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Why PDR Is Your Best Motorcycle Dent Repair Solution

motorcycle fuel tank dent repair

It may surprise you to know that roughly $60 billion worth of vehicle repairs and maintenance go unperformed every year. The reasoning behind this usually boils down to how expensive it can be to have proper repairs done on a vehicle. This goes double for motorcycles, which can sometimes be tricky to work on, depending on the issue and the condition of the bike. What can be done?

PDR Is the Answer

Fortunately, there’s a solution to your problem when your motorcycle gets dented or dinged. Paintless dent repair (PDR) will help bring your bike back to its original pre-accident condition in just a few hours without the need for an extensive paint job or a mile-long bill. Here are a few reasons why paintless dent repair is your best motorcycle fuel tank dent repair solution.

PDR Means No Need for Expensive Paint Work

Have a custom finish you’re not happy about losing? Or just don’t want the extra cost of a paint job or touch-up on top of everything else? Paintless dent repair has you covered. Perhaps the most obvious advantage of paintless dent repair is that it preserves your stock or custom paint job, eliminating the need for costly touch-ups or even a full repaint. By applying pressure behind the dent to massage it out rather than ‘pulling’ from the dented side, PDR manages to preserve paint jobs, whether stock or custom, every time.

PDR Is An Efficient Process

Removing dents in a more traditional manner might leave your bike in the shop for a few days. But with paintless dent repair, you can typically have your bike repaired and returned to you on the same day you bring it in. In most cases, depending on the size and location of the dent, the process of removing a dent through PDR work will take between one and four hours to complete. With the help of an experienced PDR technician, you’ll be back on the road in no time.

PDR: Simple Tools Create Stunning Dent Repair Results

Motorcycle fuel tank dent repair can be tricky due to the location of the damage and the thickness of the metal. In paintless dent repair, custom-designed steel rods gain access to the area behind the dent and gently apply pressure to the damaged area. This slow application of pressure removes the dent with no harm done to the finish.

Motorcycle fuel tank dent repair can be difficult, but with paintless dent repair, you can get back to cruising in a few hours with no worries about your stock or custom finish. Painless dent repair easily brings your bike back to its pre-accident condition with the help of certified PDR technicians. Contact our professionals at Dent Shop today for the best motorcycle fuel tank dent repair solution around and get your free estimate today.

What Size Car Dents Can Be Repaired with PDR?

small dent repair

In 2017, three types of vehicle repair ranked at the top: 1.) having an oil change along with oil filter replacement, 2.) getting air filters changed and 3.) replacing windshield wiper blades. Another vehicle repair that drivers have needed more over the years is small dent repair. Continue reading to learn more about paintless dent repair solutions that can transform your vehicle to a like-new condition before the damage happened.

The Size of Dents That Can Be Repaired Using PDR

From tiny door dings to extremely large and noticeable dents, paintless dent repair is great option to fix dents of all sizes, including:
• Door Dents and Dings – Sized 2 Inches or Less
• Small Dents – 3 to 5 Inches in Diameter
• Medium Dents – 5+ to 10 Inches Long
• Large Dents – Approximately 10 Inches or Larger

There is a 98% chance your dents can be repaired using PDR techniques. It is important to keep in mind that dent removal is not a DIY project. It takes extensive training to provide small dent repair, especially since no two dents are the same.

Factors for Large and Small Dent Repair

There are a few aspects to consider when it comes to dents that can be fixed using paintless dent repair or PDR. The first is the position of the dent. The second is the severity of the dent.

Other contributing factors will help determine whether PDR for small dent repair is the best dent removal process for your vehicle. The experts will inspect your car, truck or motorcycle, keeping the considerations mentioned above in mind as well as many others. Some other considerations include the size of the dent, whether or not it has a crease and the area where the dent is located. All of those factors make a big difference.

How PDR for Small Dent Repair Works

PDR technicians will analyze the damage and determine the characteristics of the dent. Then the appropriate interior or exterior panels will be carefully removed to access the dent from the front and the backside. Once the dent has been exposed, PDR technicians use specialized equipment and tools to carefully press out the backside of it. Slowly tapping and massaging, they bend the metal back into its original place. It’s important to understand that top PDR services add value and won’t negatively affect how much your vehicle is worth. This modern repair process saves you both time and money.

Contact PDR Experts Today

When your vehicle sustains dents and dings, make an appointment with PDR experts to discuss their services. After a complete inspection, highly skilled dent removal experts will decide the optimal repair method for your car. At Dent Shop, you’re guaranteed 100% satisfaction with our large and small dent repair services. Contact us today for a free assessment.

What Kind of Car Scratches Can PDR Fix?

pdr

Even the best drivers may end up dealing with repair costs for minor problems such as scratches and scrapes. Perhaps someone scratched your car door getting out of their vehicle or a truck got just a little too close and scraped the paint on your bumper. No matter how the damage happened, you must get it fixed and in the best way possible. That’s when paintless dent repair, also known as PDR, can come in handy.

PDR Is Ideal for Minor Scratches

Paintless dent repair is the ideal way to repair the body of a vehicle while keeping the vehicle’s value at the highest level. It’s an efficient and effective repair method, simple as that. Something as simple as a minor scratch can mar the aesthetics of your car and lower its value. PDR can fix minor scratches as long as the metal beneath the paint has not been exposed. Unfortunately, if the paint has been chipped away entirely in one spot or you can see any exposed metal, it’s not a good candidate for paintless dent repair.

Some Paint Scratches Need More Than PDR

When it comes to deep paint scratches that extend into your auto’s primer layer or even the bare metal, then PDR cannot fix the damage. Dings and scratches that are so deep the paint has cracked require different repair methods. Where a scratch is located also plays a factor, since some scratches include some type of denting, as well. The issue is that exposed metal will rust, and the damage will continue to spread even underneath the paint over time. PDR does not work for severely paint damaged vehicles.

Paint Affects the PDR Process

Paint has a lot to do with how well a scratch or dent can be removed from an aluminum or metal body panel. Even the modern, high-quality paint on your vehicle has an elastic limit for how much it stretches before it cracks. There are some auto paints that are more flexible than others, and the auto industry continues to improve the paint materials. That’s why the factory finish paint job is warrantied to last a certain number of years, which, when intact, contributes to the car’s value. If the paint has been scratched down to the metal, the PDR process isn’t a suitable method to repair your vehicle. Chances are, you will need that part of your auto repainted.

Whether you need to fix minor scratches and dents on your car door or in another location, PDR techs are ready to assess your vehicle and let you know how they can help. Let them evaluate even the smallest crack or scratch. You could easily have your car repaired with paintless dent repair. Overall, it’s a quick and affordable repair method ideal for repairing dents and minor scratches when there is no significant damage to the factory paint.

Reach out to our team today if you have any questions about high-quality dent repairs, PDR or our minor scratch repair capabilities. If you have a car, truck or motorcycle with dents or minor scratches, stop by Dent Shop for a free estimate. Feel free to make an appointment or drop by at your convenience.

The Most Common Paintless Dent Removal FAQs

paintless dent removal

Discovering significant hail damage on your vehicle after a hailstorm can be stressful and frustrating. What are you supposed to do about all those unattractive dents marking up the body of your vehicle? Luckily, autobody experts have stated that 80% to 90% of dings and dents have the potential to be repaired using a technique known as paintless dent repair (PDR). But what exactly is paintless dent removal? Continue reading to get the most common facts and answers for paintless dent removal questions.

PDR Removes Minor Dings and Dents

Paintless dent repair, also known as paintless dent removal, is exactly what the name suggests. It is a dent repair process that removes dents and dings out of the body of a vehicle without altering, harming or removing the paint. Specialized tools are carefully used to massage dents out from the back of body panels, meaning the structure of the dented panel goes back to its pre-damaged condition.

Are There Benefits to Using PDR?

Yes, there are many advantages to choosing PDR! One of the best benefits is maintaining the quality of your vehicle by preserving its original prime condition and value. Paintless dent removal is a dent repair method that brings your vehicle closest to the condition it was in before the dent ever happened. No primers, fillers, bondo or grinding are used to mar the condition of a vehicle’s paint or go over the dent. That also means you won’t have any problems with paint shrinkage, paint fading or bubbling, or filler issues like traditional dent repairs cause. Paintless dent repair is fast, costs less than traditional methods and maintains vehicle value, which is why it’s the preferred repair method.

Will Dents Come Back?

Dents do not come with paintless dent repair. PDR ensures all the hail damage dents on a vehicle that get repaired are 100% gone. Deeper dents can be more difficult to repair, but even then, they will not pop back out after repairs are completed. PDR specialists will inspect your vehicle and let you know what you can expect beforehand as to whether or not your car’s dents can be fully removed by PDR.

Can PDR Be Used to Fix All Vehicle Dents?

No, not every dent can be fixed using PDR. If there is any paint damage, PDR becomes unusable because this method only fixes cars with paint intact. Other determining factors for dents that can be fixed include the location and the depth, for example, larger dents are fixable if they aren’t too deep. Dents that are tiny but extremely deep tend to stretch the metal too far, making it impossible to use PDR. Some areas, including the quarter panel opening lips, edges of panels, or heavily braced hoods, are in bad locations that cannot be fixed.

To determine if your hail damage dents can be fixed using PDR, contact a shop that specializes in the service. They will also be able to fully inspect the dents on your vehicle and let you know if they can help. For a free hail damage repair estimate, contact Dent Shop today.

You Need to Get Your Vehicle Hail Dents Removed More Than You Think

vehicle hail damage

Is the hood, roof and trunk of your vehicle littered with dents from hail? Up to 77% of vehicles in regions prone to hailstorms will receive dents and dings due to hail damage and necessitate dent removal services. Hail damage is noticeable, unsightly and decreases the value of vehicles.

While there are likely dozens of vehicle maintenance and repair shops in your region, you want to find a shop specializing in paintless dent repair (PDR) for hail damage. PDR saves money and time, helps maintain the original paint on your car, and keeps negative reports off of CARFAX in case you want to sell your car later. Below are the top reasons you need to have dents removed immediately.

Paintless Dent Removal Is Fast and Effective

Are you worried about needing a rental car for at least a week while having hail damage fixed? Repair technicians recommend having hail damage corrected using PDR. Depending on the severity and location of the hail damage, you can have the body of your vehicle repaired in as little as one or two days depending on the extent of the damage. In some cases, dent removal can happen the same day you bring your vehicle in if the hail damage is light and you’re able to make an appointment.

PDR is Necessary Before Additional Hail Damage Happens

If you’re lucky, the dents from an initial hailstorm will not crack your paint, meaning PDR can be used on your vehicle. But if another hailstorm happens, the impact from the hailstones can further damage existing dents, and even crack or chip paint. This is especially true if the existing dents crease even more due to a weakened body panel from the second hailstorm. Should that happen, you’ll need to have a panel replacement or conventional repairs with repainting because otherwise the exposed metal will rust and spread over time. PDR techniques are effective in repairing hail damage and can restore your vehicle to prime condition.

Traditional Dent Repair Techniques Are More Expensive

One main reason you do not want to postpone paintless dent removal is the fact that conventional repair techniques cost more and take more time to provide. Going this route means you may have to have the panels of your vehicle repainted or replaced. This will reduce the overall value of your automobile, too. Try not to postpone hail damage repairs, because an additional storm could worsen the damage and render your vehicle unsuitable for PDR.

When your auto has been damaged by hail, contact an auto body shop that specializes in paintless dent repairs. There is no better way to preserve the value of your vehicle. PDR is an invaluable service that will make your car look as good as new. To learn more about this excellent hail damage repair method, contact the Dent Shop today.

The Best Ways to Avoid Hail Damage

hail damage

Sudden and unexpected hailstorms can damage your automobile easily. According to the National Weather Service, it takes a hailstone-sized golf ball (1.75 inches) to damage a vehicle, and even a hailstorm that only lasts for a few minutes can damage your car and cost you a lot of money for repair. To help you avoid this, here are the best ways to prevent hail damage:

1. Be Aware of Your Local Weather

It is no secret that damage prevention is far better than needing a cure. Even if hailstorms are a rarity in your area, it pays to be prepared for what to expect, even if that preparation only requires an umbrella most of the time. Make it a habit to check the weather in your local area. You can do this by watching the weather forecast ahead for the week/weekend and downloading weather apps to give you notifications. Checking weather reports will provide you with a hint of what to expect, and whether or not the expected conditions could result in hail stones. Being aware of the weather is the first step to helping you avoid hail damage.

2. Use Overhead, Closed Parking

The best way to protect your car from hail damage during a hailstorm is to park it inside a garage. However, not all homes, apartments and places of employment have garages. If this is the case, consider getting a carport or trying to find alternative solutions that will enable you to protect your vehicle. You can also rent complexes that provide parking on a weekly or monthly basis. It would be best to park your car with the windshield facing the direction the hail of falling from to protect it from hail damage.

3. Purchase a Car Cover

Even though a car cover might not be the best protector, it is ideal for unexpected hail when you are not at home or near any closed parking space. A typical car cover is a thick protective fabric that matches your car’s size and dimensions. It is easy and quick to fix – you can throw it above your car and cover it as soon as hail starts falling. Though keep in mind this does require you to cover your vehicle in advance or be close enough to place the protective layer on should a hailstorm arrive to prevent hail damage.

4. Acquire a Hail Protector

If you are always on the road or live in an area with frequent hailstorms, you might want to consider buying an auto hail protector. A hail protector is an inflatable cover used to protect cars from hail. It inflates around your car like a carport, creating a barrier that cushions the impact and preventing dents and serious damage. It can protect vehicles from not only golf ball-sized hail but also softball-sized hail.

5. Use Cushioned Items as A Last Resort

It is common to see people covering their cars with blankets, thick rugs and carpets shortly after hail announcements. Using heavy well-cushioned items like blankets and carpets is an intelligent way to shield your car from hail when you have no other alternative. Lay these items on top of the car, on the windshield and around your windows. Note that your safety is a more important priority than covering your vehicle; if hail is already coming down, it may be more practical to stay indoors instead of risking personal injury running out into a hailstorm. Use your best judgment – be sure to stay safe and protect yourself as the first priority.

With these tips in mind, your car can remain protected in the event of a hailstorm. Proper preparation can reduce the risk of serious dents and costly paint damage from the hail stone impacts. Be sure to pass on these tips to family, friends and neighbors if they also need help protecting their vehicles! But if you’re unable to prepare in time and your car does sustain hail damage, Dent Shop has your back. Contact us today for a free hail damage repair estimate.

How Does PDR Work?

car dent repair

Having your car damaged by hail can be a terrible experience. Fortunately, most auto hail damage can be repaired by paintless dent repair (PDR). In fact, experts say that 80% to 90% of dents can be fixed using paintless dent repair. Read on to find out more about how this car dent repair process works.

What Is Paintless Dent Removal?

Paintless dent removal (PDR) is a technique that is used for vehicle dent repair through reshaping the panel. With this technique, there is no need to fill in the dent or paint the car, a process used in traditional repairs that negatively affects vehicle value. During the paintless dent repair process, the specialists use special tools to press and massage dents. This is how dented metal is pushed out, and the vehicle is restored to its normal shape. The important thing to note is that this method of car dent repair does not affect the manufacturer’s paintwork finish, which is valuable because it’s guaranteed to last a certain number of years. Repainting filled in sections will not have the same finish or guarantee, because it’s not likely to last as long – the paint could fade in color, scratch or bubble.

PDR is now the preferred body shop alternative to traditional car dent repair methods, in large part because it’s more affordable and quicker than other methods since it doesn’t require painting. If your car’s hail damage qualifies for PDR, the entire process is usually completed in a day or so.

What Does Paintless Dent Repair Involve?

With PDR, skilled technicians rely on industry-grade, reusable tools to carefully manipulate precise locations of metal to the correct height. Usually, the metal is pressed from the inside of the panel. Technicians also use metal rods and body picks to massage the dents. If done correctly, this is how the car panels can be restored to their original state. The damaged areas are illuminated by LED lighting to help technicians can visualize the dented area properly while repairs are being performed.

What Are the Benefits of Paintless Dent Removal?

There are several benefits to PDR. This method is cost-effective when compared to traditional techniques. There will be no need to paint the car. Therefore, it is also faster. Because of the light work required, there is no multistep preparation that normally comes with conventional repairs, such as preparing the surface (grinding away existing paint so the filler will stick), filling in the dent and painting each layer over the filler after the first one dries. One of the most significant advantages is that there will be no discoloration to your car and its value will be restored to pre-damaged condition.

Paintless dent repair is one of the best methods of car dent repair when your car has been affected by hail. The method is quick and cost-effective, and your car will be back to its normal condition in no time at all. All you need to do is find a qualified PDR company to do the job for you. Search for “paintless dent repair near me” or “hail damage repair near me” and if you’re close to one of Dent Shop’s locations, we’d be more than happy to give you a free hail damage repair estimate to determine if your vehicle can be repaired using PDR. Contact us today to learn more about our hail damage repair services and qualified PDR technicians.

The 5 W’s of Hail Damage Repair

hail damage repair

Extreme weather changes all across the world have led to an increase in the number and magnitude of storms. More severe weather frequently includes elements such as hail, which is a large culprit of the dings and dents that impact vehicles. In fact, the National Weather Service reports that it only takes hail the size of a golf ball (1.75 inches) to cause damage to a vehicle.

It’s almost inevitable that a vehicle will suffer some kind of dent damage from weather-related events, especially if hailstorms are common in your region. Read on to find out more about what hail damage is, how it can affect your vehicle, and where you might go to obtain a hail damage repair.

What Does Hail Damage Look Like?

The damage typically results in circular or conical-shaped dents that are visible on the body of a vehicle. The top of your vehicle will receive the most and deepest damage, but hail can also bounce off the pavement or other objects to ding the front, back and sides of your vehicle as well. In most cases of minor hailstorms, the impact of small hailstones will dent the exterior, but the paint will bend with it. But with more severe hailstorms and wind, hail stones can also damage the paintwork.

How Does Hail Damage Impact a Vehicle?

Hail damage affects the monetary value of a vehicle by quite a bit. A car’s value will depreciate the more damage there is, but hail damage is especially devaluing. This is due to the amount of damage spread over a large area, typically requiring expensive traditional methods of repair. Not only that, but the dents are telling of a vehicle that has been through significant weather events, which prospective buyers are hesitant to buy.

When Should Hail Damage Repair Be Sought?

As soon as hail damage occurs, vehicle owners should go get an estimate for hail damage repairs. When paint damage is present in the dents, unfortunately, the vehicle will need time-consuming costly traditional repairs or replacement panels to avoid rust forming and spreading in the paint cracks. But if the paint in intact, opt for paintless dent repairs, a modern method to fix dents without repainting or replacing exterior panels.

Where Should Someone Go for Hail Damage Repair Services?

A person who is interested in fixing these dents should first obtain an estimate for paintless dent repairs for hail damage. Paintless dent repair is the premier, insurance-preferred method for fixing dents and hail damage since the fast, cost-effective process removes the dents without harming the factory finish paint. It also restores the car to its pre-damaged value.

Who Can Do Hail Damage Repair?

Businesses with certified paintless dent repair and hail damage repair technicians are able to employ PDR techniques with training, skill and experience. Their website will usually list credentials or the methods used to repair vehicle damage such as dents from hail. If not, call and confirm the company can complete paintless dent repairs before seeking an estimate there.

Why Does Hail Damage Repair Matter?

Fixing the dents from hail properly is important because not only does it address the physical appearance of a vehicle, but choosing the right type of repairs can also impact its monetary value. For car owners who plan to sell or trade-in their vehicle, hail damage is a serious issue in regard to how their vehicle’s value will be calculated.

If your vehicle has been damaged by hail, make sure that you contact your local PDR specialists for repairs. If you’re in one of the service areas of the Dent Shop locations, we encourage you to reach out to our expert teams for a free estimate.

The Most Common Ways Cars Get Dented

dent removal

There’s nothing quite like hitting the open road and feeling the wind in your hair. But as fun as driving can be, vehicles go through their fair share of wear and tear. That wear and tear can include major and minor dents that require dent removal. Even if you are a careful driver, dents are inevitable sometimes. If you’re trying to be extra careful with your car, here are some major causes of dents you need to know about.

Storms

All at times of the year, major storms can roar through and cause damage in the form of fallen trees, dropped tree limbs and debris wreckage. Hailstorms are especially bad for vehicles, since they can wreak havoc on the metal exterior of cars and create the need for dent removal. Even small chunks of hail can cause lots of small dents or compromise your windows.

Accidents

Minor collisions can cause dents that may still be able to be repaired with paintless dent repair, but in most cases, car accidents cause damage to the factory finish paint as well. But accidents don’t always have to mean collisions with other vehicles. In the case of deer, bird or other animal strikes, you may have dents in your vehicle as a result. Accidental dings can also occur from some surprising sources, such as acorns dropping from trees above, umbrellas blowing into a vehicle or even a sports ball of some kind hitting a side panel.

In 2017, some of the most common vehicle repairs were wiper blade replacement, air filter replacement, and oil filter replacement. Dents are also near the top of the list of common repairs, and if you’ve been in any kind of accident, you should get your car checked out.

Dings

Believe it or not, parking lots can be some of the most dangerous places for your car. Why? Parking in a congested lot means you’re surrounded by other cars and there’s the potential for your car to get dented by the doors of other cars. The carelessness of just one driver can send an errant door slamming into the side of your car, leaving you with a sizable dent, or at least a nasty scratch.

Debris

Dent removal may also be needed after driving on a bumpy road. This is because stones, sticks and other debris get stirred up and fly around, especially during storms or on windy days. This also applies if you’re following behind another car or a truck that’s hauling cargo. If a car is hauling cargo like rocks or wood, there’s the potential for an errant piece to get loose and smack into your car. The best thing you can do is check your car out after a drive and deal with any dent issues immediately.

Make sure that you’re keeping an eye out for any dents that appear from these common causes or from other more unique circumstances. If you noticed that your car has been dented, it’s a good idea to get dent removal services as soon as possible. For cost-effective, fast, high-quality paintless dent removal services, contact Dent Shop today for a free estimate!

Protecting Your Vehicle From Hail Damage

auto hail damage

Hailstorms can cause devastating damage to property, including your car. If you don’t take steps to protect your car, the damage can be significant – we are not talking about just a few dents. Before the next hailstorm passes through, here’s what you can do to protect your car from auto hail damage.

How to Prevent Auto Hail Damage When You Don’t Have a Garage

If you’ve experienced a hailstorm before, you’re likely to know the type of weather conditions that can cause hail. However, even if you’re watching the weather channel, you may not be able to predict when a storm arrives. That’s why you need to prepare in advance, perhaps by purchasing a carport or thick blankets if your home does not have a garage.

Keep in mind that a carport might not provide comprehensive cover because hail is often accompanied by strong winds that blow from all angles. To minimize auto hail damage, try to park the car in the center, with the windshield facing the direction of the hailstorm. (Windshields are the strongest glass on your vehicle, while the other windows are more likely to shatter from the hail.) If you can’t find a suitable structure to park your car underneath, the next best thing is purchasing a car cover. The thick, protective cloth can help minimize the damage.

As a last resort, you can simply throw blankets or quilts over your car and tape them to the bottom of the car so they stay put.

How to Prevent Auto Hail Damage When Driving

If you’re on the road when a hailstorm happens, the first thing you should do is find cover, for instance, under a parking garage, bridge, covered gas station or overpass. If you can’t find substantial cover, the next best thing is to park next to a large building, on the opposite side from where the wind is blowing.

Avoid parking under a tree since serious storms can cause broken tree limbs and even topple trees over. If there’s simply nowhere to shelter your car, don’t try to outrun the storm. Instead, pull over. Make sure your car is parked at an angle where your shatter-resistant windshield will face the brunt of the hail. While in the car, keep away from the windows as much as possible on case they break. Shelter in the middle of your car with a blanket over you and wait for the hailstorm to pass.

And of course, it goes without saying that if you have a garage, simply make sure your car is parked snugly inside. But sometimes when you’re caught unaware by a hailstorm, damage to your car is unavoidable. If that happens, the next step is to find a reputable vehicle shop that can get your car in good condition again. The good news is you can make Dent Shop your one-stop shop because we know everything about fixing auto hail damage. If your car needs some TLC after a hailstorm, get in touch and schedule your free estimate!