No matter how careful you are with your car, dents are going to happen. It doesn’t take much for something to cause a dent, whether it is a rolling shopping cart in a parking lot or the handlebar of a bicycle in the driveway. Even a minor dent should be addressed as a break in the paint could lead to rust, something that is extremely damaging to your car’s exterior. Due to modern technology, minor dents can now be repaired using paintless dent removal, also known as Paintless Dent Repair (PDR), which requires no body filler, sanding, or painting.
Before PDR
In the past, when your car suffered a minor dent, a body repair technician had to either replace the entire section of the car or use a suction tool to remove the dent. The suction tool required that a small hole be drilled near the dent which then required body filler, sanding, and painting. The repair was often noticeable because it was difficult to match the paint exactly. Furthermore, traditional body and paint repair was expensive, due to the fact that new parts and paint needed to be ordered and used.
Traditional methods are still used today, particularly in cases where the damage is too severe. Deep gouges, extensive dents, and scraped off paint may all require replacement pieces. If you are unsure, contact a South Jersey auto body repair shop for more information.
Paintless Dent Removal
Today, instead of removing the section with the dent or drilling a hole and suctioning the dent, auto body technicians can use a technique called Paintless Dent Repair or Paintless Dent Removal (PDR). Using this process, the technician restructures the dent from behind or below by pushing the dent back into place. Because the pressure is behind or under the dent, the outside of the car remains intact. This means that there is no need for body filler, sanding or painting the damaged area once the dent is repaired.
What Are The Benefits of Paintless Dent Repair
There are several benefits to PDR:
- Restores car to its pre-accident condition
- Cost-effective repairs since new panels and paint aren’t required
- No body fillers, paint, or sanding
- Ideal choice for antique vehicles with their original paint
- Reduced overall repair time and labor
What Can Paintless Dent Repair Fix?
- Hail Damage
- Low Impact Dent Repair
- Minor Dents
- Minor Dings
Vehicle Value
Many vehicle owners, particularly those with antique or luxury models, worry that a single dent will deduct from the value of their vehicle. Traditional paint and body repair could potentially diminish the value of the vehicle, especially when the new paint doesn’t match the old paint. This is common with older models with limited edition colors. One of the benefits of using paintless dent removal is that the repair is virtually undetectable. This means that the resale value of your car is unaffected. Well done PDR, the kind done by a professional and not a DIY PDR kit from Auto Zone, will leave no trace. The paint will be smooth. There’s no dulling or scratching or flatness. Your car, truck, or SUV will look as good as new.
Schedule PDR at a South Jersey Collision Repair Center Today
Dents will happen to your vehicle, no matter how careful you are. If your care suffers a minor dent, it is possible that paintless dent repair can return it to its original condition. If your vehicle has suffered a minor dent, or you have been involved in a collision, contact Elmer’s Auto Body today. You can schedule an appointment by filling out the form online or you can give us a call to speak to a knowledgeable member of our repair team.
We have three convenient locations in South Jersey, including Sewell, Medford, and Mt. Ephraim.