The Gap-2
Feather/Prime/Block — Collision Industry Conference, April 2006
The repair process associated with damaged painted body panels typically involves multiple operations; body repair, feather, prime, block and refinish.
The body repair process includes metal finishing and/or the use of body fillers to return the body panel to its undamaged contour. The repaired area is finished to 150 grit and free of surface imperfections
Feather, prime and block are not-included refinish operations that complete the process from 150 grit to the condition of a new undamaged panel and is outlined and documented in printed and/or electronic time guides.
The body/paint labor and materials necessary to prepare the repaired area from 150 grit to the condition of a new undamaged part is a valid and required step in the process. The labor and material allowance for these operations requires an on-the-spot evaluation of the specific vehicle and damage.
With a definition that has general industry support from a variety of industry segments, you can now apply this to the way you do business. But how?
First a few basics.
This is not a new repair procedure. It's something you have been doing all along. You have been compensated for it "somewhere" all along too. Maybe you assumed it was included in your repair time. Maybe you thought it was already in your refinishing time. Maybe you already have an additional line item for these steps. This definition simply helps clarify the need and outline the steps involved.
Next, this does not dictate, or even recommend, where you end your body work or start your refinish work. That is still your decision. The industry consensus defines the end of body work at #150 grit. You can adjust your procedures or your estimating and use this as a starting point to better compensate and allocate labor and materials. You can more accurately reflect your repair costs.
Let's start at the back end — refinishing.
Flat-rate refinish labor is developed to start refinishing work on a new, undamaged panel. Each estimating system uses that definition as their starting point. It makes sense to start there because this is the one panel condition that is consistent. So, in the estimating systems, payment for refinishing labor begins at the level of a new, undamaged panel.
When a panel has been repaired, we have a different situation. The repaired panel must be brought up to the condition of a new, undamaged panel before the flat-rate refinish labor begins.
You negotiate repair labor to include your needed time for existing paint removal, straightening, shrinking and shaping metal, metal finishing, feathering, plastic filler application, sanding filler coats, re-applying filler, sanding more filler coats, etc. According to the definition above, this is completed to #150 grit and no surface imperfections.
It's still not up to the condition of a new, undamaged panel so more work needs to be done — by somebody. Feather, prime and block operations are needed to bring the repaired panel up to new, undamaged panel condition. This would be somewhere around a #400 grit level and could be done by either body or refinish technicians.
If your body technician is expected to complete repairs to this new, undamaged panel level, feather, prime and block operations could be included in repair labor. If your refinish technician is expected to complete repairs to this new, undamaged panel level, feather, prime and block operations could be included in an additional refinish entry. As a body operation on the estimate, no paint materials will be calculated. As a refinish operation on the estimate, full paint materials will be calculated.
This brings up another decision. Feather, prime and block operations consume more than no materials, but less than the full rate of refinish materials (for example, no color or clear coat materials). Body labor would generate no materials, which isn't right. Refinish labor would generate full materials, which isn't right either. There needs to be a reasonable balance.
Perhaps a manual entry for this operation at the body rate with a self-calculated allowance for materials in the price column would be appropriate. Perhaps you have a better idea. Either way, decide what works best for your situation based on the definition and facts above. Do it today.
"My mother always told me I wouldn't amount to anything because I procrastinate. I said, 'Just wait.' " — Judy Tenuta
Bruce Burrow, AAM, started writing estimates more than 30 years ago, has worked for most of the information providers, and, as an independent instructor for the last 10 years, has trained estimators all across North America. He is ASE Master certified and an instructor for the Automotive Management Institute. Send questions, ideas and comments that you would like to see addressed here to [email protected] and stay tuned.
