Looking for a high- end body shop. Prefer a smaller independently owned shop located in the Northern VA area.

Looking for alternatives to D&V and Wagonworks.

 

Wish I had my own shop... Don't have any reccomendations for you in the area either unfortunately... What exactly are you looking to have done?

 

Just need some minor paint work done, no body work or anything. Trying to find a good place that I will feel comfortable referring others to as well.

 

For minor but very good paint work try Bret @ Paint Guys.
703-599-1674

Might sound hokey but he is mobile with paint lab in trailer / truck.
Very nice and knowledgeable guy. If it is something you'd be better off having done in paint booth / need panel removed or whatever he will tell you straight away.

He is No VA based.

I know him from him doing work at Ferrari / Lamborghini of Washington. He does (or at least did - haven't seen him for a while) all the spot/touch-up paint work for them and it was always flawless. Incl. the complex Lamborghini multi-stage pearl deals.

 

Guess the paint isnt baked then?

 

Depending on what clear coat you use, urethane paint doesn't necessarily need to be "baked"... There are some very nice "air dry" clears out there.

 

I've seen Bret's work. Definitely top-notch.

 

^^ Yes he really is very very good. I know numerous very good - like Pebble Beach quality type - painters with $200k+ paint booths and mixing stations who can't do esp. clear blends anywhere close to what I've seen Bret do.

If you need real body work or panel removal and prep. maybe pay to roll into a big overhead-ridden bodyshop but for somethng minor I'd pay Bret to come fix it anyday.

IMO "real painters" know how to paint whole panels flawlessly from prep to polish-out etc., but when it comes to fixing and blending existing paint without re-inventing the whole universe that is a whole different area of expertise and I've never run into anyone better than Bret at that.

 

I'm not doubting your assessment of his work, but I would LOVE to see his setup/work sometime... I'm always interested in new techniques/processes!