Any pro tips before I have my 3rd Gen painted?
 

So due to an insurance claim via my employers inability to keep dead trees and their branches pruned...I'm getting my truck painted by a decent shop and noticed on the estimate they intend on using clear coat.

I do not want clear coat, I'd rather have thicker paint as I really take care of my vehicles including the paint and have had too many issues with clear coats over the years.

Is there anything I should specifically ask the shop do or not do regarding this top to bottom repaint?

https://imgur.com/a/v9iL7 There are plenty of scratches all over the top, hood, and wheel flares on the driver's side as well.

I really think you need to discuss this with the shop you intend to use. They can educate you little on the process. I could give you general but there are veribales depending on exactly what paint system they use and they may not use a brand I sell or spray so I don't want to get too deep and speak for another brand of paint.

Thickness comes from color IE white is thicker than blacks or blues. Also how many mils. you apply. There is nothing wrong with base clear systems. I'd much rather have it than single stage. If the shop uses a quality clear and YOU take care of it, you paint job can last 20+ years. If they use a cheap clear and you don't take care of it yeah it's gone in 2-3 years. I'm not a big single stage fan it has its place but I'm not a fan for an exterior finish. Base clear systems have to be cleared or they will be flat and eaten by UV rays quickly.

Talk to your body shop and have them explain the exacts with you about the paint system they plan to spray. You could even leave and go do your homework after you know what they are going to spray.

Please don't take this the wrong way but I think you need more education on the subject and without knowing what they plan to spray I can't give it much attention. Auto paint is for sure something you get what you pay for.

Also they respraying The Whole vehicle or just the damaged area? It's tuff to get single stage to match the factory base clear with anything but base clear. If they are just doing the damaged area they may only want to spray BC/CC

No worries, I'm here to learn! Well from what I've already read, there are auto paints with UV preventatives mixed in so a clear coat may not be needed. I can color correct all day with my DA polisher etc, but clear coat repair is a huge PITA. Thanks for the feedback, I'll be contacting the shop today.

Clear coat paint is really nothing but transparent paint. I'm not sure why you're so reluctant to get a base coat/clear coat paint job. The idea is a thin layer of color and a thicker layer of clear. Most autobody shops know how to correctly lay down the clear on top of the color and you end up with a shiny paint job that it easy to care for and will look great for many years with minimal upkeep. Personally, I'd never opt for a single stage paint job, but that's just me.

Because it's a lot easier to fix scratches/damages to the paint if there's not a clear coat and there's no chance of a clear coat flaking or being damaged by UVs. I'd rather have more paint and no clear. Just my opinion from years of detailing.

As long as it prepped right the newer QUALITY clears shouldn't flake off for many many many many years (that's many times four) as long as it's waxed fairly often and not out in the desert all day 24/7. We sell a clear at work for $65 gallon of clear and the hardner used car lots love it but if you spray it today it will probably peel by Easter. Quality clears have come along ways in the last 15-20 years or so it's the same as cell phones. Your phone you have today it's not the same as that phone in a bag we had in '94.

Now that I know you have a detailing background I semi get your reluctance. I have delt with almost as many car dealer make readies, detail shops and body shop detalers as I have paint body guys since we cater to both at my employer. I still feel BC/CC is the only way to go.

I would definitely get the clear coat. Wax it twice a year & after almost 18 years my paint still looks like this. Yes, I'm the original owner.