What is Paintless Dent Repair?
Paintless dent repair (PDR) is a time- and cost-efficient alternative to conventional body repair. It involves the use of steel tools of various shapes, sizes, and lengths to "massage" or work a dent even with the surface of a metal panel. In short, it's metalwork, plain and simple!
The goal of a skilled PDR technician is to restore the panel back to its original factory condition without the use of destructive techniques commonly found in conventional repair. In many cases, you should never know the dent was even present in the first place!
The "paintless" portion of the repair suggests exactly what one should expect – no repainting of the panel is necessary. There is no grinding, sanding, or filler used in the repair, and only touch-up paint is recommended in the case of minor paint damage. This simple approach ensures that you can be back in your vehicle perhaps in as little as an hour or less, whereas conventional repair might take days or weeks!
Of course, PDR may not be an alternative to severe collision damage. Don't hesitate to contact us, though, for an opinion regarding large or complicated damage. You might be surprised with what can be accomplished! And if conventional repair is necessary, it is possible that we can speed up the repair process by limiting the amount of total man-hours involved.
Absolutely! Older steel alloys are now commonly replaced with aluminum for use in a vehicle's exterior metal paneling. This is due largely to the fact that aluminum weighs much less than steel, which has obvious benefits in the quest for lighter and more fuel-efficient vehicles.
Aluminum is also more resistant to denting. This is both an advantage and a drawback, since it is much less malleable, or workable, than steel. This is not a hard-and-fast rule, but it is a consideration with time as a factor in the total price of a repair.
Yep, can do! Even in extreme cases where a vehicle is labeled as "totaled," close to a 100% repair can be made in as little as a few days. This kind of scenario, though, requires an in-person consultation and a written estimate of cost, and is usually handled by way of an insurance claim.
The answer to this question is circumstantial, and it depends on a number of factors including the type, location, and severity of the dent. A technician must usually access the inner portion of the panel in order to fix the damage. Unfortunately, vehicle manufacturers have not yet incorporated PDR-friendly designs into the individual metal panels.
As a result, a number of repair methods exist for when certain options are not desirable or recommended. We always consult with you prior to the repair so that you are well-informed with an accurate expectation of the outcome.
We can usually minimize or eliminate any minor surface damage, such as scuffs, paint transfers, and light scratches. In these cases, the paint itself may not have been affected. On the other hand, paint chips and deep scratches are often addressed with a bit of touch-up paint matched precisely to your vehicle. Damage of this type is recognized by "catching" or "hanging" your fingernail as you pass it across the surface of the panel.
Paint applicators, very similar to a whiteout pen, are available through the Parts department of the car dealership of your choice. The application of the paint is very simple, and you should not expect any future problems as long as the area is covered sufficiently. But, should you prefer it, we also have partnered with local paint vendors for handling this portion of the repair.
This, again, is circumstantial and depends not only on the location and severity of the dent but also on the skill of the PDR technician!
Modern paint bonds very tightly to the underlying metal panel, and the paint can withstand a fair amount of flexion and impact before cracking. The age of the vehicle, or cold and salty environments, for instance, may greatly affect how the paint itself ages. Damage to the vehicle’s stiff body lines or panel edges very often stresses or chips the paint. As the metal panel continues to flex in response to the repair, so will the paint and it's bond.
Therefore, an inherent level of risk is involved in fixing a dent with moderate to severe paint damage, though a skilled PDR technician can minimize this risk.
Yes and no, to varying degrees of success. Hot glue is a common method employed by most technicians, and it is used in many different situations where standard PDR tools are restricted. Care must be taken to avoid damaging the outer protective paint coatings. Therefore, repairs on older, aged vehicles, and those with cracked paint and heavy scarring would be too risky for this method.
Alternatively, suction cups have limited use, as the suction is not strong enough to make a difference. Dry ice is referred to as a "hack," of sorts, and is rarely encountered, if at all. It works by the rapid change of temperature between the area of application and the surrounding metal. More effective and straightforward repair methods exist for situations where suction cups or dry ice could theoretically work.
This question is asked more often than you might think, but we don’t recommend it!