QuestionHi,
I have a 2009 civic that sustained some damage to the rear quarter. I have the knowledge to fix the dent and repaint. But i am not sure on one thing.
The paint code for the Civic is NH578 (taffeta white), which is a single stage paint Honda has been using for many years. I suspect that most paint manufacturers are aware of this and supply a single stage paint for this application, but i want to make sure before hand of the proper color and luster.
I will be painting the right quarter panel, the right rear door panel as well as the trunk lid by the way. My paint is in good condition.
Do most manufacturers offer a single stage paint matching the Honda paint?
How can i ensure the paint i will get will have the proper sheen to it and match the sheen on my car?
Do i need to stick with a certain manufacturer?
What if the paint store tries to sell me base coat/clear coat paint? Will it match without reclearing the whole car?
Any info will be quite appreciated?
AnswerHi Stephane,
To best match the color of your vehicle you will need to get the 11th Character in the VIN number. There was 2 Tafetta White paint codes used for the Civic depending on what manufacturing plant it was produced in. One is NH578 while the other is NH578-L. I would suggest that you also take the car with you when you go to buy the paint because each of these color codes have 2 known variants each from the factory (According to PPG color documentation as of 07/12). You will need to compare those variants to your car for the best color match.
Now as for painting the car, all paint manufacturers recommend blending color into adjacent panels. To do that correctly you will need to use a base-coat clear-coat system. Single Stage finishes can't be blended properly and be durable for an extended period of time. Also, The gloss level will most likely be slightly different from the rest of the car due to a comparison between clear-coat and single stage paint (This can be minimized by polishing all adjacent panels to the repair). The other issue will be the way that it ages. Single Stage will age quicker than a clear-coat finish (It can be minimized by keeping it waxed several times per year).
As for paint manufacturer: PPG all the way!! (I always recommended PPG because that is who I am affiliated with. http://www.repaintsupply.com/)
I think I have pretty much answered all your questions, If you have further questions please ask a follow up.
