When a car with a dent is taken to a body shop, the repair process typically involves the following steps:
Assessment: The technician will assess the extent of the damage to the vehicle and determine the best course of action for repairing the dent. They will also provide an estimate for the cost of the repair.
Preparation: The area around the dent is prepared for repair. This may involve removing any paint or debris from the damaged area and cleaning the surface.
Repair: There are several methods for repairing dents, including using body filler, pulling the dent out with suction or a specialized tool, or pushing the dent out from behind the panel. The method used will depend on the location and severity of the dent.
Sanding and priming: After the dent has been repaired, the area is sanded and primed to prepare it for painting.
Painting: The repaired area is painted to match the color of the rest of the vehicle. The technician will use a paint color-matching system to ensure a seamless finish.
Buffing and polishing: Once the paint has dried, the repaired area is buffed and polished to give it a smooth and shiny finish.
Final inspection: The repaired area is inspected to ensure that the repair has been completed to the highest standards.
Overall, the repair process will vary depending on the type and severity of the dent. A skilled technician will be able to assess the damage and recommend the best course of action for repairing the dent to ensure that the vehicle is restored to its original condition.
What Are Some Downsides To Having A Body Shop Fix Your Dents?
Here are some downsides to having a body shop fix your dents:
Cost:
The cost of repairing dents at a body shop can be quite high, especially if the damage is extensive. The repair cost may include labor charges, replacement parts, and other miscellaneous expenses.
Time:
The repair process can take a considerable amount of time, depending on the severity of the damage. This means that you may have to go without your car for several days, or even weeks, while it is being repaired.
Quality of Work:
The quality of work done by body shops can vary widely. Some shops may not have the necessary skills or equipment to do a good job, which could result in subpar repairs.
Paint Color Match:
If your car has a custom paint job, tri coat or pearl coat or a rare color, it may be difficult for a body shop to match the paint exactly. This can result in a noticeable difference in color between the repaired area and the rest of the car.
Hidden Damage:
Sometimes, there may be hidden damage that is not immediately visible, and a body shop may not discover it until they start the repair process. This can result in additional costs and delays, this is actually very normal because there are so many parts and pieces in todays vehicle the full estimate cannot be wrote up until the vehicle is completely disassembled.
Insurance:
If you are filing an insurance claim to cover the cost of the repairs, your insurance company may require you to use a specific body shop for your first estimate or inspection, they may only cover a portion of the repair costs if taken to another shop for repairs that is not in their network. This is not necessarily a bad thing, often times in order to become a “certified” insurance shop you have to abide by the insurance pricing guidelines and rules. This can often times leave things to be left off of the repair bill in order to satisfy the insurance company. It is illegal for an insurance company to tell you that you HAVE to take the vehicle to a specific shop.
Is Paintless Dent Repair Cheaper than a Body Shop?
Paintless dent repair is often times less expensive than a body shop. The cost of PDR depends on the severity and location of the dent, but it is generally much cheaper than traditional bodywork. A smaller door ding around the size of a quarter or 1 inch PDR job costs between starts off at $150-$225 per dent, depending on the size, depth and location of the damage. In contrast, traditional bodywork is much more costly.
It’s important to note that PDR is not suitable for all types of damage. If the dent is too severe, has damaged the paint, or is located in a difficult-to-access area, traditional bodywork may be necessary. However, for minor dents and dings, PDR is a cost-effective and efficient solution.
Conclusion
In conclusion, paintless dent repair is a great option for minor dents and dings that don’t require repainting. PDR is quicker than traditional bodywork, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious car owners. However, it’s important to remember that PDR is not suitable for all types of damage. If you have a severe dent or one that has damaged the paint, traditional bodywork may be necessary. Consult with a professional to determine the best course of action for your particular situation.
At Sioux Falls Dent Repair, we have been repairing vehicles via the PDR method for a very long time. Even though it is our preference to repair cars with the paintless dent repair method whenever we can, there are some instances when our hands are tied. These situations can be:
When the customer insists for a repair via the traditional method
When the dent can’t be fixed by PDR
There’s a limited kind of dents that PDR can fix. If your car has a dent that we can’t use PDR on, we might have no option but to opt for an auto body shop repair. PDR is usually used on the casually occurring dents that are high in number.
Which Dent Can You Use PDR On?
Round Dents
These dents are usually caused by hail, a football, basketball, or baseball. These dents are usually easy to repair and don’t cost much either. They leave a round circular dent on your vehicle.
Dings
A car ding is normally caused by a shopping cart or by other vehicles. It’s easy to get a ding on your when your car is parked in a crowded parking lot. Dings are usually easy to repair. Even if your car has a scratch, a chip, or a crack in the paint, this damage can be removed.
Crease
Crease dents are usually one of the complex ones we get. They are likely to stretch your car’s body – but that doesn’t mean they can’t be repaired with PDR. Because of the advancement of technology, crease dents are no longer the threat they used to be.
Dents apart from these are repaired with the auto body shop repair – but if you had to pick between PDR and an auto body shop repair – which one would you choose?
PDR vs. Auto Body Shop Repair – Head to Head
The Process
To repair a dent with an auto body shop repair, a technician has to drill holes on the side of the dent. They then fill the dented part with body fillers and then paint over it to make it look like the dent has been repaired. While on the other hand, to fix a dent via the PDR method, the technician has to massage the dent from the back. PDR is a lot quicker than an auto body shop dent repair.
Price
Since a body filler and paint are used on an auto body shop repair, it is much more expensive than PDR which is a lot more affordable. An autobody shop repair also requires a lot of work that is exactly why it can take more out of your wallet.
Car Life
When your car is shipped from the factory, it has a protective coating over the paint, which saves it from scratches and dings. When your car goes for an auto body shop repair, this layer is compromised. But when your car goes for a PDR, this layer isn’t even touched. With PDR, your car can look fresh for a longer time.
So if your car needs a paintless dent repair – call Sioux falls dent repair for a fix or to get a free estimate.
