Advantages of Waterborne Paint

Have you ever tried to match paint on a wall in your house to do a simple touch-up?

The team at Owasso Collision Specialists is ready to get your vehicle back on the road. (L to R): Shawn Kitchen, Roger Higinbotham, Michelle Higinbotham, Jeremy Bollinger and Del Bartel.

Have you ever tried to match paint on a wall in your house to do a simple touch-up? If you have, you know how hard it is to exactly match the color unless you use the paint from the same original manufacturer. According to Roger Higinbotham of Owasso Collision Specialists, body repair shops encounter the very same problem when trying to match paint on a vehicle that is being repaired. That is why Owasso Collision Specialists uses waterborne paint on all of their repairs.

“Car manufacturers have been using this for many, many years, so we are better able to duplicate OEM (original equipment manufacturer) finishes,” Roger says. “This way the color matches and blends so that no one notices the repaired spot.”

Roger’s wife Michelle, co-owner of Owasso Collision Specialists, points out that waterborne paint has another great advantage – it is much less harmful to the environment, as it reduces VOCs (volatile organic compounds) by up to 80 percent. “For a shop that mixes an average of one gallon of solvent borne basecoat per week, the move to waterborne basecoat annually saves over 300 pounds of VOCs from being emitted into the air we breathe,” says Michelle. “This is equivalent to taking more than one thousand vehicles off the road annually.” Michelle adds that there are other advantages to the environment as well. For instance, dried waterborne paint is non-hazardous and won’t harm landfill soil, so it can be easily disposed of without fear of danger to the community.

“Waterborne paint is already mandatory in parts of Europe, Canada, and California due to air quality issues,” Michelle points out. “It will be mandatory across the United States in years to come.”

The use of waterborne paint is just one area in which Owasso Collision Specialists strives to be at the forefront of industry trends. OCS is equipped with brand-new, state-of-the-art equipment, including a Chief SR21 frame machine, computerized measuring system, GFS downdraft bake spray booth and computerized paint mixing room. Technicians are ICAR Gold Class certified and receive regular training and classes to keep up with current trends. For eight years, Roger Higinbotham was part owner in Broken Arrow’s largest collision repair center – the first center in the Tulsa area to switch to the earth friendly waterborne paint that OCS utilizes. “We are new to the Owasso community,” Michelle notes, “but we are not new to the industry.”

Roger and Michelle know that trust must be earned in any business, and they stand ready to visit with clients about all concerns and questions they might have. “Customer service is so important,” says Michelle. “Our customers are pleased with our work and potential clients are welcome to check our many references – our goal is 100 percent customer satisfaction.” Their facility is always open for a walkthrough, and they offer free estimates and a lifetime warranty on paint and workmanship. OCS tries to be especially honest and realistic when doing estimates. “We don’t tell people what they want to hear just to get them in the door,” says Michelle.

OCS offers full-service automotive collision repair and works with all insurance companies. “We handle every aspect of your vehicle’s repair process,” says Michelle. “We can help make arrangements for a rental car, work with your insurance company throughout the repair process and keep you informed on the status of your vehicle.” Both Roger and Michelle express delight at being to be able to bring this quality service to Owasso.

“We are so happy and excited to be in Owasso and to serve this community,” says Michelle. “We have been working toward this goal for several years.”

Owasso Collision Specialists is located at 8939 N. Garnett Rd., the former location of Morton Marine.

For more information, contact

Owasso Collision ­Specialists

(918) 376-4555