At some point, everyone will have to deal with a dent in their automobile. It might come from a minor collision in a parking lot, a rear-ending incident, or maybe even from hail damage. Wherever it comes from, nobody wants that kind of accident messing up their nice pristine vehicle. Even though most dents are minor problems that don’t affect the functioning of the car, they can still affect our enjoyment of the vehicle by marring its appearance.
Dent Repair Options
There are lots of ways to repair dents in an automobile. When the dent is extremely severe, it may not be possible to repair. In a case like this, all you can really do is replace the damaged part. However, the good news is that most dents can be fixed.
At one time, it was common to fix dents using a “filler” method. Putty can be used to fill in the dented area. It is then necessary to paint over the putty filler and repaint the surrounding area to match. Needless to say, this is a highly imperfect method. Not only does it fail to actually fix the damage, but it also requires a lot of expensive repainting.
Fortunately, paintless dent repair has become the new standard. This method involves the use of specialized tools to “pull” the dent out of the vehicle. As long as the dent is minor, this is the best option. Not only does it actually fix the damage and restore the structural integrity of your vehicle, but it also saves you a lot of money on labor and repainting costs.
Does Paintless Dent Repair Work?
This method, often called PDR for short, does indeed work very well. It may not work for all cases, but most dents can be repaired in this way. PDR has gained a lot of popularity in recent years because it is better on every level: It is cheaper, faster, easier, and more effective.
PDR is also better for repair businesses because it is so cost-effective. Not only that but the speed and convenience of the process allow mechanics to work more efficiently. This translates to shorter wait times for the customer, which is another great benefit.
When Paint-Less Dent Repair Doesn’t Work
Unfortunately, there are still times when you will simply have to replace the entire part. Even a highly effective process like this won’t be effective for every situation. We already mentioned that huge, deep dents will probably not be fixed in this way. PDR will not be a good option if:
- The dent has sharp edges and/or corners
- the metal itself has been torn or punctured
- The area is already damaged by rust
- The paint inside the dent has already been detached
- The dent is situated right at the edge of a panel
Advantages Of Paintless Dent Repair
The biggest advantage of this method is cost reduction. It’s cheaper for the repair shops, and so it is also cheaper for the customer. Auto repair bills generally consist of two components: Parts and labor. With PDR, there are no expenses for parts, as that would defeat the entire purpose of the process. You’re trying to get rid of the dent without having to replace an entire section of your car body. Therefore, PDR costs mostly consist of labor fees. Since it doesn’t usually take long to do these repairs, no one can really justify a high price tag.
PDR is also a lot faster and more convenient. If you have the right tools, and if you have the expertise to use them correctly, minor dents and dings can be fixed with much greater ease. This is an important factor because nobody wants to wait a long time for their vehicle to be ready. Chances are, you need your vehicle every day for crucial things.
Another great benefit is the fact that you don’t have to worry about color-matching. Even for a professional, it can be very hard to match the exact shade of your old finish. The problem is made more difficult by the fact that auto finishes tend to fade a little with time. Thus, if you want the new paint job to match, you have to reproduce that “fade” effect artificially. Even if all vehicles were painted in a standard set of colors, fading would still make color-matching difficult. However, when you go with PDR, you don’t have to worry about all that.
Finally, we should mention resale value. You may not be planning to keep your vehicle forever, especially if it has problems. If you are one of those people, the resale value becomes pretty important. That’s another area where PDR shines because it allows you to keep the original paint job. Vehicles that have retained the factory paint are always going to be worth a little more.
Conclusion
People across the world have found out that paintless dent repair really does work. In fact, when PDR is possible, it is truly the best method to use. Vehicle paint and primer aren’t cheap, and that has a lot to do with the high cost of automobile repainting. If you would like to know more about this process, or if you need competent dent repair, there is no need to ask: “Where is the best auto body shop near me?” Instead, you can give us a call at (856) 218-0202.