The Essential Features of Hail Damage Repair
By Roofs, siding, and windows can become compromised by hail damage. These elements are essential to the integrity of your home or business and provide security for your belongings and safety.
Whether your property sustained cosmetic or structural damage from hail, it’s essential to get repairs done quickly. This is especially true if your insurance company covers the cost of your repair.
Paintless Dent Removal
Paintless dent repair (PDR) removes minor dents, door dings, and body creases from your vehicle without painting. PDR is an excellent solution for repairing hail and other cosmetic vehicle damage.
This process works on a concept called “metal memory,” where the metal naturally returns to its original shape if it isn’t stretched or damaged beyond that point. PDR technicians use heat guns and other tools to apply slow, controlled pressure to the dented areas of your car, sculpting it back into its original shape.
PDR is a skill that requires extensive training, which is why you don’t see mobile PDR operations popping up after every significant hail storm. Instead, professional auto body shops have trained technicians ready to tackle your hail damage. They can work on multiple vehicles simultaneously, reducing wait times for your vehicle to be repaired.
Traditional Body Shop Repairs
Shop technicians can massage your vehicle’s dents back into their original shape using long-handled, thin metal-pushing tools. This process requires great skill and patience, but with practice, you can have a dent-free car in no time.
If a severe hail storm has damaged your car, you must get your repairs done promptly. Small dents from hail may seem minor and insignificant but can drastically reduce your vehicle’s value.
A standard hail damage repair Denver CO estimate typically takes 30 to 45 minutes, followed by a review with your insurance company. During the insurance review, the adjuster will verify that all damage has been written on your vehicle’s estimate and will discuss a plan to repair your vehicle. If a supplement is needed, it will be explained, and the estimated completion date will be adjusted accordingly. Depending on the repair method, the supplement process can take several weeks.
Paint Refinishing
As we all know, severe weather can cause damage to a vehicle. But many people must realize that even seemingly-light hail damage can cost much to repair.
The problem is that small hailstones – pea-sized or less – can create hundreds of little dents on a car’s surface. These dents often add up to big ones that bend doors or hoods, scratch paint, and make it difficult to open or close certain body parts of the vehicle.
If a PDR-only repair is all that’s needed, it can usually be completed within a few days. It can take a little longer if a combination of repair or replacement parts needs to be ordered. These delays can occur because of a variety of reasons, including insurance processing, part availability, and unforeseen repairs that are found. When these factors are involved, an adjusted pickup date will be provided.
Paint Replacement
Depending on the severity of the hail damage, you might need to have the paint replaced on your car. This is usually a more involved process than repairing the dents, which will take longer to complete.
The most important thing to remember is that you should always check with your insurance company to see if your hail damage repairs will be covered. Typically, it will be if you have comprehensive coverage. However, it may not be if you only have collision coverage.
If you are a victim of a severe hailstorm, it’s essential to get your car repaired as quickly as possible. Waiting too long could lead to more damage and increase the cost of your repair bill. In addition, the longer your vehicle is sitting around, the more likely it will develop rust damage that your insurance or warranty will not cover.
