Hailstorms can leave your car covered in dents and dings. It’s an unsightly and frustrating form of body damage, but luckily, two professional repair methods are available to return your car to its pristine appearance: paintless dent repair (PDR) and conventional dent repair. Here’s a breakdown of each technique to help you make the right choice for your situation.
Paintless Dent Repair vs. Conventional Dent Repair
Paintless dent repair removes minor hail damage without affecting the original paint job. This method uses specialized paintless dent repair tools to gently massage the metal back into place. PDR is ideal for small to medium-sized dents where the paint has not cracked.
Conventional dent repair involves a more labor-intensive process. First, technicians sand and pound out the dents. They then apply fillers to smooth the surface before repainting the damaged area to match the rest of the vehicle. This method is necessary for more severe dents or when the paint has been scratched or chipped.
How to Determine Which Method to Use
Paintless dent removal is always the preferred choice for repairing hail damage, but it’s not always an option. Here are the factors that determine your car’s eligibility for PDR:
- Extent of the damage: PDR is only appropriate if the paint is intact. For deeper dents or those with accompanying paint damage, conventional repair is required.
- Location of the dent: Dents on curved surfaces or near the edges of panels may not be suitable for PDR.
- Type of metal: Because of their rigidity, aluminum panels are harder to repair using PDR.
- Insurance coverage: Most insurance policies cover PDR, making it a cost-effective option for hail damage repair.
Benefits of Paintless Dent Repair
Why does PDR get so much attention? Consider the benefits of paintless dent repair vs. conventional repair methods, and you’ll see why it’s the number one choice for fixing hail damage:
- Cost-effective: PDR is generally cheaper than traditional repairs since it requires fewer materials and less labor.
- Time-efficient: The process is quicker, often completed in a day or less compared to a week or more for conventional repairs.
- Preserves value: Repairing dents while maintaining the original paint job retains the vehicle’s resale value.
- Environmentally friendly: PDR does not involve chemicals or paint, reducing its environmental impact.
Benefits of Conventional Repair
It may not be your first choice, but conventional repair is certainly better than ignoring major hail damage. Here’s how it benefits you:
- Comprehensive fix: Conventional methods are suitable for severe damage where PDR is not feasible.
- Color matching: Advanced spectrophotometry ensures a perfect match and uniform finish when new paint must be applied during the repair.
- Durability: Conventional methods offer flawless results, especially when extensive repairs are involved.
Schedule Hail Damage Repair in Frisco, TX
Whether your situation calls for paintless or conventional dent repair, Dent Squad USA has you covered. We bring 30 years of experience to every repair job. Our convenient location in Frisco allows us to serve customers throughout the region, including Plano, McKinney, and Allen, TX. As a local family-owned business, we pride ourselves on delivering quality service at a great price. Got a ding? We fix those things! Contact us at 214-664-1027 for all your hail damage or dent repair needs.