Finding a stone chip on your car’s paintwork can be incredibly frustrating. The good news is that repairing the damage and restoring your vehicle’s bodywork to showroom condition is a breeze with Chipex™ car repair paint.
Let’s explore how to fix stone chips in three easy steps using our colour matched touch up paint.
What are stone chips?
Stone chips are small indentations left on your car’s bodywork after being hit by tiny stones. They commonly occur when driving at high speeds down the motorway. When a stone hits your vehicle, it can scratch the paintwork, leaving unsightly marks.
It’s not just stones and rocks that can cause these pesky chips, either. If you’ve ever driven down a salted road in winter, you’ll know that the grit can easily lead to scuffs and road rash. While gritting the roads is essential for protection in cold, icy weather, it can be disheartening when your car is damaged due to grit debris.
Top tip: If you find yourself driving behind a gritting lorry in icy conditions, try and hang back a bit. This will reduce the risk of grit flying out and hitting your vehicle’s bodywork.
Why should you fix stone chips?
Whether you’ve collected a dozen stone chips or just one, we recommend repairing the damage as quickly as possible. It’s not just about the aesthetics, either.
As well as creating visible marks, a stone chip on your paint can also start to ‘bubble’ once water gets underneath the paint, which will lead to rusting and more severe damage. This bubble can also worsen over time, devalueing your car when it comes to re-selling it.
How to repair a stone chip on car paint
Some people opt for a respray job to fix stone chips, but this can be an expensive solution. However, there is a more affordable repair available. With high-quality car repair paint, you can make those stone chips and grit scratches disappear.
Learn more about the difference between respraying a car and opting for touch up paint repairs.
Will you notice a stone chip repair?
The secret to a seamless paint repair after a stone chip is an exact colour match. That’s where Chipex™ comes in. We use your vehicle’s paint colour code to custom mix a repair kit that blends with your OEM bodywork precisely. So whether you’re fixing a stone chip on your red Lexus or grit kickback on your white Mini, your paint repair will be practically invisible.
We offer auto touch up paint for a wide variety of vehicle brands. You can find your car colour code by entering your car’s registration details into our handy search tool or by selecting your make and model.
Chipex™ guarantees a 100% colour match. If you order a kit under the correct paint code but find it’s not an exact colour match, we’ll refund your money or send you another batch at no extra cost.
How to repair stone chips with Chipex UK touch up paint
Whether you choose our Lite, Plus, or Pro car paint repair kit, we’ve designed each one to be suitable for all experience levels. So whether it’s your first time fixing a stone chip or you’ve done it before, you can enjoy a straightforward three-step application process.
Before you begin your repair, we recommend going through this checklist:
Have you assessed the severity of the damage? This will help you order the best Chipex™ kit for the job. Our Chipex™ Lite kit is ideal for fixing up to 12 minor chips, while our Chipex™ Plus is the ideal choice for heavily chipped paintwork (up to 24 areas of damage).
Has your vehicle recently been resprayed? If so, you’ll need to wait for at least one month from the paint job before you can apply touch up paint. This ensures the original coat has enough time to cure.
Have you cleaned the damaged area? It’s important to wipe away any dirt, dust, or grime from the area around the chip to make sure the touch up paint can adhere well. We also recommend removing any sealant, wax or polish from the chip area. You can use a bit of the blending solution from your Chipex™ kit for this. If you like, you can ensure a thorough clean by using a high-quality car shampoo.
Now you’re ready to fix those stone chips.
Repair a stone chip in three steps
Start by setting out the components of your kit. You should have the following to hand:
- Protective gloves
- Your colour matched repair paint
- Blending solution
- Polish
- Microbrush applicators
- Microfibre cloth
- Paint removal cloth
Step 1
Shake the paint bottle well, and then use the supplied microbrush applicator to dab the paint onto the chipped area.
If the car has suffered ‘road rash’ (lots of small stone chips in one area), use a gloved fingertip to apply the paint evenly across the road rash, making sure they are all filled.
Leave this to dry for between 30 seconds and 5 minutes.
Step 2
Once the paint is dry to the touch, apply the supplied blending solution to the cloth, and wipe it across the painted areas. You don’t need to apply too much pressure, simply let the solution do its job and then let it dry for a few minutes.
Step 3
Next, get your finishing polish, and apply a small amount to the soft microfibre cloth from your kit. Rub it gently across the painted areas.
Allow it to dry until it becomes hazy. You can then use a clean part of the cloth to buff the haze away until it reveals a gleaming shine.
Note: If your vehicle has paint with a matte finish, you won’t need to worry about this final step.
How to get the best results from your stone chip repair
Our vehicle repair paint is easy to apply and delivers fantastic results. To help you get a seamless, long-lasting stone chip repair, here are a few tips to follow.
- If you’re tackling large or deep stone chips, repeat steps 1 and 2 a few times to build up layers of paint until the chip has been properly filled in.
- If you make a mistake when applying your repair paint, don’t worry. You can use the blending solution to gently remove the paint and start again.
- Very cold temperatures can affect how well and how quickly your touch up paint dries. It’s best to work in an environment that’s 0°C or higher.
- Once you’ve carried out your stone chip repair, consider using our Super Concentrate Car Shampoo and Pro Detailer to keep your vehicle fresh and vibrant.
Order your Chipex™ car repair paint kit today
Make stone chips and grit scratches a thing of the past with custom mixed car repair paint from Chipex™. Enter your registration details into our colour code finder to order your custom mixed repair paint today.
Can’t find your color code? enter your details manually here
