When Should You Choose Touch Up Paint Instead of Full Repaint? : Making the Right Choice for Your Car

Maintaining a car’s aesthetic in Malaysia is a challenge. Between tight parking spots and road debris, scratches are inevitable. In our second session with Mr. David from CKR Workshop, we dive into the world of touch-up paints and when it's time to stop patching and start repainting.

1. What exactly is "Touch-Up" Paint?

Interviewer: Mr. David, people use the term "touch-up" for everything from a small brush to a spray job. How do you define it in a professional workshop?

Mr. David: In our industry, touch-up paint refers to panel-specific repair. Instead of spraying the whole car, we focus on one, two, or three specific sections. For example, if you have a small dent or a scratch on a single door, we repair and respray just that door. Whether it’s a tiny stone chip or a full door respray, if it isn't the whole car, we categorize it as a touch-up.

2. Suitable Damage & Invisible Results

Interviewer: Can a touch-up really make a scratch invisible? And what kind of damage is it best for?

Mr. David: If you use a brush-on DIY kit from a supermarket, the repair will always be visible. However, when we do it at the workshop using a professional spray gun, we can make it completely invisible.

It is suitable for:

• Minor Scratches: Surface-level marks from keys or trolleys.

• Dents: After the metal is pulled back, we touch up the paint.

• Panel Fading: If only one part of the car (like the side mirror or a single fender) has faded, a touch-up is perfect.

3. Durability and Cost in Malaysia

Interviewer: How long does these repairs last, and what should owners expect to pay?

Mr. David: If we follow the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and use a full range of original Japanese paint, the touch-up will last just as long as your original factory paint.

Price Expectations in Malaysia:

• Independent Workshops: Prices usually start from around RM250 per panel.

• Official 4S Centers: For brands like Honda or Toyota, expect to pay between RM600 to RM700 per panel.

Turnaround Time: While we can technically finish a touch-up in a single day using specialized fast-drying materials, we usually recommend two days to ensure the paint cures perfectly under proper conditions.

4. The Deep Scratch Dilemma

Interviewer: Do you recommend touch-ups for very deep scratches?

Mr. David: Yes, but with a warning. Deep scratches often reach the bare metal. If you don't treat them properly with a primer first, rust will develop underneath the new paint later. Professional touch-ups address the depth of the scratch to prevent future corrosion.

5. The Verdict: Touch-Up or Full Repaint?

Interviewer: To wrap up, what is your rule of thumb for choosing between a few touch-ups or a full car respray?

Mr. David: I usually tell my customers to look at two factors: Damage Coverage and Car Age.

• The 50% Rule: If you need to spray more than 50% of the car's panels to fix various scratches, it is more cost-effective and visually consistent to just respray the whole car.

• The 5-Year Mark: If your car is 4 to 5 years old, the original paint is likely starting to lose its luster. At this stage, a full respray often adds more value to the car than multiple "patchwork" touch-ups.