color match your paint, and those repaired spots tend to fade faster than the rest of the vehicle. Also, lower-quality paint jobs are easier to chip and scratch than premium ones. In some cases, the economy-level job skips the second layer of clear coat, depriving your vehicle of that extra protection. Yes, you can save a little bit of money, but you will not be happy with the result, especially in the long run.
These low-budget chains and small shops will get the job done quickly and use inferior products on your vehicle. If you are picky about the appearance of your car, then you will want to choose a reputable professional shop.
You will want to take your vehicle to a highly rated auto body shop. These technicians are trained and have the experience to precisely match the color of your vehicle. They take the time to do the prep work for a high-quality repair.
Premium paint jobs will cost anywhere from $500 to $700 for a single color. If you have multiple colors or multi-stage paint, the repair cost can rise to about $1,000. However, look at the price as an investment. You will have a paint job that will last longer and continue to be visually appealing after a few years.
Is This a DIY Project?
If you know what you are doing, you can paint the front or rear bumper by yourself. Remember that any paint repairs will take a lot of work. Plus, you will be unable to precisely color match the existing paint. Unless you are trained, the result will look like a “do-it-yourself” job, and that’s not a good look for any vehicle.
Find a Professional Shop for the Job
You can skip all those hassles and bring your vehicle to a professional auto body shop. At Elmer’s Auto Body, our technicians are trained and will use the latest technology to color match your existing paint. We will take care of the prep work and application of the paint. Schedule your consultation by calling (856) 218-0202.