Can Paintless Dent Repair really fix all dents? For the vast majority of the time, PDR is the way to fix dents but not every dent is a candidate for PDR. It does have limitations and when it is not an option, conventional body shop repairs will be required.
What is Paintless Dent Repair?
In short, PDR is a non-invasive method of dent removal. Instead of replacing and repainting body panels, dents are repaired individually by PDR Technicians without harming the factory paint.
How Does PDR Work?
Specialized tools are used to gently maneuver a dent back to its original position. Many dents can be reached from factory access holes behind the body panels. From there, they can be pushed out. When access from behind is not an option, dents are pulled out with a glue gun and a dent puller.
Once the dent is back in position, it usually requires further work to make sure it lines up perfectly with the surrounding metal. Special lights with lines are used to find any high spots, low spots, or other imperfections.
What Can Paintless Dent Repair Fix?
Most car dents will benefit from Paintless Dent Repair due to its cost-effectiveness, speed, and precision. It is mostly used for:
- Hail damage
- Large or small dents
- Door dings
- Minor accidents and collision
- Shopping cart accidents
Paintless Dent Repair is most widely used for auto hail damage. This is mainly due to the sheer number of dents over the entire vehicle. It is more cost-effective to repair hail damage with PDR vs. panel replacement and paint. Just for those reasons, alone, PDR is a much faster repair. For example, a car with hail damage can be repaired in days instead of weeks. This is why car dealerships trust PDR to fix their vehicles when they suffer hail damage.
What Are The Benefits of Paintless Dent Repair?
While we have mentioned a few benefits of PDR above, there are many more including:
- Factory paint is not harmed
- No aftermarket parts are required
- Vehicle stays original
- Precision of repair
- A permanent repair
Factory Paint
“Paintless” is in the name for a reason because the biggest benefit of PDR is that the factory paint stays intact. The car manufacturer’s paint job is an elaborate process and would be very expensive to replicate. It is meant to last the life of the vehicle when properly cared for. For most vehicles, this paint will be the best that it will have. Therefore, it is important to keep it intact as long as possible.
No Aftermarket Parts
When a damaged body panel is replaced, aftermarket parts are used 99% of the time. Insurance companies will even require them to keep costs down. These parts are typically not to the exact tolerances and specifications as the ones that come from the factory. This brings us into the next benefit of PDR…
Vehicle Stays Original
Without the need for aftermarket parts or repainting, the vehicle stays 100% original when Paintless Dent Repair is used. The vehicle will retain its full value when it comes time to trade it in. Incorrectly fitting parts, no matter how slight, or paint imperfections will be noticed and deductions on the value of the vehicle will be made.
Precision Of Repair
We touched on this subject above. When PDR is used to fix dents, the original body part is repaired back to factory condition. The gaps will line up and everything will be repaired as it was intended to be from the factory. Aftermarket parts generally do not have the quality and precision as those from the factory.
Permanent Repair
Paintless Dent Repair is a permanent repair. The dents will not return or “Pop” out over time. A dent is stretched metal that also causes stress. PDR resets the dent back to its natural state and removes the stress. Therefore, there is nothing that would make the dent return on its own.
Can All Dents Be Fixed With PDR?
Simply put, no. Not all dents can be fixed with PDR. While it is the best solution for most dents, it does have its limitations. The top 5 things that cannot be repaired with PDR are:
- Damaged paint
- Severe damage
- The repair would not save the paint
- No access points
- Bumpers, plastic and fiberglass
Damaged Paint
If the paint is chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged in any way then the vehicle cannot be repaired with Paintless Dent Repair. This includes deep scratches. In many cases, PDR can be used to fix the dent but the area will still need to be repainted.
Severe Damage
PDR may not be an option if the vehicle’s metal has severe damage and it would just make more sense to replace it. This is usually the case with a major collision. Severe hail damage can be fixed with PDR but paint touch-ups may be required.
The Repair Would Not Save The Paint
Damage such as deep creases may prove difficult for PDR even if the paint is intact. If it is determined that PDR cannot fix the dent without sacrificing the paint, conventional methods will be required.
No Access Points
While not too common, some dents cannot be removed with PDR if there is not an access point for the technician’s tools to reach behind them.
Bumpers, Plastic and Fiberglass
Bumpers are made of different and much heavier metal than the body. It is too dense for PDR tools to repair in most cases. Plastic and fiberglass body parts cannot be repaired with PDR.
Have Questions?
If you are unsure if your dent(s) can be repaired with Paintless Dent Repair simply give us a call or Contact Us. We’ll be able to tell you right away if PDR is right for you. We always have appointment times available with extended hours. It’s painless and appointments are always free. Oftentimes, we can tell from just a photo.
About The Dent Company
At The Dent Company, we are known for the quality of our work and the high level of service we provide. Word of mouth has made us who we are today and we never forget that. We want to be your go-to dent company and the one you tell your friends about.
The Dent Company
The Auto Hail Repair Experts
America’s Dent Co.
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6260 W 52nd Ave #112 |
11450 Huron St. Ste. D |