What are stone chips on car paint?

Also calledBruises, Nicks, Stone chip solid, Stone Pecks

Small craters with paint missing, on the front of the car, are stone chips. Gravel thrown up by traffic hits the leading edges hardest. That is why chips concentrate on the front of the bonnet, the bumper and the mirrors.

What kind of repair does it need?

Touching up each chip, or a small spot repair for a better finish. Touch-up works for very small chips, but a spot repair or refinish is the full fix.

Class of work Chip filling, or a panel refinish.

A few chips are filled one by one. Past a point, filling each one leaves a panel covered in dots. Then the panel is painted instead.

What to do next

A mobile touch-up specialist. Ask whether they give a better rate for several chips. Ask if they are touching in or spot repairing, because the results and prices differ. If any chip shows bright bare metal rather than grey primer, do that one first. Bare metal is what rusts, so do not leave it.

Sources

  1. PPG GBpaint makerImpact damage, typically caused by stone thrown up from loose road surfaces…
  2. PPG Industries (US/Canada, 2019)paint makerRepair affected area using flexible additive, focusing on the leading edge of the vehicle
  3. Standoxpaint makerVery small areas can be repaired by careful touching in…

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Related

What is heavy stone chipping on a car? Once the leading edge is peppered with chips, the panel needs refinishing rather than per-chip touch-in. Learn the crossover point. What is micro pitting on car paint? Hundreds of pinpoint impacts that make the front feel like sandpaper are too many chips to treat individually. Learn the fix.
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