How to touch-up damaged paintwork

Whether it's your walls, whitegoods or your vehicle, at some stage you may be required to touch-up some minor damage to the paintwork and the general rule here is to properly prepare your surface before applying any paint if you want to achieve the best results.

Touch-ups: Painting preparation

If you are after a professional looking paintwork job, there are some things to consider before you start, they include:

• Adequate sealing of the substrate (base surface material)
• Environmental temperature
• Size of the touch-up area
• Uniformity in the application of the paint

The temperature can have a big impact on paintwork so when doing a touch-up, ensure that the temperature is above 12° during the application and while the paint is drying and curing to allow for a full film cure. If the temperature is lower, the touch-up will more likely appear to be lighter in colour and mar the overall look of the surface.

Painting: For best results

To ensure uniformity, the paint needs to be applied carefully to avoid missing any areas and it is strongly advised that you follow the instructions in regard to the thickness of each coat. If the base material is still evident once the paint has dried completely it means that the sealer was inadequately applied and the end result will look patchy and unattractive.

The size of the touch-up area should ideally be small. If however the surface has several areas that need to be done, it would be better to just repaint the entire surface for an even finish.

The best results for painting touch-ups will come from using the original paint if possible from the same can and the best way to achieve the same texture is to use a small touch-up roller with a minimum paint load. In the absence of a roller you can apply the paint with a brush and use a 'stippling' method.

With careful preparation and application, you can achieve a finish that will blend in and save you from having to repaint the entire area in the long run.