Budgeting for a paint job

[91RS]

He definitely was. The insurance game is “easy money” if you’re willing to play by their rules and most take the money and run.

 

[adventurenali92]

All of these guys talking about body shops turning down jobs in lieu of insurance jobs, sheesh. My dad literally started his own business because he was tired of doing insurance jobs and fixing people's broken crap. He now owns a successful shop and only does custom paint and restorations. Sounds like he was really swimming against the current with that move.

Sounds like I need to pay him to repaint my truck lol.

 

[Rocket Man]

All of these guys talking about body shops turning down jobs in lieu of insurance jobs, sheesh. My dad literally started his own business because he was tired of doing insurance jobs and fixing people's broken crap. He now owns a successful shop and only does custom paint and restorations. Sounds like he was really swimming against the current with that move.

That’s what my friend is doing, he’s slowly gone away from insurance work and has bought property outside of the city with his home and a huge shop that’s going to be his business and he will only be doing word of mouth work by appointment but 95% of the body shops like the one he built from the ground up rely on insurance work at least to start with, and most stay with that business model. There’s only enough custom work out there for a handful of shops, and those stay really busy. You might end up waiting months to get in so that’s another consideration. So yes, he was swimming against the current and I’m sure he knew it.

 

[randeez]

That’s what my friend is doing, he’s slowly gone away from insurance work and has bought property outside of the city with his home and a huge shop that’s going to be his business and he will only be doing word of mouth work by appointment but 95% of the body shops like the one he built from the ground up rely on insurance work at least to start with, and most stay with that business model. There’s only enough custom work out there for a handful of shops, and those stay really busy. You might end up waiting months to get in so that’s another consideration. So yes, he was swimming against the current and I’m sure he knew it.

yall aint wrong...but thats the other side of the coin, if im just looking to get a panel resprayed/blended or clean up a 1996 buick lasabre i dont need a 35k$ paint job on the thing

 

[tooleyondeck]

has bought property outside of the city with his home and a huge shop that’s going to be his business and he will only be doing word of mouth work by appointment

That's exactly what my dad did, built a pole barn shop on his property and expanded it over time and he doesn't use social media or any advertising at all really. He keeps about 6mo of work lined up at a time and rotates working on the big projects. He will take on simple paint jobs or engine swaps that he can turn around in a week or so in between. Being located where we are, there isn't much competition in that arena so it's not a bad business model.

 

[MrMonte]

Wow... all fantastic feedback. I learned a ton keeping up with this thread, so thanks all.

Change of plan:

View attachment 413603

In all seriousness though, it's a job I may end up tackling myself when the time comes - especially now that I know the cost at a paint shop. I have a Horrible Freight HVLP spray gun that I used to paint an old Acura I had, and the paint prep work I can do myself also.

I use this gun. Easy to setup & gives a perfect paint job and under $100.

Astro EUROHV103 EuroPro Forged HVLP Spray Gun with 1.3mm Nozzle and Plastic Cup​

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040Y301S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[petethepug]

Seeing this vs. $10k paint job weighs even to me. If you have the vehicle you love and it makes your heart tick tok, that’s reason enough to pull the trigger on a full respray.

Use a credit card for charge back rights & liability as well a shop you’ll will not be afraid to hold accountable for any mishaps. Keep relationships with friends and don’t throw them away if they do the job and somehow f’bar it. They guy who went to my friend got a horrible $6k full red respray back in ‘88. My black Mustang looked like $8k. I was embarrassed for referring business his way.

It’s an emotional expenditure. If you secure that you’re emotions won’t be taken over if it goes South, you’ve already won. You’ll get a do over at no charge.

Thank you for preserving the best of Cadillac’s best with that paint. GM started going head to head with German made luxury/muscle full size SUV in 07-14. They hired Hella to design the LED headlamps and Dräxlmaier for the Platinum interior and pulled it off with full monochromatic paint, 400hp and huge 22’s on active suspension. It stands the test of time and just enough chrome to know it still has Harley Earl’s Cadillac design cues in there, and all the way across GM’s line up.

Harley Jefferson Earl | Automotive Design, Car Styling, Concept Cars

Harley Jefferson Earl, industrial designer best known as the leading automotive stylist in the 20th-century United States. Earl studied at Stanford University but left school to work with his father in the Earl Automotive Works, a custom shop catering to Hollywood clients such as film director

www.britannica.com

 

[2006Tahoe2WD]

You can also save some money by removing alot of the trim yourself--windshield trim, headlights, taillights etc. That'll some some $$ on labor. But make sure you talk to them 1st before doing it.

I was going to ask the general question regarding removing various bits to "help" the repainting. E.g. bumpers, running boards, lights, grill, emblems?, black upper rear covers, roof rack, antennas, lower outside window trims.
What other items can/should be removed? What items should not be removed? Can the trim around the windows be removed without breaking them? Door handles? Sideview mirrors. Replace front windshield (mine is original with some rock chips/etc.) Also, good point about asking the painter first. I've talked with my local Maaco guy, last time the quote was ~%5k. I was thinking maybe if I help by getting stuff out of the way I'll get a better job. I also need to ask him how many coats of clear will I get or can I get? People say 3 coats is what I should get.

 

[ivin74]

I was going to ask the general question regarding removing various bits to "help" the repainting. E.g. bumpers, running boards, lights, grill, emblems?, black upper rear covers, roof rack, antennas, lower outside window trims.
What other items can/should be removed? What items should not be removed? Can the trim around the windows be removed without breaking them? Door handles? Sideview mirrors. Replace front windshield (mine is original with some rock chips/etc.) Also, good point about asking the painter first. I've talked with my local Maaco guy, last time the quote was ~%5k. I was thinking maybe if I help by getting stuff out of the way I'll get a better job. I also need to ask him how many coats of clear will I get or can I get? People say 3 coats is what I should get.

DO NOT get a Maaco paint job period.

 

[Tonyrodz]

DO NOT get a Maaco paint job period.

Unless you're just trying to make it pretty to sell it.