Full Body Respray

Colour & Repair

Full Body Respray

A full body respray is the definitive way to restore a car's exterior — whether it's a faded, sun-damaged older vehicle, a car with widespread scratches and panel repairs, or a complete colour change to something entirely new. Unlike a wrap, a respray is permanent, and it lets us work directly with the metal and panels beneath to correct defects a wrap can't hide. It's a serious investment, but done properly, it can reset the car's appearance to factory-fresh — or better — for many years. Every job starts with a free inspection, paint-depth assessment, and a detailed plan.

Free inspection & detailed estimate
Solid, metallic & pearl finishes
OEM-grade paint systems
12-month workmanship warranty

When a full respray is the right choice

A respray is a significant investment, and it's not the right answer for every car. Here are the situations where it makes sense — and where it doesn't:

Clear coat failure

Peeling, cracking or chalky clear coat across multiple panels — the classic sign of paint that's reached the end of its life in the sun. No polish or coating can fix it; the only real remedy is respraying.

Widespread damage

Multiple scratched, dented or repaired panels where individually refinishing each one would cost as much as a full respray — and wouldn't deliver the same consistency.

Colour change

You want a completely different colour — from silver to black, from blue to red — and a wrap doesn't give the permanence or depth you're after.

Restoration projects

Classic, vintage or enthusiast cars being brought back to original condition. A properly-executed respray is a signature part of a quality restoration.

Faded factory paint

Significant oxidation across the whole car — colour is dull, uneven, or has shifted from the original shade. Respray is the only way back.

Not for small damage

If only one or two panels are affected, or the paint is fundamentally healthy, spot refinishing or paint correction is almost always the smarter choice. We'll tell you honestly which one you need.

Paint types — what you're choosing between

The type of paint you select makes a huge difference to the final look, durability and price. Here's the honest breakdown:

Solid (2K acrylic) — simple, bold colours with no metallic particles. Cheapest to apply. Very durable and easy to repair later.
Metallic — contains aluminium particles that catch the light, giving depth and sparkle. Most modern car colours are metallic. Moderate cost.
Pearl / Mica — ceramic particles that shift hue depending on the angle of light. Beautiful depth but hardest to match and repair. Highest cost.
Matte / satin clear — modern finishes with a soft sheen instead of full gloss. Striking but more maintenance-sensitive.

How the process works

Inspection & Paint Assessment

Full inspection of every panel, measuring paint depth and identifying dents, rust, previous repairs and clear-coat condition. You receive a written plan showing every element of the job and its cost.

Disassembly

Handles, mirrors, badges, lights, bumpers, trims and glass rubbers are removed. Painting "around" these parts leaves visible paint lines and shortens the life of the respray — proper disassembly is what makes the difference between a great respray and a poor one.

Panel Preparation & Repair

Dents are beaten out, rust treated to bare metal, old filler stripped if necessary, and any previous poor repairs corrected. This is the stage most cheap resprays skip — and the reason they fail within a couple of years.

Sanding & Priming

Panels are progressively sanded back, then primed and wet-sanded to a perfectly flat surface. Any imperfection left at this stage will show in the final finish.

Sealing & Masking

Primed panels are sealed to prevent reaction with the new topcoat, and the vehicle is carefully masked so no overspray touches areas that shouldn't be painted.

Base Coat Application

The colour is applied in a climate-controlled booth, panel by panel. Metallic and pearl finishes need multiple uniform coats with correct spray technique to avoid mottling or tiger-striping. This is a trained skill, not a spray-and-hope job.

Clear Coat Application

Multiple layers of clear coat are applied to seal in the colour and give the finish its gloss and UV protection. Clear coat is what makes the paint durable; a thin clear coat fails quickly.

Curing & Finishing

The paint is allowed to cure fully, then wet-sanded and machine polished to remove any surface imperfections from the spray process. Only at this stage does the final gloss appear — this is the polish that separates a good respray from a great one.

Reassembly & Final Inspection

Removed parts are reinstalled, gaps and alignments checked, and the entire vehicle is inspected under bright lighting from every angle. Any final issues are corrected before handover.

What affects the cost of a respray

Respray pricing is genuinely variable — the same car can range dramatically depending on these factors. Understanding them helps you compare quotes honestly:

Vehicle size — a small hatchback uses far less paint and labour time than a 7-seater SUV or pickup.
Paint type — solid is cheapest; metallic costs more; pearl adds further; matte clear is a premium finish.
Colour complexity — some colours (deep reds, metallic blacks) are harder to apply evenly and require more paint.
Colour change vs same-colour — changing colour means painting door shuts, engine bay, boot interior, and any visible frame elements. Adds significant labour.
Panel condition — dented, rusted or previously-repaired panels need more preparation before they can be painted.
Level of disassembly — full-disassembly resprays (bumpers, lights, trims, glass removed) cost more but deliver a far better result than "tape-and-spray" jobs.

We quote transparently — every line item is explained in your written estimate. There are no hidden charges added during the job.

Aftercare — protecting your new respray

New paint continues to cure and outgas for 30–90 days. The care you give it in this window affects how it looks for years:

Wait 30 days before waxing, sealing or coating — applying these too early traps solvents under the paint, which can cause blistering or hazing.
Avoid high-pressure washing for 30 days — gentle hand washing only. Fresh paint is softer and more susceptible to damage.
Never use automatic car washes with brushes — this applies permanently, but especially during the first 90 days when the paint is most vulnerable.
Avoid parking under trees for the first month — tree sap and bird droppings are particularly aggressive against fresh paint.
After 90 days, apply ceramic coating or PPF — this locks in the finish and protects against UV, chips and contamination for years. Strongly recommended after any respray investment.
Book a 30-day and 90-day check-up — we inspect the finish, check for any settling or reaction, and advise on the next protection stage. Free of charge.
Wash regularly with pH-neutral shampoo — every 2 weeks with the two-bucket method. Regular care is the single biggest factor in paint longevity.

How long does a respray take?

Realistic timelines at our Karen studio:

Same-colour, exterior-only respray: 7–10 working days.
Full colour change (with door shuts, engine bay, boot): 10–14 working days.
Restoration-grade respray with panel repair: 2–4 weeks.
Add ceramic coating or PPF: +1–3 days after paint has cured.

Why choose DOP RESPRAY & DETAILING for your respray?

Respray quality is almost entirely determined by preparation — and preparation is exactly where cheap resprays cut corners. Our process involves full disassembly, proper panel repair, rust treatment to bare metal, multiple sanding and priming stages, and finish polishing after curing. We use a climate-controlled spray booth with OEM-grade paint systems, and we measure paint depth on every panel before starting so we know exactly what we're working with.

We also give you a documented estimate that lists every stage of the work — so you can see what you're paying for, and compare honestly against cheaper quotes. If a competing quote is dramatically lower, it's usually because something is being skipped. We won't skip it.

Frequently asked about full body resprays

Should I respray or wrap my car?

It depends on your goal. Wrap is faster, cheaper, reversible, and can't fix underlying panel damage or clear-coat failure. Respray is permanent, allows full panel repair, and delivers better depth and consistency. For colour changes on healthy paint, wrap often makes more sense. For faded, damaged or failed paint, respray is the only real solution. We'll advise honestly which one suits your car.

Will a respray affect my car's value?

A properly documented, professionally executed respray in the original colour has minimal impact on value — and can significantly increase it if the previous paint was failing. A colour change to a non-original colour can reduce value on classic or collectible cars. Respray quality matters enormously — a cheap job with visible filler or imperfect finish will reduce value.

How long will the new paint last?

A quality respray with proper clear coat lasts 10+ years in Nairobi's climate with reasonable care, and much longer if protected with ceramic coating. Cheap resprays with thin clear coat, poor prep, or inadequate UV protection often fail within 2–4 years — which is why we don't do them.

Can I change the colour completely?

Yes — colour changes are a core part of what we do. A proper colour change includes door shuts, engine bay, boot interior, and any visible interior frame elements. Cheap colour changes only paint the exterior, leaving the original colour visible every time you open a door — and this shows immediately. We always quote colour changes properly.

Do you provide a warranty on resprays?

Yes — 12 months against workmanship defects (peeling, blistering, adhesion failure). Film and coating warranties are separate and typically longer (3–5 years for ceramic, 5–10 years for PPF). We provide written warranty documentation at handover.

Can you match my original factory colour exactly?

Yes — for same-colour resprays we use the factory paint code and computerised colour matching to reproduce your exact colour. For older vehicles with faded paint, we may subtly adjust to match the current appearance of surrounding panels, so the finish is consistent across the whole car.

Do I need to strip the interior or remove anything before handing over?

No — just remove valuables, personal belongings and any aftermarket accessories you'd rather keep out of the workshop. We handle all disassembly of handles, mirrors, badges, lights and trims as part of the service.

How much does a full body respray cost?

Pricing starts from KES 75,000 for a same-colour exterior respray on a compact car in solid paint, rising based on vehicle size, paint type (metallic and pearl cost more), colour change requirements, and panel condition. For a firm figure, use our Instant Quote tool or book a free inspection — the final price is always confirmed in writing before any work begins.

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