Are you painting your car matte black? Awesome!
Matte finish is a great way to paint your car. If you're wondering how much it'll cost you to make your car matte, you've come to the right place!
In this ProPaintCorner.com guide, you'll learn:
- What you need to know about using matte paint on a car
- Supplies you'll need if you want to DIY
- What you can expect to pay for a matte black paint job
Pro Paint Corner has the answers to all your bodywork and automotive paint job questions right here.
So, before you do paint your car matte black, I recommend you read this quick guide on how to do it perfectly.
What Do You Need To Know About Painting Your Car Matte Black?
There are a few key things to know about painting a car matte black before you get started.
Whether you want to DIY the paint job or hire a professional, it's important to understand the implications of painting a car, especially when it comes to using matte paint.
What Is Matte?
Matte means the paint has a flat look. Matte doesn't look glossy, although cars with matte paint done by a professional do have a special clear coat that makes it appear even more 'matte' with its dimpled impressions.
What Are The Different Types Of Car Paint
Which type of paint will you use on your project?
Lacquer
For example, vintage cars have lacquer paint, which is why it's smart to completely remove the paint on old panels for a successful synthetic enamel paint job.
Enamel
Automakers typically utilize an acrylic enamel these days, and shops like Maaco might spray paint your car with a single-stage polyurethane paint that goes on all in one coat.
Plasti dip
Plasti dip is a rubber coating that comes in a spray can that works great for smaller jobs like wheels and bumpers, but just take into consideration that plasti dip easily peels off.
Truck bed coating
Some offroad enthusiasts use a truck bed coating to paint body panels for a rugged and durable look.
We recommend that you choose high-quality paint for your new paint job. Read customer reviews and ratings on paint colors and brands before buying your paint to ensure the best results.
Read More >> How Much Does Paint Correction Usually Cost?
What Supplies Will You Need For Painting A Car Matte Black?
Here's a quick list of supplies you'll need for painting your car by yourself:
Automotive Paint
There are plenty of different brands of matte paint you can use for the job. Search on Amazon for the mate paints with the best reviews, and go for it.
Paint Sprayer
If you're not using aerosol spray paint, you'll need a paint sprayer to get the job done. Need a great paint sprayer? Check out our list of ideas.
Sandpaper
Sandpaper is a necessity for prepping and sanding in between coats.
Dropcloth
Use a drop cloth to protect the ground from getting paint on it.
Compressor/Power washer
Both air compressor and power washer are essential for a professional detail job.
Paint Masker
Professional automotive painters use a paint masker to tape off the windows, trim, and any other parts that won't be painted.
Carnauba Wax
Carnauba wax is a great way to protect a fresh paint job from dirt and UV rays.
Waxing is temporary protection that needs to be regularly applied. A more permanent protective solution to your matte black paint job would be a ceramic coating.
Paint Masker
Professional painters at the body shop use a paint masker to quickly cover up windows, electrical parts, door jamb parts, taillights and more.
Drop Cloth
Use a drop cloth in the enclosed painting area to avoid getting paint on the floor.
Read More >> What Are The Best Automotive Paint Sprayers For Beginners?
How To Paint A Car Matte Black (5-Step Guide)
Before you dive into repainting your car, take a look at the step-by-step process below to determine whether you want to go the DIY route or hire a pro.
(You can click on the links below to jump ahead to each step!)
Step 1 - Hire a professional vs. do it yourself
The first matter of business is deciding whether or not will paint the car yourself or hire a professional.
Applying a vinyl wrap is a good alternative to painting because it can be done in a less controlled environment.
Step 2 - Sand and prep
If you do decide to paint yourself, you'll need to perform some prep work beforehand.
Prep work involves masking off all the windows and trim(anything that won't be painted) and sanding the surface smooth and ready to accept new paint.
It's not completely necessary to sand the paint all the way down to the metal.
In most cases, you'll be fine to smooth out the surface starting with some higher grit sandpaper (like 200-grit+) with a light pass, and then move on to buffing it out with a polishing compound at speeds of around 2,000 rpm.
You'll also want to go through the car wash right before you paint it to remove any residual sanded material.
We also might add that washing your Chevy, Hyundai, or any car at home with a bucket of water will save water supplies in your area – electric car washes aren't the best for the environment.
Remember to degrease any engine parts before painting them matte black for the best results, and for wheels, you might want to use some fallout cleaner or acetone to get the surface extremely clean.
Step 3 - Prime and paint
After the car is masked and prepped, you'll apply primer or base coat(depending on if you are painting over the existing paint or no).
There are few cases like rust, for example, where you must use an abrasive paint remover disc or lower-grit sandpaper to completely remove the paint down to the metal.
After the base coats are on, you can wet sand it to perfection, then add a couple of coats of clear coat and do the same.
Step 4 - Detail/Finish work
After you have the car all painted, it's time to perform some detailed work to finish up.
Because the paint doesn't always come out super smooth(especially black paint), you'll need to wet sand the finish and apply a polishing compound to complete the paint job and make it showroom-worthy.
Step 5 - Inspect and wax/coat
The next step is to inspect the car to make sure it looks as good as a Ford Mustang in the 1970s.
The best way to inspect any paint job is by shining light directly onto it. You also might want to park the car in the sun, and then in the shade to find any small imperfections that you might want to fix before applying wax or ceramic coating.
For the final step, you have two options: wax or ceramic coating.
Applying wax is a temporary solution for repelling dirty and UV rays, but one long drive on a dirt road, and. you'll be ready for a new wax job.
That's why pickup truck owners and sedan owners alike are installing ceramic coatings that cover their whole paint job making the detail process simple: all you do is spray water on the car, and it's clean.
Which do we recommend, ceramic coating or wax? We recommend whichever solution works best for your situation.
One thing is sure though if you're trying to keep your paint job in great condition, a ceramic coat does numbers to help your cause.
Read More >> How Much Does A Paint Job On A Truck Usually Cost?
Other Valuable Resources On Painting A Car Matte Black
Have you ever considered using a vinyl wrap instead of actually painting? Car wraps are an easy and relatively inexpensive way to change the color of your car without having to bust out the paint sprayer.
Are you hiring a paint shop for the job? Here are a few things to consider:
Cost
A shop will charge you anywhere from $500-$5,000 for a professional paint job. Call around to different shops for different pricing to get the best price on your repaint.
Don't forget to check the online reviews of the business you are using... anything under 4-star might not be a good idea.
Ask for a warranty just in case something goes wrong later on when hiring a pro for paintwork.
Time
DIY repainting is time-consuming, and it takes a meticulous personality to make an automotive paint job look good.
Ask yourself, 'is this going to be a hassle?' – just another factor to consider when deciding whether or not to paint the car yourself.
Then again, if it's just a touch-up, there's no reason to hire a pro.
Do we recommend you paint the car yourself? Yes, we still do, but before you start painting your whole car, ask yourself if it's worth taking 30+ hours out of your schedule to perfect.
Are you looking to paint the car the original color? Don't forget to match the paint code from inside the driver's door panel.
We're here to answer all your paint questions on our Pro Paint Page!
