As the first coat to be applied, primers play an essential role in the longevity and professional finish of a car’s paintwork. Primers create a smoother surface by levelling out any marks or defects on the metal substrate. They also act as a binding layer that enables the base coat to adhere to the surface, which helps prevent flaking, chipping, corrosion and sun damage.
The base coat is applied after the primer coat. This is what gives cars their colour and visual effect. Base coats are usually divided into four categories, namely solid, metallic, pearl and xirallic.