What Is Paintless Dent Repair? | PDR Basics Covered

You have options when it comes to dent repair. Why go to a body shop, where you'll spend a small fortune and waste weeks of your life when you can call a mobile paintless dent repair company that will come to you to service your vehicle? Below is a compilation of information that will answer tough questions about paintless dent repair, ease the worries about your vehicle damage, and set you on the path to perfect repair.

What is Paintless Dent Repair?

Paintless dent repair (PDR) is a method of repairing dents and dings in vehicles without the need to paint or fill the damaged area. It is a cost-effective, fast, and environmentally friendly way to fix minor damages on cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and other types of vehicles. The Charleston Dent Company's process doesn't negatively affect the value of your vehicle, and it won't show up on a Carfax report.

How Does Paintless Dent Repair Work?

Paintless dent repair is an art form that involves gently manipulating the metal back into its original shape from behind the damaged area. The PDR process utilizes specialized tools to carefully push and pull the dented area until it is returned to its original condition. Not only are hand tools and special glue used, but also LED lights and reflector boards. We "read" the metal to determine the best course of action because each dent is unique. Since paintless dent repair can remove 80-90% of dents, it is the best way to get small dents out of your car.

What is a PDR Assessment?

A PDR assessment is an inspection of the damaged area to determine if paintless dent repair is a viable solution for restoring your vehicle. With The Charleston Dent Company's mobile dent service, an experienced technician comes to your location to inspect the damage's size, location, and severity. They determine the tools to be used and the amount of time required to fix the dent. It is usually a quick process, and chances are high that you will have your vehicle back in pristine condition quickly. 

What Are the Benefits of Paintless Dent Repair?

It's hard to pin down the most important benefit of paintless dent repair because there are so many great reasons to choose this service. The top benefits of PDR include affordability, quick turn-around time, a boost to resale value, convenience, and repair quality. In addition, it's an environmentally-conscious option because there are no toxic paint fumes involved. That also means there won't be discoloration issues on your paint. A blemish-free factory paint job is important for your car's warranty. And finally, because PDR is an established repair technique, insurance companies are more likely to approve the entire amount of the dent work. So, as you can see, PDR offers significant benefits over traditional dent repair methods. 

What Kind of Damage Can Be Repaired Using PDR?

Dent damage happens even when care is taken to prevent bumps and dings. Usually, damage happens when you least expect it, like a falling branch, random golf ball, rogue firework, sudden hail storm, flying road debris, fender benders, and even parking accidents. Paintless dent repair is the best option to fix your ride as long as the paint surface is not scratched and the dent is not too sharp.

PDR can be used to repair all kinds of dents, dings, and creases in the metal regardless of the cause. It can even be used to repair plastic bumpers in some cases. The Charleston Dent Company has successfully repaired thousands of these damaged spots over the years.

How Long Does Paintless Dent Repair Take?

On average, paintless dent repairs can be completed in as little as one hour, although some more extensive damage may take longer. The length of time for repairs depends on the severity of the damage and the experience level of the technician performing the repairs. Most small door dings can be addressed with same-day service while you're shopping or grabbing a bite to eat, whereas extreme hail damage may require more time. 

Despite the convenience PDR offers, customers may opt for a body shop simply because it's what feels comfortable. However, standard dent repairs at a body shop are guaranteed to take longer because of paintwork. That's a great reason to choose a paint-free option like paintless dent repair.

What Is the Difference Between Paintless Dent Repair and Traditional Dent Repair? 

A benefit of paintless dent repair, in contrast to traditional dent repair, is that it does not require bonding, sanding, or painting the dent damage. It also does not disturb the surrounding paint job. If you decide to sell your vehicle later, the paintwork will be noticeable. Also, body shops may scrap the dent repair process altogether by choosing costly panel replacements instead. PDR works to restore the original contour of the panels without an extra medium. Additionally, paintless dent repair is faster and more cost-effective than traditional paint dent repair. The cost savings for one 1" dent is about 80%.

When comparing a mobile PDR company to a traditional body shop, some aspects should be considered, like how repairs will be made and the associated costs. For example, let's say your front driver-side fender sustained heavy dent damage from a shopping cart. A body shop assessment may require removing the fender from the car and using bonding material and paint. Additionally, the body shop may even suggest that you purchase a brand new fender to replace the one with damage. However, a mobile PDR company like The Charleston Dent Company specializes in dent repair without removing parts from the car or using paint. Their assessment involves looking at the accessibility of the dent from behind the damaged area. Therefore, choosing the mobile PDR service not only saves you time but also saves on costs.

Will Paintless Dent Repair Crack Paint?

The misconception that paintless dent repair will crack your car's paint is common. Only after assessing that the paint is not scratched, chipped, or broken in any way is when PDR can be most successful. Specially designed dent supplies like hook bars and ratchet handle tools are used to massage the dented area back to its original shape. Most of the work to maneuver the metal is done from behind the panel. However, some tools are used on the paint's surface, like PDR glue, glue tabs, and glue-removing agents. A good PDR technician will know when surfactants are needed and when they're not. For example, a car with its original paintwork is a good candidate for paintless dent repair, and it's unlikely that the glue will pull up the paint.

Why Is The Charleston Dent Company the Leading PDR Company? 

The Charleston Dent Company offers superior paintless dent repair services over its competitors. Our experienced technicians use the latest tools and techniques to restore vehicles to like-new condition with minimal cost and hassle. We are committed to providing customers with the highest quality service and satisfaction, which is why we are the leading paintless dent repair company in Charleston. Contact us today for a free quote!