Hi there, my name is Nancy. Welcome to my site about automotive maintenance. My car has lasted for more than 10 years without any major problems due to the strict maintenance schedule I follow. Vehicle maintenance includes oil changes, tune ups, tire rotations, alignments and a host of other important services. These services protect the vehicle’s components from excessive wear and unexpected failure. I will use this site to explore all of the different maintenance procedures and schedules available. I hope you can use the information on my site to keep your vehicle in great shape over the years. Thanks for visiting. Come back soon.
Fiberglass is common material on auto bodies, especially the bumper. Fiberglass is strategically put on car bumpers because it is a material that is pretty easy to repair and patch. All the inevitable bumps and bruises can be fixed, even if your aren't an auto body specialist. You can get simple patch kits that include just about everything you need to repair a small hole in your bumper. This article explains what these patch kits include and how to best use them on holes on your car bumper.
What the Fiberglass Patch Kit Includes
Other Materials and Supplies You Will Need
Preparing the Patch
First, you need to cut the fiberglass to the right size. You want the patch to fully cover the hole. You can cut it into a square or circle, and make sure it is larger than the hole by about 1" on each side. Hold the cloth up to the area and tape off the perimeter on the actual bumper. This does not need to be precise. It is just a guide for where to sand. Lightly sanding the paint surface will rough it up so the resin has a better surface to adhere to. Wipe off the sanded area with a wet cloth but leave the tape in place.
Mixing the Resin and Hardener
The resin dries out very quickly once the hardener is mixed, so don't do it until you are completely ready to work on the car. Wear gloves because the resin is very harsh on your skin. The kit will explain how much hardener to add into the resin.
Spreading the Putty
Once the elements are combined, you can spread the putty onto the cloth with a putty knife as you hold it in place. Make sure the cloth is stretched tight while you spread the resin. Try to wipe the resin so it is smooth and the edges blend into the car.
You might need to apply a second coat of resin to cover the fiberglass texture. After the final coat of resin has dried you need to get the sandpaper back out. Sand down the patch until it matches the texture and sheen of the bumper. Finally, use the touch up paint to cover up the patch. It is hard to make the patch match the bumper color and sheen perfectly due to fading. But, a patched and painted hole will look much better than one that is not fixed.
If you feel you cannot do this on your own, you can also contact an auto body repair shop or click here for more information and tips.
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