Every motorist needs someone who can repair a dent. Dents are common because it takes very little impact to cause one. The causes range from shopping carts to minor car accidents. However, the important thing is that you can get that dent repaired as soon as possible.
The longer you wait, the more money you will have to spend down the road. Fortunately, Wills Auto Body is a specialist in dent repair. Let’s talk about techniques we use to repair a dent and the importance of trusting a professional.
Understanding Dents
If you own a car, then you’ve probably come across all types of dents. But not many people can identify the different types of dents. As you will see later, proper dent identification is crucial to the dent repair process. The good news is that we've seen them all before.
Here are the common types of dents you should know about.
Dings: If you are going to get a dent, hope it's a ding. In most cases, dings aren't that serious and are affordable to fix. They occur when you slam the door too hard, or someone bumps into you while backing up. If the paint isn't damaged, we repair a dent like that with a minimally invasive process such as paintless dent repair(PDR).
Sharp Dents: These types of dents happen due to impact from sharp objects. Sharp dents mainly occur along the body lines (swages). They are tricky because they usually involve some paint damage.
Round Dents: As the name suggests, round dents happen when a round object hits your car. A prime example is a ball or hail hitting your car. The good news is that round dents don't often affect the paint job. That means PDR is an option.
Serious Dents: This group includes all dents that are larger, deeper, and more irregular. They happen when objects hit the car at high velocity. Usually, the damage affects the paint job and may reach the metal. Because they are more involving, serious dents are a little more expensive to repair.
How We Repair A Dent
Repairing a dent is a skill learned and perfected over time. Professional auto body technicians follow a specific process that guarantees the best results.
In addition to manpower, you also need specialized equipment to repair dents properly. Here is a step-by-step explanation of what you can expect from Will's Auto Body in Concord.
Dent Repair Assessment
Before we repair a dent, our technicians have to assess it. As discussed earlier, the type of dent determines the subsequent steps. Customers can take full advantage of our photo estimator to get a quote for insurance reasons. However, a more accurate quote will be sent to you once the car is assessed in person.
During the assessment, we take a closer look at the dent. Our auto body technicians look at the size, depth, and level of damage. The location of the dent also determines how we repair a dent. Dents along the body line are trickier than those elsewhere. The location also influences accessibility to the dent. The more panels we have to remove, the longer it will take to repair.
Prep Work
After thoroughly assessing the damage, our technicians recommend the appropriate method to repair the dent. But before the repair begins, the area around the dent has to be prepared. Most of the prep work involves cleaning to remove debris and dirt.
Usually, the car is washed and left to dry out. The cleaning focuses on the dent and the area around it. For minor dents, the prep work is half the work it takes to repair a dent. But of severe dents, we are only getting started.
Heating and Paintless Dent Removal
Heat treatment is one way to repair a dent. The expansion forces the dented area to get back into its original shape. Heat treatment is done with a heat gun. The process is done slowly until the dent is gone. Another alternative is the Paintless Dent Removal.
PDR involves reshaping the panel to repair a dent. Specialized tools are used to push out the affected area from the inside. The slow massaging eventually reverses the dent. This process is cheaper and faster. However, it can only fix dings. It takes a lot more work to repair a dent larger than a ding.
Body Filler
If we can’t repair the dent with the PDR process, we will then use conventional repair methods. Conventional repair is when the affected panel is taken down to bare metal using abrasives either by hand or special equipment. We use environmentally safe equipment such as 3M vacuum sanders which collect all the contaminants and then are taken to a hazardous waste collection facility.
Once the panel is down to the bare metal, we use metal finishing techniques with a stud welder to remove the dents. Before we use any filler we make sure that the metal is as close as possible. We are able to use the least amount of filler possible and sometimes just primer to finish the panel. The filler that we use is 2 part tube which ensures proper mixture every time. Using tools like spreaders and shapers, we skim the metal to cover any of the smallest imperfections for a smooth transition. Our auto body technicians ensure that the filler is spread on a clean surface guaranteeing proper adhesion. The filler is then left to cure before sanding.
Sanding and Primer
Sanding is the next step after cleaning and drying. Sanding can be done by hand or a DA (Dual action) sander.
In either case, the process begins with a rougher grit then moves to a finder grade for a smooth finish. After all the excess dust is cleaned, the next step is priming. The primer seals off the area and provides an adhesive surface for the paint.
Painting
Painting is one of the last steps when we repair a dent. The dent has been eliminated by this point. However, the repaired area doesn't match the color of the car. Painting over the repair area is required to match the factory finish. However, that only happens if the color is matched correctly. Proper color-matching is essential when you repair a dent.
Will’s Auto Body uses computer color-matching to ensure the color is identical. You can also opt to give the entire car a new coat of car paint at this stage. Our team will be in constant communication at each stage through the live progress viewer. You can make any request at any stage while we repair the dent.
Finishing Touches
Sealer is applied over the repair area, then color, then clear. All steps happen in the same paint cycle. Once we are done, you will get a notification telling you to pick your car. As a bonus, we handle all the bureaucratic insurance processes after we repair a dent. As a bonus, the vehicle will be thoroughly disinfected.
Contact Us for The Best Dent Repair
Dents are inevitable on the busy Concord highways. When they do happen, you need a trusted auto body professional who can properly repair a dent. Fortunately, Wills Auto Body is here to help you. We are certified by the Autobody Association and the Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
Feel free to verify these credentials at any time. You can also check the glowing endorsement for other customers. We are the best because we treat your vehicle like it's ours. Don't let a dent ruin your day. Visit our shop online or in person. Try us today and see why we are the best place to repair your dent.