Auto body repair & detailing: prime&block, paint, painter

Question
just a quick question in reference to the prime and block operation.  i am an insurance appraiser and have been doing so for some time.  recently there has been a question on what and when we owe to prime and block (over and above time already paid).  various motor ppages say that primer application is included in the system refinish time.  should the industry be paying additional time to prime and block panels?  i understand it is basically an objective time based on type of panel, damg etc..  can you clear this issue up at all? is there any book times or anything in writing i may refer to while discussing w/shops?

Answer
Seth-

In most shops where I have worked we have always attempted to get additional time for Prime and Block or Block and Fill. Much time is involved in this operation and usually the painter should be allowed something for his efforts to refinish anything other than a "clean, undamaged panel." You may find that in the P Pages or included operations, refinish usually does not include feather edging the repair area, masking, applying primer, then sanding the area to prepare for sealer and refinish and then clear coats. I used to say in the shop so many times as I would see the painter priming and blocking every panel that very very few "clean undamaged" panels exist that don't require some efforts on the part of the painter to prepare for refinish beyond what is compensated in the refinish time. Even new sheet metal almost always arrives with some sort of damage.

I think that if your company does not allow you to pay for this operation you should consider adding a little extra repair time on the panel and then tell the shop if the painter needs block and fill it should come out of the repair time. That was how I usually handled it. It's probably not fair for the body man to rough it out in 80 grit and then send it to the painter to have him clean it up. However- in my opinion, it is a separate operation. Consider the work that has to be done for clean up of something like a used 1/4 section??? Or a door skin for that matter, although I have seen some very good body men produce a pretty good door skin repair.

I hope this has helped and I am sorry for the delay. Good Luck, Mark