How Your Car’s Paint Can Be Damaged By The Sun - Solar Style (2024)

FAQs

How Your Car’s Paint Can Be Damaged By The Sun - Solar Style? ›

UVB rays affect the top layers of the paint, causing the color to fade and look less bright. This type of radiation can also speed up the breaking down of the clear coat, making the paint more vulnerable to things like bird droppings and road dirt, which can cause even more damage.

Here's How It Works

This occurs when UV rays hit your car's exterior paint surfaces. As time passes, constant exposure to the sun starts to break down the paint molecules, diminishing your vehicle's exterior paint coat, and making it less reflective and shiny. This makes your vehicle appear old and dull on the outside.

Just cleaning your car won't cut it: you will have to wax it at least twice a year to lock in the exterior paint. Wax acts as a protective layer, minimizing scratches and UV damage. In case you want to go a slightly more permanent route, consider getting a ceramic coating to protect your car from the sun.

The Weather IS Your Car Paint's worst Enemy: Fading, Cracking, Peeling, and More. You've probably seen the effects of sun damage on pictures, clothing, or your skin. The sun can wreck your car paint too.

It's common knowledge that exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun damages human skin, but these powerful rays also oxidize and fade automobile paint and make a car look old and worn out before its time.

Dark colors will appear intense in the bright, morning light, but may have a drab effect as the morning light fades. West-facing rooms, while darker in the morning, are bathed in rich yellow or golden tones of the late afternoon. Red or yellow colors may become overwhelming on bright, sunny days.

Car insurance generally won't cover damage caused by deterioration, wear and tear or weathering. You typically won't be able to claim paint damage when it's the result of ongoing exposure to rain, sand, sun, salt, water or similar.

Wax Your Car

You can think of it a bit like sunscreen for your car. Wax protects against UV rays and prevents the paint from collecting dirt and debris. There are different formulas of wax to choose from, and each has a slightly different process in how they're applied.

The stains are caused by polyethene glycol and can cause damage to your car if left on for a long period of time.

Can sun damaged paint be repaired? ›

In conclusion, fixing sun damage on car paint doesn't have to be a daunting task. With the right tools, materials, and knowledge, you can restore your car's appearance and protect it from future harm.

A damaged surface will drastically increase the risk of creases, bubbles, and rips, reducing the appeal and usable life of your wrap. As a leading provider of quality car wraps, the team at Wrap Guys knows how detrimental damaged paint can be for vinyl wraps of all sizes.

Automotive Fluids

Known culprits include gasoline, battery acid, and brake fluid. These fluids, even when promptly cleaned up, can stain or strip your car's paint.

What may be the biggest factor regarding how long it will take your vehicle to fade due to the sun is if you have prevented damage from occurring. Under normal circ*mstances without many preventative measures, it typically takes 5 to 10 years for the sun to fade a vehicle's paint.

Over time, UV rays and heat exposure can lead to paint fading and oxidation, upholstery damage, dashboard cracking, and other material breakdowns. Foreign substances like bird poop or dust can cause corrosive damage if left on the car too long, especially in the sun.

Remove Peeling or Damaged Clear Coat

Use light to medium pressure and try to knock off all the peeling flakes. If the color coat is exposed, use very light pressure and focus on the borders. You can also use fine sandpaper. Start with 1500 grit and go up or down, depending on the hardness of the specific clear coat.

What may be the biggest factor regarding how long it will take your vehicle to fade due to the sun is if you have prevented damage from occurring. Under normal circ*mstances without many preventative measures, it typically takes 5 to 10 years for the sun to fade a vehicle's paint.

There are a few ways to restore faded paint on your car. If the fading is minor, you can try to buff the paint to improve its appearance and shine. For major fading, it's usually best to take your car in to be professionally restored.

According to Progressive.com, “UV rays and heat exposure can lead to paint fading and oxidation, upholstery damage, dashboard cracking and other material breakdowns.