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.
“Die back” in automotive paint refers to a phenomenon where the color of the paint appears to lighten or become less vibrant after the paint has dried. This can occur when the paint’s solvent evaporates too quickly, which causes the pigments to settle and spread unevenly on the surface.
Die back can also be caused by improper application techniques, such as spraying the paint too far away from the surface or not applying enough paint in each coat. Additionally, environmental factors like temperature and humidity can affect the drying process and contribute to die back.
To prevent die back, it’s important to use high-quality automotive paint and to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application. This may involve using specific tools, such as a spray gun or a particular type of brush, and applying the paint in multiple thin coats, with sufficient drying time between each coat. It’s also important to ensure that the surface being painted is clean and free of debris, and to control environmental factors like temperature and humidity as much as possible.
Body filler, also known as “Bondo,” is a type of automotive repair material that is used in body shops to repair dents, scratches, and other imperfections in car bodies. It is a two-part substance that consists of a resin and a hardener.
To use body filler, the damaged area of the car is first cleaned and prepared by sanding away any paint, rust, or other debris. The body filler is then mixed according to the instructions on the package, and applied to the damaged area in layers using a plastic spreader. Each layer is allowed to dry before the next one is added.
Once the body filler has fully cured, it is sanded down to create a smooth surface that is flush with the rest of the car’s body. The repaired area can then be painted to match the rest of the car.
Body filler is a common tool in automotive body shops because it is relatively easy to use and can effectively repair a wide variety of cosmetic damage. However, it is important to use the correct amount of filler and to properly prepare the surface to ensure a high-quality, long-lasting repair.
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.
In today’s video, Jack takes us through a hail damage estimate for a 2015 Honda Fit that came into the Sioux Falls Dent Repair shop. As you can see, the damage is quite severe and even caused the paint in the roof to crack in multiple spots.
For the customer to claim their insurance, we needed to take photographs and even mark off the severely damaged areas. The car itself, as you can see, is covered in “oversized” dents which are indicated with “X” marks. In terms of size, an oversized dent is any dent that is larger than a half dollar coin.
The roof and hood were written as replacement pieces because of the severity of the damage and that is what we used to write up our estimate. The dents are all across the body of the car and has even caused the paint to crack in many spots. In some spots, the glass will also have to be removed and reinstalled once the job is complete.
Unfortunately, once the estimate is made, the car is going to be a complete loss for the customer and they will have the option to either get reimbursed or buy it back and get it fixed afterwards. The customer also has a tow hitch attached to the front of the vehicle which means that it will have to be removed and will be included in the eventual cost. We also came across a hairline dent between the side mirror and the frame of the vehicle which will need work. Also, there are signs of previous PDR work on this car, but it isn’t complete and isn’t a good job either.
So, that is how we at Sioux Falls Dent Repair go about writing up an estimate for hail damaged car. We mark off the larger dents and any extreme damage, we take to a body shop for repair or replacement.
Watch the whole process here:
If you have any hail damage that you want us to take a look at, go ahead and call or text us at 605-250-1023.
