Red Seal Auto Body and Collision Technician Practice Exam

What is a common cause of paint failure?

1. Poor choice of paint color

2. Unexpected rain during painting

3. Poor surface preparation before painting

4. Using outdated paint products

The correct answer is: Poor surface preparation before painting

Poor surface preparation before painting is recognized as a common cause of paint failure because it directly affects how well the paint adheres to the surface and its overall durability. When the surface is not properly cleaned, filled, or sanded, contaminants such as dust, oil, or rust can prevent the paint from properly bonding. This leads to issues like peeling, chipping, or flaking paint over time, significantly compromising the quality and longevity of the finish. Surface preparation ensures that the paint goes on smoothly and adheres properly, which is crucial for achieving a professional-looking result. Other factors listed, while they can contribute to paint issues, do not impact adherence and longevity in the same fundamental way. Paint color choice may affect aesthetics rather than fundamental paint performance, unexpected rain can cause problems but is generally manageable with proper planning, and outdated paint products could lead to performance issues but do not typically result from preparation processes directly.