Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. What is PDR?
PDR or Paintless Dent Repair is the process of removing a dent without the
need for body filler or having to re-paint the panel. This is highly beneficial as vehicles
factory finish is preserved and the vehicles anti-corrosive layers are not removed. PDR is
actually a superior repair method when compared to a conventional body shop repair that
utilizes studs that are welded to the panel (after the area has been ground free of paint and the
factory anti-corrosive layer) or, heaven forbid, the olden butcher method of drilling holes and
using a screw-in slide hammer to pull the dent out. The actual process used by PDR technicians
employs specially designed rods that allow the technician to place pressure on the rear of the
panel and slowly release the pressure that is the dent and to shrink stretched metal. There are
various methods to accomplish this task and the adaptability used by today’s technicians is
nothing short of remarkable.
2. What are the benefits of PDR?
The most important benefit is QUALITY. PDR is as close to the dent never happening as
you can get. No grinding, Bond-o, fillers, primer or paint is used because your factory paint is
not disturbed. There are no problems with filler or paint shrinkage months after the repair, as is
common with typical body shop repairs. Cost is another MAJOR benefit to using PDR as
apposed to the body shop. Time savings is yet another advantage.
Most dents can be repaired in about an hour whereas body shops can take days for even minor damage to be completed.
3. What kind of damage can you fix?
The most important factors in determining if a dent can be repaired using PDR are
depth and location. Dents the size of a soft ball or larger can be repaired successfully as long as
they are not too deep. On the other hand, some dents the size of a dime but very deep cannot
be repaired because the metal is too stretched. Cracked paint can also be an indication that the
damage is too deep. The most common dents fixed are the size of a golf ball and around 95% of
minor dents can be repaired. About 5% of minor dents can’t be fixed due to depth or location.
Areas such as some quarter panel opening lips, some forward areas of heavily braced hoods, or
the very edges of some panels are examples of bad locations.
4. Will the dent come back?
Absolutely not. Once a dent has been properly removed using PDR it NEVER comes
back. Most dents repaired using conventional methods (body shop) develop rings or ”sand
scratches” 3-6 months after the repair. This is NEVER the case with properly performed PDR
5. Will the dent be completely gone?
On most minor dents, YES. The deeper the dent, the harder it is to repair. Even on larger dents,
most people are amazed at the results. We will always explain, in detail , how the dent will look
before the repairs are performed.
6. Will PDR damage my vehicles paint?
No. Today’s automotive paint is highly flexible and durable. When PDR is performed by
a competent technician, the paint is in no way damaged. PDR is the ONLY way to repair dents
and still keep the factory paint.