Panel beating repairs the shape and structure of the body. Spray painting restores the colour and finish. Most collision repairs need both.
What panel beating involves
Panel beaters straighten dents and damaged panels, replace parts that cannot be repaired and make sure the body lines up as the manufacturer intended. On larger repairs, the chassis is measured to confirm it is true.
What spray painting involves
Once the bodywork is ready, the surface is prepared, primed and painted. The colour is mixed to match your vehicle's existing paint, then finished so the repair blends in and the panel looks like the factory finish.
Why the order matters
Paint only looks right on a properly straightened, smooth panel. Rushing the bodywork shows through the paint, which is why a single workshop handling both stages, as we do at Wagstaff, tends to give the best result.
Protecting the finish afterwards
Paint protection helps keep the paint in the same condition for longer, and a cut and polish brings back the gloss.
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