Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is beginning to replace large-scale traditional dent repair, as long as the paint remains undisturbed. In the past, PDR only addressed small to medium dents and minor hail damage. Since then, PDR technology has advanced astronomically, allowing skilled technicians to use specialized tools that precisely apply pressure to reshape larger dents in the metal. In doing so, PDR preserves the original paint and body of the vehicle, ensuring the maximum value. AutoStream360’s certified technicians use these NexGen tools to make your car look as though it never had any dents!
As a Colorado company, AutoStream360 has repaired more than its fair share of damage caused by the wrath of the elements. Any Coloradan, native or otherwise, can attest to the fickle nature of the weather. From hailstones as large as tennis balls to debris hurled across highways by 100 mph winds, the need for automotive repair is as inevitable as the rising sun. For this reason, AutoStream360 equips itself for all manner of minor and major paintless dent repair, including:
Paintless dent repair technology continues to improve, making it a far more favorable option than traditional dent repair. Painting a foreign coat of paint over sculpted body filler is expensive and weakens the original integrity of the vehicle, lowering its overall market value. This method typically reserves for more serious damage or if the dents are too deep. However, as PDR technology further enhances and refines, so too does its ability to repair increasingly large dents and dings. For this reason, AutoStream360 uses only the latest and most advanced PDR equipment known as NexGenPro Miracle Technology.
Another advantage of paintless dent repair is that it requires less labor overall, which equates to lower severity dollars. It’s a relatively simple process with the right tools and well-trained personnel. First, AutoStream360 PDR Master Technicians remove panels when necessary to access from the backside. Working from behind the dents, they use specialized NexGen tools to gently flex the damaged metal. Meanwhile, LED lighting designed for PDR reflects against the panel to ensure the factory curvature and the damaged area are even and indistinguishable.
Today’s urethane paints are more flexible than ever, so they are more resistant to cracking. However, a new coat will never be as resistant as the original – yet another reason traditional dent removal is so problematic. With the experienced guidance of AutoStream360’s skilled technicians, we can manipulate the metal in a way that completely removes the dent without the risk of inflicting additional damage to the factory paint. PDR guarantees a flawless surface with the original factory finish on your vehicle, giving you the peace of mind that its value will be utterly untarnished.
To summarize, the reasons paintless dent repair is preferable to traditional methods are:
The base price depends on the repair cost of the largest dent. To repair other dents located on the same panel, we will only charge a mere 50% of this price per dent.
Aluminum panels require more specialized training. Because of this, repairing them calls for a 25% increase to the base price.
The Body Line is what gives vehicles their distinguishing curves and contours. It’s harder than other parts of the panel, making repairs more difficult. As such, they add an additional 25% per dent, depending on sharpness.
Prices for R & I interior panels, headliners, tall lamps, etc. are not included in the dent pricing above. To gain access to the backside of a dent, the removal and installation of these panels may be needed, requiring more time and labor. R & I is charged at $55 per hour.
Please refer to the Hail Damage pricing guide. No insurance? No problem! Call or click today to schedule a FREE estimate.
When your vehicle inevitably sustains exterior damage, experts now recommend seeking a body shop that offers paintless dent repair (PDR) in addition to traditional auto repair. Why is this the recommended approach?
The primary reason is the ability to save both time and money. In today’s economic climate, waiting for custom-ordered parts and paint can be a major inconvenience when you’re without a reliable mode of transportation. Prior to the pandemic, this was a common practice, but ongoing supply chain issues and high transportation costs have made it increasingly impractical for both shops and customers.
PDR provides an efficient alternative. Rather than requiring replacement parts and paint matching, PDR technicians use specialized tools to carefully massage dents and dings back into their original shape, restoring the vehicle’s appearance without the need for extensive bodywork. This makes PDR a valuable solution to the stagnancy and scarcity that have impacted the auto repair industry in recent years.
PDR produces astonishing results for a reasonable price, especially in contrast to traditional Auto Body Painting. The traditional method involves throwing away damaged parts and replacing them with new, near-identical parts coated in similar paint. This approach suffers from two key problems, especially in today’s climate.
First, the cost of shipping new parts has skyrocketed, with a staggering 25% increase in 2021 alone. This doesn’t even account for the 20.5% hike in warehouse storage services, which has only worsened over time, rendering the traditional method fundamentally unsustainable.
Secondly, installing foreign parts and paint onto a vehicle lowers its resale value. While used cars can now sell for twice as much as they could pre-pandemic, as long as they operate, maximizing value is crucial when possible.
In contrast, PDR revolves around saving damaged parts and preserving the original factory paint. This eliminates the need for shipping new parts and invasive repair procedures, drastically lowering costs and wait times compared to the unreliable traditional delivery.
Frank T. Sargent first coined the term “Paintless Dent Removal” in his groundbreaking 1931 book, “The Key to Metal Bumping.” The text outlined the tools used in PDR, how to use them, and techniques for predicting the movement of the metal.
Nearly a century has passed since then, during which time these tools and the process as a whole have undergone continuous innovation and refinement. As a result, PDR technicians have honed their ability to repair greater damage with improved precision.
PDR utilizes a number of different processes designed to remove damage with ease and precision. In one process, technicians use a system of body picks and metal rods to push dents out from behind the panel without removal. This is ideal for smaller dents such as those seen in hail damage. For greater damage, technicians can use glue tabs to pull dents from the outside.
For a final option, technicians can tack or “bump” key-like tabs into the damaged panel. They then put a bar through the aforementioned tabs and connect it to a puller system. Once calibrated, the technicians can pull the dented metal out in a motion similar to using a wing-type corkscrew to open a bottle of wine.
At this point, the motion requires little more than an enthusiastic jerk to bend the metal the wrong way. This process is entirely dependent on careful preparation, prior measurements, as well as the skill and steady hands of the technician in control. Therefore, it is important to verify that the shop’s technicians have received viable certification to perform these delicate operations.
The best part about PDR is the short turnaround it can provide. As more and more auto body shops adopt PDR equipment and techniques, the need for delivery time is being eradicated. So too is the extensive labor needed for removing, replacing, and coating new parts for that matter. PDR keeps costs low and wait time lower. All that’s required is a day for estimation and pricing, and one to provide the service itself, getting you back on the road in no more than a few days.
The money saved with PDR is undeniable on both sides of the transaction. Expenses for shipping and inflation in the price of parts are done away with of course. Between this and the labor, the cost for traditional auto body painting can run well into the 4-digit range depending on the extent of the damage.
PDR is practical and cost-effective. Since the pre-incident parts are preserved, the only real expense in the whole process is those for labor, which is noninvasive and relatively simple for a well-trained technician. The average price for a dent can be as low as $125, and even the most severe damage will rarely exceed $400 for dents under 5” deep.
Additionally, good auto body repair shops that offer PDR will often come with a company warranty. This guarantees that the work of the facility will hold up against the every-day conditions of the road for years to come. It is a promise of customer satisfaction that is backed by the company’s reputation.
PDR is a specialty of AutoStream360, carried out exclusively with the most highly trained personnel, educated through AutoStream’s NexGen Pro training certification. As the Miracle Pro auto body repair system’s #1 distributor in the US, AutoStream360 uses only the most cutting-edge PDR technology in their operations. Thanks to Miracle Pro, they’ve taken PDR to the next level of capability, assuring that more than 45% of all damage that comes through their shop can be mended.
On top of this, AutoStream360 prioritizes providing unparalleled customer service throughout the process. From working with insurance companies to secure the best price to having your newly renovated vehicle towed straight to your location, AutoStream360 is with you every step of the way.
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