What is a Bumper Valance?

A bumper valance is an auto body component that is situated below the bumper to smooth out the body lines, increase aerodynamics, and incorporate various fog lights or exhaust pieces seamlessly into the flow of the vehicle’s contours. Bumper valances are typically made of sturdy lightweight plastics and custom molded to directly fit onto each particular model. There may be variances for the same model because they have options like fog lights or different trim packages. A valance may be a substantive body component that covers a large portion of the vehicle’s subframe. In some cases, the bumper valance is nothing more than a short filler panel. In older vehicles, it is more common to find metal valances like steel or chrome.

A Bumper Valance is Easy to Install

In most cases, the valances sold at PartsMax are ready to install immediately and easily secured by body screws, plastic retaining clips, or very rarely welded into place. The manufacturers have made these panels relatively easy to replace because they are susceptible to excessive wear from speed bumps, road debris, curbs, collisions, and even damage from hard snow or ice in the northern states.

Painting Your Bumper Valance (Optional)

Although the valance panels sold at PartsMax typically come in black or gray colors, some panels may require professional painting before installation. If you are willing to accept less than a showroom quality finish because you are on a budget, purchasing aerosol canned spray paint that is color-matched to your vehicle paint code is always an option. Painting your aftermarket parts in Florida is a relatively straightforward job that you must, however, reserve for days when the humidity is 40-50% and 70 to 85°F. Humidity and temperature make all the difference in the world when it comes to spray painting your valance because canned spray paint lacks hardener and requires ideal conditions to dry into a haze-free shine.

The steps involved in painting your valance are easy enough for anyone to do it. Situate the valance and any other parts you may want to paint on old newspaper or plastic sheeting. A large lawn and leaf bag split along the seams to open up may work in a pinch. An open garage that has adequate airflow is necessary to protect the piece in the event of a sudden Miami downpour.

Step 1 -Purchase your valance from PartsMax, we have a huge selection of aftermarket parts in Florida.

Step 2 – Use dish detergent and warm water to wash, then rinse, the new valance. Prep the paint surface of the new valance with automotive paint prep packets or use rubbing alcohol to strip away contaminants.

Step 3 – Apply a plastic adhesion promoter if your valance is plastic. Spray your primer if the part does not arrive with a gray or beige primer coating. Primers can bleed through and affect the color of the paint sprayed over them if you do not add enough color base coats. If the primer is consistent, this will be far less noticeable. Apply at least 3 coats of primer, allowing the paint to dry at least 10 minutes between coats (or whatever your specific paint manufacturer recommends in each instance stated throughout this instructional).

Step 4 – Apply the colored base in medium coats as needed to attain the richness of color and coverage you need. Gently feather even strokes in an overlapping motion with a pulse-like action on the nozzle (that breaks between each stroke) while holding 8” away at an appropriate 45-90° angle.

Step 5 – Allow the color coats to dry at least 30 minutes before clear coating. The clear coat is a bit trickier because you want to keep layering until the coating looks wet and fully saturated but not too thick or dripping. Allow at least 10 minutes of dry time between the 4-5 coats, the longer the better to prevent orange peel defects.