Specializing in Auto Hail Repair

Frequently Asked Questions

It is our pleasure to provide you commonly asked questions posed by our customers and the answers to those questions. If you have a question that is not answered here, PLEASE post it here FAQ LINK.  We will post your question and answer it on this interactive board.  Please check back as we do periodically update this interactive FAQ board to keep our customers up to date about the exciting field of paintless dent removal. All of your comments and questions are greatly appreciated!

Click on the question below to see the answer.

Dent & Ding Surgeon does not mask or hide the dent or damaged area; we make it disappear! Our expert dent surgeons use custom designed tools to safely gain access behind the damaged area and gently work the metal back to its original position restoring the pre damaged appearance of your vehicle. Our process preserves the exterior paint finish and structural integrity of your car. We restore your vehicle to its original condition for a fraction of the cost and turnaround time of conventional auto body repair without the use of body fillers, sanding or repainting. For a greater understanding please refer to the definition of PDR here.

Dent & Ding Surgeon has a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  If you are not “completely satisfied” with our work, then there is no charge! We are so confident in our expertise and unmatched quality repair methods we also warrant the repair(s) for as long as you own the vehicle!

You are not alone. Many consumers are not aware of this unique process and its miraculous capabilities. Many people end up at a body shop for a quote that is overwhelming and not in the budget. There is another option in many cases that can save time, money and protect the value of your car. PDR is not new. Many consumers are just becoming aware of this process because of the growing cost of auto body shop repair, word of mouth and due diligence on line research. Some history of the industry will provide you with more insight. During the 1950s, Mercedes developed a process known as “pick and file,” which became the first form of PDR. Many vehicles would become damaged during the assembly process and “Digmen” as they were called, used rudimentary picks and wire tools they developed to access very minor dings and dents to push and manipulate these minor cosmetic blemishes out of the vehicle body and filed the surface flat for repainting. This was accomplished while on the assembly line. Over time the process transformed where “filing” became unnecessary and repairs could be accomplished with the paint intact. These trade secrets were closely held and protected by Mercedes as a competitive advantage. In time with retirement and turn over of employees, the process secrets began to travel outside the German auto maker during the 1960s. During the 70s PDR took route abroad where it still remains the primary means of dent repair due to the lack of resources in developing countries. In the late 70s, the trade traveled to the United States as trainers from abroad were hired by companies beginning operations. During the early eighties, companies like Dent Wizard, Dent Doctor and others began operations as the industry grabbed a foothold in the United States. During the 1990s, the trade excelled as the insurance industry embraced PDR as the preferred method for auto hail damage repair. Dents the size of a golf ball were often challenging and difficult. The mid 2000s marked a significant breakthrough in paintless dent removal as much larger more complex dent removal was successfully being done. During the past 5-7 years the art of PDR has advanced with the aid of science as dents the size of a “beach ball” can now be successfully removed. Remarkable advancements in the design and fabrication of tools, lighting, advanced training techniques, finishing technique, and the advent of glue pulling has catapulted the industry capability of paintless dent repair to new heights. Now even large dent repair can be done to remove damage with paint intact rather than concealing the damage and covering it up with conventional paint and body repair. You now have a choice to consider before expensive auto body work and repainting your car.

Cost of repair depends on the size, depth, and location of the damaged area. The typical 1” door ding repair is usually $125. Dents 2-4” typically cost $125- $225. Larger and more complex dents such as crease dents should be evaluated carefully to assess the condition of the metal and for tool accessibility. These dents start at $250.  Some additional charges may apply for removal and installation of such items as taillights, headlights, liftgate liner, fender liner, or hood liner if needed for access.  We also offer whole car discounts so you can affordably make your vehicle “dent free.” Paintless dent removal will generally be 2 to 5 times less than auto body and paint repair.  Please see our cost of PDR and pricing page for further information. To save time, text message your photos to us at (970) 217-0686 for a free quick quote.

This depends on the size, severity, and complexity of the damaged area. Door dings generally take less than 1 hour. Most repairs are completed in 2 hours or less. Large complex dents can take as long as 4-5 hours to complete. Dent & Ding Surgeon will never compromise quality for speed of dent removal for your complete satisfaction is our guarantee. All repairs are completed in less than a day with Hail Repair being the exception. Paintless Hail Damage repair usually requires 2-3 days.

This is a common misconception about PDR. We do not use heat, dry ice, plungers or vacuum devices to remove dents with paintless dent removal. Specially designed tools are used from behind the dent patiently reforming the damaged metal back to its original position. This process requires extensive training, skill, acute eye-hand coordination as well as extreme patience and well trained eyes. Done incorrectly by an untrained individual can result in permanent damage to the paint and finish of your vehicle, voiding the factory finish warranty. Some of the most expensive repairs we have made are ones where an inexperienced person has tried to remove the damage.

These gimmick fixes rarely do more than cause further damage to your vehicle. PDR should only be done by a qualified technician trained and experienced to perform this service with the professional tools required to complete repairs. PDR requires significant training, experience, patience, skilled hand-eye coordination, pin-point precision and talent to perform. Some of the most expensive repairs we have completed are ones where these methods have been tried unsuccessfully. Don’t take a chance and potentially jeopardize your manufacturer finish warranty. Bring it to us where we guarantee our work or its free! We are the experts – professionals you can trust to make your damage disappear!

No. Today’s factory and custom urethane paints and thinner gage sheet metal make this process very successful for a qualified technician to accomplish. Our team of highly skilled and trained dent surgeons gain access behind the damaged panel with specialized tools patiently massaging the damage out without disturbing your factory or custom finish. PDR is the only method of repair that can retain your vehicle’s factory or custom paint finish. PDR does not use fillers (body putty) or paint therefore shrinkage, color matching, and texture variation are never a problem. We are fully insured and all repair work is 100% guaranteed!

No. Once the dent has been successfully removed by means of PDR, it is permanent. The rare exception is if a repair is made to a damaged area where the metal has been over stretched. This is why Dent & Ding Surgeon carefully evaluates all dent work to ensure it will successfully be completed before we begin repairs. Quality of our repairs is paramount to us and the reason why Dent & Ding Surgeon performs dent removal that is the closest you as the customer can get to the dent never happening in the first place.

No. The most important variables in determining if dent removal will be successful are depth, size and location. Dents the size of a basketball many times can be removed successfully if the metal has not been stretched and are located where tool access is unimpeded. Cracked or fractured paint is a good indication that a dent may be to deep or the metal has been over stretched. Location on the edge of panel may also prevent successful PDR. Roughly 95% of a vehicle is accessible by means of our tools. Of the 5% not tool accessible, many times we can use glue pulling to get a great result. Best action you can take (if there is any question) is to bring your vehicle to us for a free inspection. Our experts will let you know if the damage can successfully be removed. You can also text or e-mail us a photo.

Sometimes. Some dents where the paint or plastic is not cracked, PDR can yield a good result. Damage on the corner of these more flexible bumpers can often be removed by use of PDR esp. if it happened recently. The longer the damage has been there, the less flexible the plastic and paint will be.

The following dents are usually not repairable by means of PDR:

    • Very sharp dents and dings that crack or fracture the paint finish.
    • Dents and esp. creases that over stretch the metal.
    • Dents located on double reinforced metal such as edges of doors, hoods or trunks.
    • Damaged areas previously repaired with body filler or putty.  These areas will crack when pressure is applied under the dent.  Older vehicles with single stage lacquer or enamel paint.  When these paint types exist, and damage is minor – PDR  can be successful if done very carefully.
    • Dents and damage resulting from true collision damage where metal is crumpled, twisted, or folded. Usually damage from higher speed collisions results in the latter and paint loss is always evident.

Dents in doors can be accessed through the window ledge with a window guard in place to protect the glass and window rolled down. There are also access holes in weather stripping as well as factory plugged holes in door jambs. We gain access to fender or rear quarter panel areas by removing headlight and tail light assemblies as well as directly under the fender on some double wall vehicle models. The hood is fairly accessible on most models except around the hood latch assembly and hinge areas. The same is true for trunk lid and hatchback access. The roof is accessed by dropping the roof liner which becomes necessary during hail repair. Pulling the roof liner is a very routine procedure for us and we have significant experience in doing this. For hail repair there is no other option. The roof rails are usually a closed access area on the majority of vehicles. This is where glue pulling is beneficial. Our dent surgeons are experts in hot glue pulling and fix these rails with excellent results. However, glue pulling requires additional time, but the extra time is well worth the effort compared to what happens with conventional auto body repair (please see questions 21 for more on this topic). The bottom line here is 95% of a typical vehicle is accessible for our tools to remove various types of dents. For those areas in the other 5%, we have the alternative of glue pulling these dents. Not all PDR technicians have experience glue pulling and many have not had training to fully master this method. Glue pulling is one of the most recent advancements made in PDR that has transformed the process significantly during the last 5 years.

When selling your vehicle, image and condition is everything. Most buyers judge a car by its appearance and how well it has been cared for. Used car dealers and wholesalers know this and search for these vehicles for resale. They also know that money spent on PDR has a significant return in the form of a quicker sale and higher sales price. If you are selling your car, PDR is one of the best ways to get more interested buyers, top dollar and a much faster completion of sale. Dents on hoods, the roof, trunk, and esp. doors catch attention and may prevent a sale. Addressing these eye popping dents could never have been easier. Call us to schedule a free consultation. We will make recommendations on what damage to repair in order to maximize your return on the sale.

Unlike late model thin gauge sheet metal, aluminum has no memory and takes twice the effort and time to move back to original position. Many late model vehicles are incorporating lighter weight aluminum hoods and trunk lids due to enhanced fuel economy and to meet tougher governmental guidelines. Higher end luxury models have now incorporated aluminum in side panels and some are even made from light weight composite material to reduce weight and bolster gas mileage. Dent & Ding Surgeon performs expert dent removal on aluminum panels with exceptional results and guarantees all repairs to your satisfaction. We spend the additional time and effort to do so but at a higher cost versus sheet metal.

Vehicles manufactured during the past 10-15 years have lighter gage sheet metal due to demand for greater fuel efficiency. Due to this fact, the metal is much easier to damage despite being stretched tighter across support brackets and bracing. Parking spaces have decreased in size due to need for more parking which only increases risk of car to car contact. This may explain why we see far more dents in late model vehicles. Nonetheless, the use of thinner gage sheet metals and flexible urethane paints has made PDR easier and a very viable option to conventional paint and auto body repair.

Yes, if the damage is minor and no cracked finish exists. Many vehicles manufactured before 1990 may have single stage lacquer or enamel paint which is not near as flexible as today’s urethane paints. The heavier steel used in older vehicles also can limit the amount of damage that can be removed. Dent & Ding Surgeon has successfully removed dents from older cars, trucks, and classic models. We can inform you what is repairable on these older models upon inspection. Call us for an appointment today.

Yes. Since your classic or any newly painted vehicle will most certainly have urethane paint applied, it will be very flexible and completely workable for a successful PDR repair. The only exception is if the damaged area had body filler (Bondo TM) applied underneath. Many classics do and will have had body work performed if previous damage existed. Bring it by our shop and we can inspect the damage to determine if this is the case.

Absolutely Yes! There is nothing used except hand tools, knowledge, experience, skill and sometimes a little polish. No environmentally harmful agents such as toxic chemicals, solvents, paints, or fillers are utilized. No harmful emissions are released into the atmosphere and no extra body panels or parts are discarded into landfills. In fair balance, when access with a tool is impossible, glue pulling may be employed. In this case, some hot glue and alcohol is used as a releasing agent. Compared to conventional auto body shop repair, PDR is a truly environmentally friendly form of dent repair.

In the past the only option was a trip to the auto body shop for an estimate on filling the damage and repainting a portion of the car. In Frederick Colorado and nearby areas paintless dent repair returns nothing but value to you and your car. Because your vehicle retains its durable factory finish it will always retain a higher value than a repainted one (present or future value). This is true even if the vehicle received auto body and paint work on just a door, fender or trunk. As long as the original paint is in good condition, it is always preferable to maintain it for as long as possible. The reasons why are best explained by the difficulty of duplicating the factory process of painting a vehicle. The variables are numerous and quality of service in body repair, paint matching, blending and the like, make the process almost impossible to fully control. Recreating the factory paint process of baked on prep primers and actual paint applications is virtually impossible and therefore coverage variability and durability of the paint follows.  These variables do not exist with PDR. If damage to your vehicle is a candidate for paintless dent removal, the dent is removed permanently. This is the critical difference and benefit of PDR- quality and durability!  When completed, this repair method is the closest you can get to the dent never happening in the first place! The damage is not concealed and covered up but rather it is removed permanently! There are no concerns of paint and or filler shrinkage months after the repair.  Therefore, satisfaction with a PDR repair is much higher!

The option you choose directly impacts the value of your vehicle once it is completed!  Depending on the severity of hail damage, body panels (hood, trunk, fenders) may have to be replaced.  If the roof is conventionally repaired it will need to be cut off and a new one welded or glued on.  Dents that remain are filled with putty and finished smooth for repainting.  In the end, not only will this vehicle not have its original factory paint but many of its original panels will be missing. This can take weeks to complete before getting your vehicle back.

The alternative option would be to call Dent & Ding Surgeon.  Our dent surgeons will meticulously work out all dents from your car restoring it to original pre damaged condition while maintaining all the original paint and body parts.  We will be able to accomplish this in a matter of 1-3 days, on average, minimizing the time you are without your vehicle.  More importantly, your vehicle will retain its original value.

This is why dealerships choose paintless dent removal for repairing hail damage not to mention the cost savings which directly impacts their profit margin.  Imagine the nightmare a dealership would have after a hail storm if hundreds of vehicles had to be sent to body shops for repair.  By using PDR, dealerships can complete repairs quickly and sell at retail value.  PDR also saves insurance companies millions of dollars each year and is the reason why it is the preferred method of auto hail damage repair.

The key point to remember is that anytime there is body and paint work performed on a vehicle, it depreciates its value.  This is true for door dings, small to large dents, creases and esp. for hail repair!  If the paint is not damaged, you do have a far better option than paint and body repair.  If your damage is beyond what our process can repair, we will be happy to refer you to high quality auto body shops in the area.

Yes it can! Many vehicles are repaired multiple times over the course of years of hail storms. The key is to have your vehicle completely repaired each time so you are covered by your insurance should the vehicle become damaged again by hail in the future. Be apprised however, repeated hail claims on the same vehicle could affect your insurance premiums in the future.

Yes we do. Many times scratches penetrate the clear coat finish and can be buffed out with a special compound eliminating the scratch. For more severe scratches, paint and clear coat may need to be applied in a restorative process that is successfully done here at our shop. This process requires several applications and finish work to complete successfully. Call us for a free estimate.

In damaged or dented areas what may be perceived as a chip or scratch many times is paint transfer or an abrasion from what impacted the area. Many times these can be buffed out with special compound and polished after the dent is removed. If the paint is chipped down to the primer or metal, applying factory touch up often yields a good result opposed to conventional body work, repainting the entire panel, and blending to adjacent panels. If body and paint work is warranted, we will be happy to refer you to qualified shops in the area. We also provide paint restoration service for removal of oxidized paint and swirl marks.

This process indeed returns nothing but safety to you as the driver!!  Headlight covers do become yellowed and cloudy over time due to the UV ray degradation in the plastics of covers manufactured on later model vehicles. This oxidation can drastically reduce the output of light from the lamp and impede visibility compromising your safety!  Wipe on preparations and advertised kits found online do not remove the layers of oxidation that build up over time.  These products clear the oxidation and give the lens an initial transparency that quickly returns to full opaque oxidation impeding light output. Dent & Ding Surgeon uses a six step process that completely removes the oxidation and applies the factory UV protectant to seal the lens and prevent future problems of oxidation. The typical charge for this process is $125 per pair depending on the severity. Don’t compromise on your safety, call us today or text us a photo for a free quick quote!!

Yes we can! We can save you hundreds and in some cases thousands of dollars by addressing dents and dings that come under your “excessive wear and tear guidelines” in your contract. Minor damage such as door dings, dents, creases, bumper scrapes, and interior damage is usually estimated by the dealership’s auto body repair shop or a collision center at premium charge back or even replacement cost. If your lease is up soon, please give us a call. We are very familiar with these contracts and what you will be charged by the dealership or leasing company for damages considered excessive. Don’t get broadsided when turning in your lease vehicle!

Yes, in most cases the cost of paintless dent removal can be included in a claim to repair collision or other damage covered by your insurance policy. However, a PDR repair will likely be less than your insurance deductible. This may allow you to repair unsightly dings and dents affordably without filing an insurance claim and increasing your insurance premiums. For hail repair, PDR is the preferred method of repair by the insurance industry. We accept all major insurance carriers and will work with your insurance company to complete repairs professionally and quickly.

Ten to fifteen years ago a dent the size of a golf ball was considered challenging. Today, dents the size of a beach ball are being removed successfully! What happened? The largest stride in PDR capability occurred 30 years ago as vehicles began to be manufactured with lighter and thinner gage sheet metals due to a growing demand for fuel efficiency. Thinner more flexible metal with memory stretched tightly across bracing made PDR much easier to perform compared to heavy metal panels made prior to 1990. During the same time the auto industry began to use highly flexible and elastic urethane paints moving away from single stage lacquer paint which is not as flexible and becomes brittle over time.

During the past 5-7 years, several advancements have been made, making even larger more complex dent removal possible. The following list identifies advancements made in the field of PDR:

    • Superior tool design, fabrication, and technology yielding far more sophisticated application.
    • LED lighting technology that yields higher definition, contrast resolution, and clarity. These lighting systems have adjustable lighting intensities to see more detail in any given situation.
    • Glue pulling technology, esp. for previously inaccessible areas.
    • Superior training methods. Greater utilization of high caliber one on one training with experienced trainers has increased the proficiency and aptitude of technicians trained recently. The result has produced more state-of-the-art trained techs capable of broader application and technical expertise.

Because these dent types are far more difficult to remove and require significantly more time. Vertical and horizontal crease dents can be one of the most difficult if the crease is sharp. Complex dents are unique and many times have a dent or two inside of the primary dent. Body line dents require the restoration of the body line first. This requires effort and time to complete and then the remainder of the dent can be successfully removed. Bottom line, these dents are far more difficult and require significant time to remove and therefore will cost more to repair.

Currently, Dent & Ding Surgeon is not running a routine mobile service. If we can schedule multiple jobs on a given day, we will dispatch that day and will provide mobile service. So far we have not had a big demand for this service with the majority of customers bringing their vehicle to our shop.

The primary drawback to mobile PDR repair is light variability that exists outside. The most beneficial environment is inside and under a controlled lighting environment. For small repairs such as dings and small dents, many technicians produce excellent work outdoors. However, most PDR businesses do prefer more complex and large dents to be done inside their shop for reasons already mentioned above. It is our belief we will produce the best results in our shop where we have control of the lighting and all of our tools, equipment and supplies at our disposal.

If it is not possible to get a near perfect repair (95% or better), we will fully discuss this with you. Many times these difficult repairs are very acceptable to our customers if we can get 75-80% or better as opposed to full auto body shop repair. Anything less than this will not meet our meticulous standards and we will refer you to highly qualified auto body shops in the area. We will only perform these repairs if you request it to be done after we discuss how your dent will most likely turn out. The choice always is yours and the majority of the time we discount these marginal dents to the level of expected repair to make it more affordable for you.

Call us for a free inspection. What many perceive as a chip or scratch many times is an abrasion or paint transfer from what impacted the area. These can be buffed out and polished after the dent is removed. If paint is chipped down to the primer or metal, applying factory touch up many times can yield a satisfactory repair as opposed to repainting the entire panel and blending to adjacent panels.

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