Why DIY Dent Repair Goes Wrong Austin Paintless Dent Repair Issues

Car dents are unsightly and can decrease the resale value of your vehicle. While many people choose to take their car to a professional for dent repair, others attempt to do it themselves. While DIY repair may seem like an affordable and easy fix, this is not usually the case. DIY dent repair can often go wrong, causing more damage to your car while simultaneously making the cost of dent repair more expensive. There are a few common mistakes that people make when attempting to repair a dent themselves. Here we will discuss some of those missteps.

1. Not Assessing the Damage

The first mistake that people commonly make is not assessing the damage correctly. This is understandable, as it can be difficult to tell how deep a dent actually is. But if you don’t assess the damage correctly, you could make the dent worse.

So, how do you assess damage correctly? The best way is to use a Dent Depth Gauge. This is a tool that the professionals use and is not usually something people do before attempting to do a DIY repair. Knowing how deep the dent really is, is an important step in determining the best route to go in terms of repair process. That is one of the reasons its best to leave dent repair to professionals.

If the dent is deeper than about ¼ inch, which most are, then it’s likely that you’ll need to take your car to a professional for repair. Another thing to keep in mind is that if the paint has been damaged, you’ll need to be very careful. It’s easy to make the paint worse when trying to fix a dent, so it’s best to leave this kind of damage to the professionals.

2. Not Using the Right Tools

One of the biggest mistakes people make when fixing a dent is not using the right tools. For example, using a plunger may seem like it will do the trick, but more often than not, it makes the dent worse. Similarly, using a hair dryer to remove a dent will usually just end up melting the plastic on your car or causing structural damage. Others attempt to press out the dents with tools they have lying around the house, which is another big misstep. Specialized tools for PDR are designed in a way to apply the right kind of force in the right direction to press out the dent when utilized by a professional. If you want to repair a dent successfully, you need to use the right tools for the job, along with the correct skills for the job. Otherwise, you’re likely just going to end up making things worse.

3. Not Preparing the Area Properly

If the area around the dent is not cleaned and prepared correctly, the repair will not be effective. Any dirt or debris on the car’s surface can prevent the adhesive from bonding properly. In addition, if the area around the dent is not smooth, it will be very challenging to get the repair to look seamless. This can result in an ugly repair job that is likely to fail.

4. Not Being Careful

Finally, one of the most common mistakes people make when attempting a DIY car dent repair is not being careful. This is understandable, as it can be tempting to fix the dent and try to get the repair done with it quickly. However, rushing through the repair process often leads to more damage. In addition, it’s important to be careful not to apply too much pressure to the area around the dent. Doing so could cause the paint to crack or chip.

Avoiding a Botched Dent Repair

While it might be tempting to try and do repairs on your own and reduce your paintless dent repair cost in Austin, it’s best to leave Austin paintless dent repair to the professionals. They have the experience and expertise necessary to get the job done right without causing any further damage. While it may cost you a bit more money upfront, it will save you time and money in the long run.