You place a high value on the car that you drive. To you, it’s more than a mode of transportation. Your vehicle is something in which you take great pride. This pride has led you to take great strides to ensure that it always looks its best.
Unfortunately, you can’t always be there to protect your vehicle. Weather happens. People happen. You never know if hail or a careless person will inflict a dent or ding in your ride.
While this is upsetting when it happens, you should know that it can be fixed. Through a process known as Paintless Dent Repair (PDR), your car can look new once again. If you haven’t heard of this process before, you may have some questions about it. Take a few minutes to understand what this process entails and why it may be the right choice for you.
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Questions Regarding Paintless Dent Repair
Even if you have a basic understanding of what PDR is, you may still have some questions. It’s a good idea to answer these questions before taking your car in to have this procedure. Doing so will give you peace of mind knowing that you’re making the best decision possible for your vehicle’s maintenance.
What is PDR, and how does it work?
Paintless Dent Repair has been around for half a century. It’s an alternative method for removing dents that offers significant benefits over traditional dent repair. Instead of taking your vehicle to the body shop to have the panel replaced or the area repainted, this method removes the issue without causing any further harm.
With Paintless Dent Repair, a specially trained technician will use specific tools to remove a dent gently. This removal is made possible because modern vehicles have access spaces behind the body panels. Technicians can use these spaces to reach most dents.
Although PDR tools are specially designed to reach difficult places, an interior panel will sometimes need to be removed. Once the technician has reached this area, they’re able to push the dent back out slowly. A special light is used, so they know when the dent is perfectly positioned.
Unfortunately, you can’t push some dents out. Your technician will need to pull or lift it out instead. Here a special glue gun is used. The technician can then use hand tools to ensure that it lines up exactly as intended.
Is there anything PDR can’t fix?
Although Paintless Dent Repair is a great way to fix dents, there are some limitations to this process. One of the most significant limitations occurs when the paint is damaged (e.g., cracked, chipped). There are also times when the metal is so severely damaged (e.g., a deep crease) that it makes more sense to replace the area. However, PDR can fix most things.
The nice thing is that if you try Paintless Dent Repair, you can rest assured that the dents won’t return. You also won’t have to worry about further damaging your vehicle. Instead, the technician will gently maneuver the metal back into place, which alleviates any stress.
How long does PDR take?
How much time PDR takes will depend on how big of an area is being repaired. The reason for this is that the technician must remove each dent individually. These two factors must be considered in determining how long this will take.
Factor #1. Size
Minor dents and dings may only take an hour or two to repair. However, if your vehicle has a larger dent or has suffered from hail damage, it’ll take longer since more metal will need to be pushed back out. It will also take longer if there’s any damage to the body line or there’s been extensive damage.
Factor#2. Location
Where a dent is located will also play a factor in determining how long it’ll take to fix it. For a dent that’s easily accessible from behind (e.g., hood dents, shopping cart dings), it should only take a few hours. However, if interior parts need to be removed so a technician can remove the dent (e.g., dents on the roof or door), it’ll take longer. Paintless Dent Repair is still the fastest way to fix a dent in both cases since it doesn’t require filing, sanding, or painting.
Safeguard Your Investment
Despite all your efforts to protect your investment, dents are sometimes simply out of your control. Don’t worry — at JM Dent Repair, we know how much it means to you to get your car looking new again, and that’s why we’re trusted in the Lafayette area for affordable paintless dent repair.
Paintless dent repair eliminates the worry of a color mismatch or uneven fading, and preserves your vehicle’s appearance and resale value. If you’re driving a leased vehicle, it also helps you avoid expensive “wear and tear charges” on your lease return. Contact us for a quote and see why we’re the best around.