• Clearcoat is a layer of paint or resin that is applied on top of a car's colored base coat.yellow car, a honda japanese sport car model image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.com
  
  Clearcoat paint is an automotive paint or resin without pigment or coloration. It is used on most new automobiles to protect a vehicle's colored layer of paint. Clearcoat is applied after the base coat, providing a sealed protective coating over the vehicle's exterior. Like all paints, clearcoat can fade and become damaged over time. Car owner's can purchase and apply clearcoat paints in order to personally fix and maintain troublesome areas.
  
  

Maintaining Clearcoat

• The clearcoat layer of paint applied to a vehicle by the manufacturer can be maintained by controlling an automobile's resting environment. UV rays, rain, snow and heat can all damage clearcoat paint so it is best to always park a vehicle indoors. An air-conditioned garage is ideal for extending the life of a vehicle's paint job. Keeping a car off the road during particularly harsh weather conditions will also help preserve the clearcoat layer.
  
  Clearcoat creates and maintains a glossy look that may become faded as a car becomes exposed to weather and external hazards such as bird droppings, sand and tree sap. If the shine and gloss of a paint job begins to fade it may be time to touch-up the clearcoat layer.
  
  

Prepping a Clearcoat Touch-Up

• Before applying clearcoat to a vehicle, it is important to practice proper spray-painting technique since clearcoat paint comes packaged in spray canisters. A block of wood is an appropriate practicing tool for gaining an understanding of how to spray-paint consistently and evenly over a given surface.
  
  Once you feel comfortable spraying the clearcoat, the temperature and conditions must be checked in order to make sure that the paint will take to the vehicle's body. Extreme heat or cold will compromise a paint job and cause the clearcoat to become foggy during application. An optimal temperature for applying clearcoat falls between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. When painting, avoid direct sunlight and any sort of precipitation (rain, snow, etc.).
  
  

Applying Clearcoat

• Ideally, clearcoat paint should be applied indoors in a temperature-controlled garage. Using a can of clearcoat, spray even strokes of paint over the vehicle's body. The paint should go on smoothly, without fogging or losing general color clarity. As you spray, make sure to overlap the different layers of clearcoat applied in order to avoid the visible appearance of stripes on the car's exterior. Wait 10 minutes after each application of clearcoat in order to allow the paint to dry and bond with the base coat. Visually inspect the entirety of the car, looking for peeling and dull areas that may require an extra layer of clearcoat. Do not wash or wax the vehicle for at least 30 days after painting. Make sure the area you are working in is well-ventilated.