As far your car’s body is concerned, shallow dent is a big deal because they affect the outermost layer of the vehicle which has negative aesthetic repercussions. Unpleasant dings and dents reduce your car appearance. Restoring your car to its former looks may not necessarily involve visiting an auto body shop that will involve a long, complicated process. Deficiencies on the surface of your car body can be smoothened out without necessarily touching the paint job. This is where paintless dent repairs come to play. In this write-up, we’ll explain car owner’s confusion about paintless dent removal, how it works, what it can fix and possibly the cost of fixing it. Hence, whether you’ve any form of indent on your car, as long as the paint isn’t cracked or chipped, paintless dent repair may likely be that option that can save you money and time.
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Paintless dent repair explained
Paintless dent repair also referred to as PDR in the automotive industry, is a non-invasive technique of removing small dents from your car. This method is ideal for fixing car body damage, especially when the surface of the paint is still remarkably intact. In other words, technicians that specialize in auto body implores the use of paintless dent repair to repair a wide variety of damages that involves either steel of aluminium panels.
When this technique is appropriately carried out, it will be hard to identify that any form of repair was done on the vehicle. The ability to save time and money still remains a good reason why using PDR for vehicle repair is a smart choice because it helps retain the original factory finish from the manufacturer. There are other numerous benefits why it’s advisable to use this technique. It is also environmentally friendly.
How Does Painless dent repair work?
In the auto industry, PDR is an art that can be handled by only skilled professionals because different tools used in vehicle repairs respond differently. This is because most times, technicians need to try different strategies to get a vehicle in its pre-damage conditions.
There are special tools used to pop out the dented metals. They include; knockdowns or tap downs, fender rods, whale tails, pivot tips and much more. In most case, rubber or slide hammer together with brace tools are also used. They usually start from the backside of the body panel, by using some of these tools to push out the dent to bring out the area that was damaged to its original height. Next, special light with reflecting boards is used to ensure that the repair is well completed. This gives a final outcome of smooth surface round the bodyline.
In a situation where the damage is so extensive, body filling will be required. In this case, PDR is first used to fix the dent before the technician then fills the irregularities remaining. Sanding and painting is the final phase of this process which in turn creates a smooth surface. This is a long process when compared to simple PDR. It is also expensive. Most car owners might want to do this themselves, but it’s advised to engage the services of a professional technician to help out with this job. This is because, without the use of proper tools, you’ll end up ruining the painting job. For example, there is a way you’ll push so hard, and the high spots will be cracked, or even the paint layer will be affected.
Benefits of Selecting Paintless Dent Repair.
The truth is that when it comes to erasing damage from a vehicle, it actually involves carrying out accurate, in-depth bodywork, so pitching your tenth to a dependable and skilled auto mechanic workshop is vital. The outcome is always impressive when it is done correctly. Some benefits are as follows:
- It is quick, effective, and economical.
- PDP cost is considered less because there is nobody filler, sanding and repainting.
- Vehicle value retention. Cars that have an intact original paint job are usually worth more when the time comes to sell.
- It offers more convenience. Depending on the extent of the destruction, this technique can be concluded in just a few hours.
- Since there’s no painting required, colour-matching concerns won’t be an issue. This means that there won’t be an inaccurate colour matching.
- By not tampering with the factory paint, paint-free dent repair supports in maintaining the car’s value.
How much does it cost?
Although this technique offers a good looking outcome, the cost can vary between $75 and $125. In a situation that involves a collision dents, the cost can be between $150 and $450 while hail damage cost as much as $2500. These prices vary based on the following factors;
Extent the vehicle is damaged – The number of vehicle body panels needed to fix the dent will have an impact on the projected cost.
Dent Size– Coins are often used in the auto industry to explain the size of any dent damage. This shows if the impact is visible is the diameter of nickel, dime, or quarter. This helps technicians to make an approximation on what it will cost. Further, the indentation depth is also another factor that affects the cost.
Dent Location – Where on the panel, the dent occurred is another essential factor. Dents that happened closer to the panel’s edge of the panel involves more time to fix.
Final words
Dents can make your vehicle look unattractive, particularly brand new cars. Sometimes, people tend to use this to judge you and your driving skills. This means dents can actually impact negatively on your life and everything concerning you. Thankfully, paintless dent repair offers a faster and cheaper way of removing dents on your car.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How good is paintless dent repair?
PDR is broadly regarded as the quickest, cost-effective, and most environmentally friendly answer to dent repairs.
What are the damages PDR can fix?
PDR is a cheap way to successfully fix minor dents.
The typical applications include:
- Gravel or pebbles debris damage.
- Parking accidents.
- Hail damage.
- Bodylines damage.
- Bumped car doors. Etc.
What’s the time duration for PDR to be carried out?
Repairs can be done as you wait while others take one to two days. For instance, when hail damage is involved, the repair can last up to one to two days.