Discovering that hail has caused extensive damage to the exterior of your car can put a serious damper on your day. At Rydell Auto Group, we understand how frustrating it can be to have unsightly pockmarks ruin the finish of your favorite ride. A hail storm doesn’t last forever though, and the damage done to your car doesn’t have to stick around, either. Learn about your options for repairing hail damage to your vehicle.
Repairing Hail Damage
Most hail damage can be repaired by skilled technicians who understand how to restore your vehicle’s body to its former state. While some do-it-yourself repair methods do exist, they’re often unreliable, can sometimes cause even more damage, and can significantly affect your car’s resale value.
Taking your vehicle to an auto shop to have the job done promptly and properly by a professional is worth the cost to fix your car. Plus, insurance might cover some or all of the expense. Technicians can use several methods to repair dents, dings, and scratches from hail, depending on the size and type of the damage.
Filler and Glazing
If you emerge from your home after a hail storm unscathed but discover your car is marked with blemishes ranging from small to medium-sized indents, you can take it to a professional mechanic for filler and glazing. After just a few simple steps, your car’s finish will look good as new.
First, the technician will sand down all the damaged areas to remove the paint. Then, the technician will apply a filler to each dent and sand the area down again for smoothness. If necessary, they might also apply a glaze putty to the surface, followed by another round of sanding. Once those steps are complete, the repaired area will be painted to match the rest of the body.
Body Panel Replacement
Major hail storms can cause significant damage to a vehicle that is not properly protected by a garage or sturdy car cover. If the damage from a hail storm is so severe that your vehicle more closely resembles the moon than a car, you might need to take more drastic measures to fix it. Your mechanic’s only option might be to remove and replace entire body panels.
If panel replacement is your best bet, the technician will order the appropriate parts and panels, which might include a new hood, roof, or windshield. This process can be time-consuming while you wait for the panels to arrive. Panel replacement and the labor and body paint required to get the job done can also be expensive. The technician will then remove the old panels and bolt on and paint the new ones for a completely restored look.
Heat Repair
If you have an older car and the dents from hail damage are small, heat repair using an oxyacetylene torch can be a very reliable method. Most technicians don’t recommend it for newer cars, however, which tend to have thin exterior metals that can’t withstand heat repair as well.
With this method, the technician will move the oxyacetylene torch in a spiral motion to heat the metal surrounding the dent, slowly working toward the middle of the insult. The heat will raise the metal slightly. As the temperature of the metal cools, the raised areas will smooth out to form a nice, flat surface. Next, the technician will feather edge the paint before adding a primer. Lastly, they’ll apply a new coat of paint that will disguise any evidence that your car came into harm’s way.
Paintless Dent Repair
Paintless dent repair (PDR) is a cost-effective and fast way to repair hail damage, particularly if the dents are small. Plus, the method doesn’t require the use of harmful chemicals. All of the damage is repaired from the inside out. Depending on the extent of the damage, paintless dent repair can often be completed in one day.
When performing paintless dent repair, your auto technician must remove the affected panels and headlights to gain access to the other side of the dent. Then, the technician will use a set of specialized dent removal tools to gently push each dent out from behind the car’s body panels. The technicians that perform paintless dent repair are typically skilled professionals who understand how to apply the appropriate amount of slow pressure to repair a dent. The end result is a car with no evidence of a barrage of hail.
Insurance Coverage
The cost of repairing major hail damage can quickly add up to thousands of dollars. If you’re concerned about how much these hail damage repair techniques might set you back, don’t worry. Car insurance companies label hail damage as a comprehensive claim. You should have protection even if your liability coverage is set at its minimum. A hail damage claim shouldn’t cause your premium payments to increase, either.
Always check with your local agent first to verify whether it’s worth filing a claim for hail damage repair. If your car insurance deductible is $500 or less, it could be well worth filing the claim. If you do decide to use insurance to help cover the costs of repair, you will need to take clear photos to document your vehicle’s damage. Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible after the hail storm. This step helps ensure you not only avoid issues with the insurance company but can also schedule an appointment with a body shop sooner rather than later.
Storm clouds might bring hail to ruin your day — and your car’s paint job. If you get stuck in a hail storm and are left with a car covered in pits and craters, know that you have several options for repair. At Rydell Auto Group, we can help you assess each technique and select the method that’s most appropriate for the amount of damage and your wallet. If your car has suffered hail damage, drop us a line, and we’ll help restore your vehicle to its former self.
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