What is etching on single stage paint?
On paint with a clear coat, a bird dropping or chemical splash bites into the clear and the colour is usually fine. Your paint has no clear coat. So whatever landed has marked the colour itself. That is why the mark often looks like a change in shade, not just a loss of shine.
What kind of repair does it need?
Wash and decontaminate it first. A lot of what looks like etching is still sitting on top and comes off with the right chemical. What is left is polished, and polishing takes colour off. A mark that survives both is painted. On a solid colour that is a simpler job than on a metallic.
This paint has no clear coat on top. Any polishing cuts into the colour itself. How much colour is left decides the job, so ask for the paint depth to be measured first.
What to do next
Wash it before anyone quotes on it. You often cannot tell a deposit from a mark until it is clean, and the prices are very different. Look at it in daylight. If a shop quotes a respray on a dirty panel, get it cleaned and get a second opinion.
Sources
- Standoxpaint maker
Acids present in bird droppings can penetrate the paint film…
- DetailingWikiwiki
Surface without a clear coat, have paint particles that carry the color of the surface in them.
- Malco Automotiveproduct seller
if the paint color transfers to the applicator or cloth, single-stage paint has been used.
- Sherwin-Williams Automotivepaint maker
Sand and featheredge damaged areas to remove chips, then refinish
Not sure what your car damage is?
Point your phone at it, or describe it. The answer in seconds, $8 AUD.
Check it