What is Paintless Dent Repair?
Paintless Dent Repair (PDR), or Paintless Dent Removal, can eliminate the need for traditional body work for minor repairs to the body of an automobile. PDR is an efficient and cost-effective method for restoring a vehicle’s body to its original condition, while also being environmentally friendly. This method is becoming more popular in the autobody industry.
This method relies on special tools and techniques to access the dent from behind the body panel, allowing the technician to gently push or pull it back into place. The results can be remarkable, restoring the car to its pre-accident condition in a fraction of the time compared to a traditional dent repair process.
How does Paintless Dent Repair Work?
As the name indicates, Paintless Dent Repair is used to remove a dent without disturbing the paint layer or requiring paint matching and curing. PDR begins by identifying where the dent is located and what type of damage has been done. Once the technician has a good understanding of damaged area, specialized tools are used to access it from behind the body panel. These tools are designed to access even the tightest spaces, allowing the technician to safely and gently push or pull on the damaged area.
Once the dent is accessed from behind, it is then manipulated and gently “massaged” back into its original form. This process requires a great deal of hands-on experience. A skilled technician needs to be aware of any potential weak spots which may make the damage worse. Once the dent has been restored to pre-accident condition, the technician will smooth down and buff out any remaining rough edges to ensure a seamless finish.
What kind of damage can be repaired using PDR?
PDR is a versatile process that can be used to fix a variety of types of minor damage, including small dings and creases. The goal is to remove dents, minor creases, and to restore the paint finish to the original factory condition. It is also an excellent option for the repair of hail damage, as it eliminates the need for extensive sanding and painting that traditional body work often requires. PDR can even be used to restore minor dents and dings in aluminum panels, which are notoriously difficult to access with traditional tools.
PDR is generally used when the automotive paint layer has not been compromised. Even if there is a large quantity of auto body dents, such as divots from hail damage, PDR can be used to carefully smooth over the paint surface.
How long does PDR take?
The time that it takes to fix a dent using PDR will depend on the size and severity of the damage. The initial evaluation may take some time, especially if the back of the panels are difficult to access. Smaller dents may only take a few minutes, while more extensive damage could take several hours. The technician must have patience and skill in order to ensure that he is able to restore the vehicle to its pre-accident condition without causing any further damage. With the right tools and techniques, PDR is an extremely efficient way to restore a vehicle’s body. If it’s determined appropriate, PDR can save the vehicle owner hundreds of dollars in labor costs compared to conventional dent removal methods.
Additionally, depending on your location a PDR specialist may not be on staff. Instead, PDR techs sometimes operate their own dent repair company and travel from shop to shop, so appointments need to be made well in advance. Vehicle owners should contact their local body shop and ask about their preferred method of mitigating minor damage.
PDR versus Conventional Repair: Who Wins?
In certain cases, conventional dent removal and paint restoration may be the most effective option for a quality repair, particularly if the factory paint layer has been damaged. While this method can restore the vehicle’s appearance, traditional repairs are time-consuming, costly, and may affect the re-sale value of the vehicle.
Conventional dent removal is an indispensable trade intended to return extensive damage to factory finish. This skill set takes years to master and involves several certifications and a team consisting of body technicians, mechanical technicians, and paint technicians, among others.
The short answer is that the type of damage, what kind of vehicle it is, and how experienced the technician is can all affect whether PDR is the right choice. Educate yourself, build relationship with a trustworthy professional, and get a few opinions on any damage to your vehicle.
Ohio Drivers: Contact Zanesville Autobody for Your Paintless Dent Repair
This article was originally published by Zanesville Autobody Collision and Glass, LLC, a member of the Autobody of Ohio family of auto body shops. If you are in Ohio and looking for a quality autobody shop “near me”, we are here to help you. We’ll make your car like new again!
Zanesville Autobody Collision and Glass
1152 Newark Road
Zanesville, Ohio 43701
Phone: (740) 487-3111
Fax: (740) 888-3500