Auto Painting & Refinishing in Orange, CA
Selman Collision refinishes damaged, faded, and worn paint for all makes and models at our shop on Tustin Street in Orange. Our refinish technicians use eco-friendly, water-based paint in downdraft booths to match your vehicle's factory color, for drivers from Old Towne to east Orange and across Orange County.
What Is Auto Painting & Refinishing?
Auto painting and refinishing restores the color and the clear coat that protect a vehicle's panels. It ranges from a single repaired bumper to several panels or a complete exterior. The work starts long before the spray gun comes out.
Each panel is cleaned, sanded, and primed so the new paint bonds to a sound surface. The color is matched, sprayed, and covered with clear coat, then the finish is polished to the gloss of the panels around it. Masking keeps paint off glass, trim, and the parts that are not being painted.
Why Auto Painting & Refinishing Matters in Orange, CA
Orange is warm and dry from April through November, and summer heat here has reached 113 degrees. Long months of strong sun dry out the clear coat on hoods, roofs, and trunk lids. Once the clear coat fails, the color under it fades and the panel has little protection left.
Paint is also the first barrier against rust. A chip or scratch that reaches bare metal lets moisture in, and the winter rains that come between November and March find those openings. A sound finish protects the metal and keeps the vehicle's resale value up.
When to Consider Auto Painting & Refinishing in Orange, CA
Look at your paint in daylight a few times a year, especially the hood and roof. Dull spots, chalky color, or clear coat that starts to lift are early signs. Small areas cost less to fix than a panel that has peeled across its whole surface.
Refinishing also makes sense after any collision repair, before you sell or trade in a vehicle, or when a classic car is ready for new color. A chip or scratch down to metal should be handled before the wet season. If you are not sure, we can look and tell you what the paint needs.
Signs You Need Auto Painting & Refinishing
These signs tell you your vehicle's paint needs attention:
The paint on my hood and roof looks faded
Years of strong sun break down the clear coat on the panels that face up.
The clear coat is peeling off
Once the clear coat lifts, the color under it fades and the edges keep flaking.
There are chips and scratches down to the metal
Bare metal can rust under the paint around the chip.
A repaired panel doesn't match the rest of the car
A poor color match or the wrong gloss shows in daylight.
I see small bubbles under the paint
Bubbles often mean rust or moisture is lifting the finish from below.
How Our Auto Painting & Refinishing Works
Here is how a paint job works at our shop:
- Step 1: Call (714) 288-7371 or request a quote online.
- Step 2: Bring your vehicle in for a free estimate of the paint and the surface under it.
- Step 3: We explain what we found and what the refinish takes before any work starts.
- Step 4: Once you approve, we prepare, paint, and finish the vehicle and get you back on the road.
Surface Preparation
A paint job is only as good as the surface under it. We wash the vehicle, sand the panels, repair dents and chips, and prime bare metal. Every part that is not being painted is masked.
Our preparation uses 3M paint preparation materials. Rust and damaged filler are found and fixed at this stage, so they do not lift the new finish later. When a panel needs more than paint, our Collision & Auto Body Repair team repairs it first.
Color Matching and Water-Based Paint
We refinish with Sherwin-Williams AWX water-based paint. A waterborne basecoat gives off far fewer volatile organic compounds than solvent paint, which is better for our painters and for the air in Orange. The color is matched to your vehicle and blended into the panels next to the repair.
The paint is sprayed in one of our three eco-friendly downdraft booths. The downdraft pulls overspray and dust down and away from the vehicle as it is painted. That gives a cleaner, smoother finish with less dirt in the paint.
Clear Coat and Finish
The clear coat is the layer that takes the sun, rain, and car washes. We finish with Sherwin-Williams Ultra 9K and set the gloss to match the panels around it. The result is a factory-quality finish.
Once the paint has cured, we inspect it in good light and polish out any flaws. Trim, emblems, and lights go back on, and the vehicle is cleaned for delivery. Classic cars and trucks get the same care through our Vintage Mechanical, Body & Paint service.
What's Included in Our Service
- Collision & Auto Body RepairCertified structural and body repair after an accident, with factory repair procedures and free rental cars.
- Vintage Mechanical, Body & PaintCareful body, paint and mechanical work for classic and vintage cars and trucks.
- Large Truck & RV Mechanical, Body & PaintBody, paint and mechanical work for full-size pickups, large SUVs and recreational vehicles.
Why Orange Customers Choose Selman Collision
The same family has run Selman Collision in Orange since 1952, and our team brings over 41 years of experience. We have repaired over 100,000 vehicles, and our refinish technicians welcome all makes and models. Our I-CAR Gold Class and OEM certifications include Tesla, Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, and GM.
Paint on our collision and body repairs carries a limited lifetime warranty for as long as you own the vehicle, with certain conditions. We work with all insurance companies when the paint work is part of a claim. Free rental cars and pick-up and delivery make the repair easier on your schedule.
Get a Quote
Tell us what happened to your vehicle. We'll inspect it and give you a clear estimate before any work starts.
Call (714) 288-7371DRIVEN BY TRUST, HEAR FROM ORANGE DRIVERS
Trusted by Drivers in Orange, CA
This is my family’s second time coming here, two different cars, both great experiences. This time it was fast (three business days). They were great, easy to deal with, inviting staff, and explained everything pretty well. They assured me if there were any issues, I experienced none, to give them a call back and they would prioritize. Bob Bessett was great, and my car came back looking great with a clean, interior and exterior. Looks brand new!
arely hernandezGoogle review I have to hand it to the team at Selman Collision we’re all outstanding, especially Bob he delivered outstanding service and went out of his way to stay late after hours unpaid to make sure I was able to get my car before the weekend. The body work is done perfectly and looks like nothing ever happened. Also the plus side is they have loaner cars which is very helpful if you only have 1 car and don’t have rental coverage on your insurance plan. Good work guys and I’ll be sure to bring all my future body needs to you guys going forward. Thanks again!!
Eddie TakahashiGoogle review The crew is professional and kind. They told me what they would fix and when it would be done. They certainly delivered! Theresa and the team at Selman Collision are excellent! I highly recommend them.
Victor Van ZandtGoogle review
Frequently Asked Questions about Auto Painting & Refinishing
Answers to the questions drivers ask us most about this service at our Orange, CA shop. Call (714) 288-7371 if yours is not here.
How much does it cost to repaint a car?
Will the new paint match my car's color?
What kind of paint do you use?
Is the paint covered by a warranty?
Which areas do you serve?
Can you paint a classic car?
Auto Painting & Refinishing Near Orange, CA
Need auto painting and refinishing in Orange, CA? Call Selman Collision at (714) 288-7371 or stop in for an estimate on your vehicle's paint.
Our shop and paint booths are at 139 S Tustin St in Orange. Drop off your vehicle, or ask us about pick-up and delivery from your home or work.