Has anyone had to repaint their front bumper due to rock chips, scratches, or other damage done by daily driving road debris? If so, what is the average cost to have it done right?

 

I'll reply the repair cost depends on your local labor rate.
My area is near $175 per hour.
Plus how the repaint will be done.

Remove bumper.
New clips and emblems.
Mil thickness - removal of current paint.
Color match - tri coat, clear coat, etc.
Blending onto adjacent panels - maybe
Polish/ texture (orange peel) matching.

That's some quick thoughts.
I could foresee 8 to 12 hours plus parts, materials, taxes.
Good luck with your project.

 

$850 Bumper needs removed.

 

Thanks @Greg00Coupe . Reason I was asking is that I am trying to weigh PPF at $2600 for the front clip vs. Ceramic only that I have already done (which I know doesn't protect against chips,etc) and repainting the bumper at some point in the future. I feel like for the same money as PPF I could repaint the bumper/front end a couple of times at least. I am sure this has been debated a zillion times but trying to figure out what's right for me. It's not a show car so I am thinking just drive it...and be done and enjoy. I did get a NoviStretch Bra for it which should help against very light debris, bugs, etc. It's a black car so the bra blends in pretty well. :-)

 

I understand and there are no wrong answers. The $850 was a recent quote I got.... I had scrapped the lower edge trying to get close to a one sided parking slot. Wont do that again!!! In my case I found a cheaper and better alternative but got the $850 just last week.

I had a c6 spot painted a few years ago and it was just a few $100. But times have changed. I had a garage queen C5 that I just had to have the paint below the front bumper, no one could see it but me.....repaired. Took it to the best local chevy dealer....... dude went to jack it up....... Jack slips catches the radiator and sends it thru the hood. I had an airbrushed hoodliner and bunch of painted stuff in the engine bay that got destroyed, so theres a risk any time someone wants to do even minor paint work.

I think a good ceramic coating helps, do not tailgate, and yes you can use the bra. For trips there is a product called Armour shield, I think thats the name...... anyhow it goes on like paint and is temporary. Its Ok but maybe too much effort.

Funny when I got into the hobby years ago I'd spray the front and mirrors with WD40 going on the trip and coming home. I think it helped. And I invented PPF!!! I'd throw saran wrap on the front, and pull it off when I got to my destination. Redo for the trip home. Today I just drive the car. The durability of the paints have improved dramatically. Now if they could just improved the windshield!!!!

 

Just my opinion but if I could go back, I probably wouldn’t have gotten the PPF. I now have a bunch of nicks in the PPF from rocks and such. What do I do? Have it all removed and reapplied now. It’s more expensive then if I had to get them painted. And it’s not just the front.

 

I agree with all the opinions here and with the analysis of Greg00. Just as much tho I can empathize w. LANZ's post, too.

I had a car with PPF done and within the first six mos. took a trip. On a very busy highway in the rush hour morning I watched a truck 2 lanes over have something blow off the top---it was a metal sign maybe 4x4 feet. I watched it head toward me, and (fortunately) miss the windshield but hit lower on the front of the bumper. It left a large gouge that was not only deep but evident. I weighed the look vs. tear off PPF and repair. And said, the heck with it. But, as so many have said before, I always knew it was there and "saw it" even if most people did not see it at all. I have a newer vehicle now and have been thinking about PPF since before the day I got the pitch from the dealer for them to do it!

 

I had a bud get a quote on his car. Scuffed the lower front fascia. As others mentioned, best way was to remove the fascia and entirely refinish instead of spot repair. Cost was right around $1050. Paint color would vary the cost, especially if it is a tint coat color.

 

Why take a chance in finding a competent painter and also having it match 100 percent to the factory paint.
it's been my experience that a lot of these so called painters can't paint.

They have self healing PPF and most installers give a 10 year warranty.

 

To put this in perspective I have a c7 16000 miles driven about 3000 miles a year. I have driven on some gravel roads( they were repaving the blue ridge pkway. My car has one tiny rock chip on it. If you do the trans Alaska highway or regularly follow dump trucks drive in the winter where they gravel the roads I would worry. At the end of the day it is a car and a wear object don't let your ocd cloud your judgement the only chip that hurts is the first one.

 

Well in that case I have my first TWO chips 🤣. Small but I see them. Maybe no one else would. I just have to get over the fact that while this new Corvette, by all accounts, is more than just a “car”, it is in fact just a car. I have owned many Corvettes over the years long before ceramic and PPF. I guess I forgot how we survived 30 years ago. 🤣 Thanks for the sound advice.

 

Don't let these guys convince you to skip PPF based on thier opinions. Saying paint is less expensive than PPF is straight up not true.

The paint chips white and will look like crap fast on a black car. It also chips easily especially if you drive often.

Once you ceramic coat you can't put PPF on without major rework.

When my car arrives in 2-3 weeks I'm going straight to the detailer for full PPF+ceramic and then I'll enjoy daily driving it for 10 years. Replacing a section of PPF is really cheap compared to paint and paint will never look right anyway.

Good luck