Choosing a paintless dent repair service (PDR) offers a fast, cost-effective way to eliminate unappealing dents, so the damage is barely discernible.
Although first invented more than six decades ago, paintless dent repair is becoming increasingly popular today, with car owners seeking to save time and money while retaining their car in its near-pristine condition.
Today, we will focus on what's paintless dent repair service and why people consider it, so please read on.
What is Paintless Dent Repair?
Paintless dent repair is an eco-friendly and safe procedure for repairing and restoring a car's body to a “pre-damage”, near-original appearance. It is a bit of unknown artwork, with lots of secrecy around the type of tools needed to achieve a perfect finish.
This technique is commonly applied by experts when removing dents and dings from vehicles and while repairing damages to your vehicle's exterior caused by environmental toxins or natural elements.
Most paintless dent repairs take a short while, but this is relative depending on the location and severity of the dent. It can be done on bumpers, bonnets, doors, roof turrets, boot lids and fenders if it is metal and the exterior paint is not compromised.
Paintless dent repair can be both a technique and a process. This process involves four significant phases before your car is restored to its near pristine condition.
1. Car Inspection
This includes identifying apparent dents, assessing the size and extent of damage, and deciding whether it can be restored with paintless dent repair. Technicians also estimate the cost after determining whether or not your vehicle is suitable for a paintless dent repair.
This technique is more effective with small to medium-sized dents, although it can also be used for larger dents. These include hail damage, damages at the grocery store parking lot, and other minor damages.
2. Access the Dent
Typically, the technicians try to access the dented area from the other side of the dent. This necessitates removing panels and other exterior parts of your car.
3. Examining the dent up-close
The experts get to view the dent better to understand the extent of the damage. They also determine what is needed to restore the vehicle.
4. Massaging out the dent
Here, the car repair experts use specialized tools that apply pressure on the backside of the dent to revamp the area to its original shape.
What Makes Paintless Dent Repair Different?
The traditional dent repair service fills in dents with body or paints filler, taking longer than PDR. It is more expensive, and it may adversely affect the resale value of your vehicle.
PDR does not need fillers, and it is more efficient because it focuses on the underlying cause of the issue. It does not interfere with the original coat of paint, and it requires no refinishing or retouch. Thus, PDR may be a non-invasive, more durable, and sustainable solution.
Paintless Dent Repair Advantages
There are several attainable benefits of opting for a paintless dent repair. These include:
· Saves Money
Before paintless dent repair, most people did not see the need to fix minor dents because of the cost of repair. However, this modern method has reversed this way of thinking for many people.
This technique makes the repair process more efficient. Thus, there is a high possibility you will save a good buck due to reduced repair hours. Also, by skipping the painting process, you save significantly on labor and material costs.
Additionally, while it is possible to DIY a paintless dent repair kit, it is better to consider a professional paintless dent repair if you want the job done correctly. Traditional dent repair might be the only option at times, but PDR is usually a more financially responsible decision if given a choice.
· Retain Resale Value
If you are considering selling your vehicle, you want it to look well-maintained for the pictures you will use for its advertisement. If the exterior looks all-dented up, potential buyers could get turned off, making your car's demand lower. A low demand attracts a lower price.
On the other hand, a flawless exterior will garner more demand and interest in your car. There are no concerns about over spray or paint-color differences. Consequently, its resale value is enhanced.
· Saves on Time
Our world today has become a bustling and fast-paced space. For most people, taking some time off the day to have your car's dent repaired may seem like a stretch, time-consuming and stressful.
And while this may be true for traditional dent repairs, a paintless dent repair is an unbelievably fast process. It is usually about thirty minutes to a couple of hours, unlike the traditional method, which could last several hours, a few days or at times over a week primarily because of the required paintwork.
· Environment Friendly
The painting process usually involves a lot of harsh chemicals in the environment. Paintless dent repair, however, is more eco-friendly. The chemicals used in paint tend to pollute the air or groundwater system.
It also helps reduce the carbon footprint by preventing you from buying a new car.
· Compatible with Modern Auto Paint
Technological advancements have led to auto paints that toughly resist blemishing if dents occur. This makes the paintless dent repair option more viable because most of today's motor vehicle paint finishes allow for a successful PDR.
The original paint remains intact; hence the need for painting or color matching is eliminated. When the repairer is done, the damaged area seamlessly matches the rest of your vehicle.
· Quality Repairs
Quality repair is an essential factor for your car and virtually everything. Having the dents repaired well means that you will not need to have them fixed again for a few years. Fine-tuning the repair typically involves tapping down the repair process to remove small high spots.
Quality dent repairs also mean that the vehicle will last more and face fewer issues down the road, such as rust and corrosion. The quality of repair with PDR is superior to traditional methods because the traditional methods are susceptible to discoloration, deterioration, and reappearance.
Additionally, even insurance companies prefer a paintless body repair. These companies recognize the advantages of PDR and are more likely to cover the entire car dent repair cost.
· Perfect for Hail Damage Repairs
Hail is seasonal; hence it will dissipate. When the skies open up and huge hail chunks come rolling down, your vehicle could suffer several dents. Provided a car's surface is intact, the repair will try to remove any signs of hail damage this way.
It works well with steel and aluminum panels, and your car will look as good as it was before the hail damage, although aluminum panels are harder to fix.
We Offer the Best Paintless Dent Repair Services!
With that said, you now know why and when you should consider a paintless dent repair service. If your car's dent or ding qualifies for a paintless dent repair, you could be in and out of the auto body shop within a few hours.
However, be sure to research and confirm if the person offering the service is a licensed expert or qualified panel beater. If you consider a paintless dent repair, make sure you find a reputable auto body shop and seek advice first.