A dent on an otherwise spotless car is nothing short of an eyesore. Sometimes you might not even know how you got one, as it could be a result of many elements from the surroundings. Vandalism or even the careless driving of another driver can leave your car with an unsightly dent. However, not all dents are the same. Some can be concealed with minor touch-ups while others might need a professional’s look.
Nonetheless, there are various methods of removing car dents. This guide will discuss different ways to fix the problem depending on the type of dent.
Types of Car Dents
Round Dent
These dents tend to be circular or funnel-like in shape. Round dents commonly occur if a car comes in contact with spherical objects like a tennis ball or football. Since the damage caused by round dents is minor in nature, they can be easily fixed without any car paint damage.
Hail Dent
Hail dents are just like round dents but tend to be smaller. Dents by snow hail are a rare occurrence in the UAE due to climate conditions. Nonetheless, fixing such dents isn’t much of an issue unless your car is blistered by a hail storm, which is again an unlikely event in the UAE.
Sharp Dent
If your car hits small metal objects, it can result in a small localized sharp dent. These dents tend to be pointy and angular with a protruding appearance. Repairing such dents depends on how deep the dent is.
If the impact was minor like bumping a car door while opening, your paintwork might stay intact. Otherwise, you can expect a car colour change.
Creased Dent
Crease dents usually occur along the sides of the car due to impact and swiping with a sharp object.
The dent looks like a screech mark, commonly caused by dragging a car along a pillar, cycle handles or tree branches. Since the dent severity is based on the force of impact, the repair work requires dealing with deep scratches and damaged paint over a larger surface area.
Ding
When a dent is less than or equal to half an inch in diameter, it is called a ding. Ding does not affect the car paint and in some cases, the damage is minor enough to have no impact on the car’s overall appearance.
DENT REPAIR TECHNIQUES
There are some unconventional ways to repair car dents. However, in practice there are two main methods, paintless dent repair (PDR) and traditional dent repair.
PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR (PDR)
If the car suffers small dents that have not yet damaged the paint, you can use a paintless dent repair technique to fix the damage. Now there are various tools to apply PDR technique.
For instance, a popular method includes using a glue gun and dent puller with suction tabs to remove car dents. Another method include the use of metal T bars to access the backside of the car panel to massage the dent out without damaging the paint.
In a nutshell, the PDR technique is not only cost-effective but saves time as well.
TRADITIONAL DENT REPAIR
If the dent severity is high enough to damage the body paint and metal panel itself, you might have to go for the conventional dent repair method. This method includes multiple steps that require time and expertise:
- Assessing damage
- Pulling dent
- Body filler application
- Sanding and glazing
- Primer and repainting
The first step involves assessing damage to ensure which part of the car panel can be fixed or needs to be replaced. Unlike PDR, pulling major dents result in damage to paint and panels, which require the application of body filler followed up by sanding and glazing to smooth out the surface.
Once the surface is ready, a primer is sprayed to prevent rusting. The process is then finalized by another touch of sanding before final repainting. You can also use ceramic coating on car paint to make it more attractive.
Cost of Dent Repairs in the UAE
The cost for dent repairs depend on the type of dent and number of affected vehicle panels. The rates also varies as per individual service provider. For instance, an average cost of dent removal starts around AED 500.
Since most dents are usually the result of accidents, you will probably need to file a police report and let your car insurance handle the repairs. Losing your cool is one of the things you should avoid doing after a car accident.
Getting dents fixed through official agencies is usually the best option but comes at a higher price. For better deals look out for available local garages or professionals in the UAE.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long does it take to repair a car dent?
If the car dents are minor and can be fixed by PDR, the repair will take under an hour. However, if the dent repair also involves fixing the paint job and sheet panel, it can take longer depending on the amount of work required.
A typical dent job would take around 2 to 7 days and maybe longer as it may require dismantling and replacing some panel parts followed up by application of body filler and paint plus the curing time.
How to repair car dents at home?
If you wish to remove minor car dents yourself, you can easily buy a PDR kit online for around AED 60. A professional kit can cost up to AED 500 as it comes with additional tools. You can also try out some unconventional techniques with tools available at home, like using a sink plunger with water or pouring boiling water followed up by pushing the backside of the panel to pull the dent.
Hence, depending on the severity of car dents, you can either go with Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) technique when there is no paint damage or employ help from a professional to pull deep dents out the conventional way. If your damaged car becomes too much of a hassle, you can replace it with one of these used cars for sale in Dubai.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s leading auto blogs for more information on car parts, market trends and automotive technology.
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