What does concrete do to car paint?
Also calledLime or cement dust, Splashes of lime or cement
Hard grey or white splashes low on the car come from building work, rendering or a concrete pour. Cement mixed with water is strongly alkaline. It eats into the clear coat, and it gets worse the longer it sits.
What kind of repair does it need?
A cement remover to dissolve the deposit, then a machine polish for any etching underneath. Polishing may fix mild damage, and worse damage means painting. How much there is depends on how long it has been there.
How long it sat decides it. Caught early, it is a polish on one area. Left long enough to bite past what the clear coat can give, the panel is painted instead.
What to do next
Book a detailer, and do it soon. Do not chip it off, because it takes clear coat with it. If it came from a nearby job, photograph it before it is cleaned. It is someone's responsibility.
Sources
- Standoxpaint maker
Polishing with abrasive paste may work for mild damage, otherwise sand affected area and refinish
- Axaltapaint maker
a mixture of cement dust and water is strongly alkaline
- PPG GBpaint maker
Dewax the affected area, flat lightly, compound and polish, repeating if necessary
- Sherwin-Williams Automotivepaint maker
Sand and featheredge damaged areas to remove chips, then refinish
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