Frequently Asked Questions
How are you different from your competition?
First: Our company is family owned and operated. It is not a franchise. What this means to you, is that you can expect the same quality and care at each one of our auto paint and body locations. If you have a problem with your automotive paint job, while we would ask you to go back to the center where you got your car painted, that is not a necessity. If you've moved or another situation has come up, we can handle your needs at any of our 23 paint and body locations.
Second: Unlike our competition, our warranty is 100% it is not prorated. That means if your paint peels, wrinkles or fades during the warranty period, we'll take care of it at no charge. Some of our competitors prorate their warranty, which means you'll pay a portion of their full price for warranty work.
Third: We've been in business for 45 years. All of the companies doing business under Some of our competitors will tell you they have been in business over 71-years. The original company went out of business in 2011. Also, some of the franchise body shops have changed hands several times and even though the building has been there for a while the owner may be experienced or inexperienced (it would be a good idea to ask).
Fourth: The warranty any company offers you is only good for as long as that company stays in business. Don't be fooled by 5-year,6-year or lifetime warranties from some of our competitors. If the company changes hands, the warranty is usually void. Also some of our competitors will tell you they have been in business over 70-years. The company name is 70-years old but the business is fairly new.
Fifth: Most of our competitors lure you in with a low advertised price and then charge you extra to sand your car, mask your car and bake your car. We don't play those games, those procedures are ALWAYS included in our paint price. Special prep and bodywork are extra charges. For more information on these charges read on.
Do you do Bodywork?
Yes, our body men are experts at repairing most body and fender repairs. We can handle anything from door dings to insurance estimates. Our labor rate of $40.00* per hour is among the lowest in the industry and we offer free estimates for automotive bodywork. *Labor rate differs in Albuquerque, NM.
Is Bodywork included in the price of the paint job?
No, a professional must estimate the bodywork and give you a free estimate. There are so many variables that it's impossible to even guess at a cost online or over the phone.
How much does an estimate cost?
Estimates are free and 95% of our estimates usually take 10 minutes or less. With heavy collision jobs an estimate could take up to 1 hour depending on the amount of damage.
Can I change the color of my car?
Sure, we do color changes all the time. And at 1-Day Paint & Body Centers we give you an option: (1) we can paint inside your doorjambs, under the hood, and under the deck lid for an additional charge, or (2) we can just paint the exterior of your car at no extra charge. The choice is up to you.
How much extra does all of this cost?
The Options and Extras page can give you a better idea. As far as estimating bodywork and parts, you'll have to stop by one of our 25 locations and get a free estimate.
What is special prep?
Special prep is a term used in the industry to correctly repair a condition known as lacquer checking or clear coat delamination. If your car is badly faded or if the paint appears chalky you may have these conditions. Although we hand and machine sand every car at no extra charge, sometimes that just isn't enough. There is an extra charge for special prep and we may need to keep your car for an extra day or two. But the best way to tell is to stop in for a free estimate before you paint your car.
What is color sand and buff?
When you apply a base coat/clear coat finish (Plus 4) to your car you get the opportunity to buff the clear coat. Every paint job (Even a new car) has a condition called orange peel. This literally looks like the peel of an orange. In other words it isn't perfectly smooth. The only way to reduce the amount of orange peel is to color sand and buff the clear coat. A buffer uses a very fine grit polish to sand down the clear without damaging the color. When the buffer is done the paint job looks very close to the finish on a mirror. Perhaps you've heard the term "mirror-like finish". Some custom car painters can charge up to $15,000 for a mirror-like finish. At 1-Day we can't match those paint jobs but we can give you a fantastic "close to mirror-like finish" for only $1,400.
Can you really paint a car in one day?
When we opened our company in 1967 painting a car in a day was no problem. Today, however, that is seldom the case. New environmentally safe paints take a little longer to apply, as do primers. Our average length of time to repair a car is 2-3 days.
Can you paint a car if it's raining or snowing?
Yes, our paint booths are temperature controlled. Cold weather and rain affect dry time and sprayability only. Our booths maintain a constant 75 degree temperature regardless of the weather outside.
Do you oven bake the car?
Yes, our ovens reach temperatures of 120 degrees, perfect for drying your paint but not so hot as to affect computer chips found in many of today's cars. Your car is dried in an enclosed pressurized booth to minimize dust. Many of our competitors charge extra to bake your finish. With 1-Day it is ALWAYS included in the price.
Are trucks and Vans extra?
Yes, how much will be determined by the type of vehicle you have. Stop by any of our 23 locations for a free estimate.
Have more questions we haven't answered. Call us at 1-800-525-8111 and ask for Les. You'll always get a "live" customer service rep when you call 1-Day. If we are on the line with another customer leave us a message and we'll call you back.
