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paintless dent repair

How Does Paintless Dent Repair Work?

Did you know that hail storms cause an average of $15 billion in damage annually, which continues to climb each year? This includes harm to crops, buildings, and vehicles.

Hail damage to cars is very common. Fortunately, there are many proven methods for restoring your vehicle.

These include traditional methods of filling and repainting the surface of the vehicle, as well as paintless dent repair. Which one is best depends on several factors.

The information below describes how technicians use a paintless dent repair kit to fix the results of hail or other impacts (like run-away shopping carts). It lays out the many advantages the technique can offer, including restoring your hail-damaged vehicle to its original condition. Keep reading to find out if this is the right option for you.

What Is Traditional Dent Repair?

Before we dive into paintless dent repair, it may be helpful to understand the traditional processes. These have been used for decades to repair vehicle surfaces.

Traditional methods use fillers, usually made of plastic resin, to bring a dented panel back to a level surface. The body filler is left to dry and set.

Then, the technician sands, primes, and repaints the entire area. This entire process is carried out for every dent on the car's surface. In the case of hail storms, this could mean dozens of dents on many different vehicle panels.

What Is Paintless Dent Repair?

Paintless dent repair involves accessing the underside of the dented panel and using special tools and techniques to remove the dent. Experienced technicians will be able to glance at the vehicle and see if this is achievable. They also have experience disassembling car parts (and putting them back together).

If possible, technicians will remove the dented panel. This gives them more room to work so that they can access the required areas.

Next, the repair person will use a paintless dent repair kit, which comprises different metal rods and body picks. They use these to massage the dents back into their original form. This entire process can be accomplished in under an hour, depending on the location and severity of the dent.

Advantages of a Paintless Dent Repair Kit

There are many different advantages of using paintless dent repair. Here are a few of the main ones to consider.

Time

First, paintless dent repair requires much less time than traditional methods. In most cases, technicians can complete the project in a single day, even with many dents and damaged panels. This is partly because they do not have to wait for fillers, primers, and paint to dry.

Cost

A lot of people assume that paintless dent repair would be much more expensive than traditional methods. In fact, the opposite is true. As mentioned, it does not take nearly as long, so labor costs are kept to a minimum.

Also, paintless dent repair requires much fewer materials than traditional repair methods. There are upfront costs of tools, but shops do not need non-reusable equipment or materials, such as fillers, sanders, or paint.

Vehicle Condition and Value

Another huge advantage of paintless dent repair is that it restores your vehicle to its original state. This is important for several reasons. The main one is the ability of your vehicle to retain its value.

Fillers are not as strong as the original metal surface of your vehicle. Over time, they can experience wear much faster than the rest of the surface. Also, with paintless dent repair, you do not have any paint-matching concerns.

Better for the Environment

Finally, paintless dent repair is much more environmentally friendly and sustainable. Traditional dent repair methods use paint and chemicals, as well as plastic resins, which are often made from petroleum products. Paintless dent repair allows you to avoid the need to use any toxic substances.

When Can You Not Use Paintless Dent Repair?

While it's often reserved for specific scenarios, it's worth noting that traditional dent repair is still used today. In fact, it's a common alternative to scenarios where paintless dent repair cannot be used.

For instance, if the paint has been severely damaged, then technicians must sand and repaint it anyway. Also, if technicians have difficulty accessing the underside of the dent, traditional dent repair may be preferable.

Finally, if the dents are too sharp or severe, paintless dent repair may not be possible. In these cases, traditional dent repair methods may be employed.

What About DIY Repairs?

The internet is full of great information and tutorials that you can use to DIY many different home or automotive projects. Unfortunately, repairing dented vehicles is not one of them. There are a few reasons you should resist the urge to attempt this.

First, you likely do not have the tools or expertise necessary to do the job right. Whether you are trying to bang the dent out or use fillers and paint, there is a very good chance that you will end up making the matter worse.

This can result in two very negative outcomes. First, it could drive up the cost of your hail repairs. Technicians may have to undo the additional damage or use special techniques to fix what would otherwise have been a minor repair.

It could also negate your insurance coverage. This means you have to pay out-of-pocket for the repair.

Find Body Shop Repair Services Near You

Now that you understand the basic functions of a paintless dent repair kit, you can determine if that option is best for you. An experienced technician can further advise you on whether paintless dent repair is right for your vehicle and discuss all the advantages and drawbacks of the strategy you decide on.

Express Auto Hail Repair provides timely, cost-effective hail storm damage repairs. Our services come with a lifetime warranty and we will work with your insurance agency and pay your deductible up to $1,000. Reach out to us today to learn more or for a free custom estimate.

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Team member using specialized tools to work on dent repair on a bright orange 4-door sedan

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