How Much Damage Can Paintless Dent Repair Fix?

I get several customers per day asking exactly how much damage can be fixed without having to paint their car. The answer is actually quite amazing. I have repaired dents as small as a popcorn seed to as large as completely caved in doors. The scope of repair possibilities is growing quite rapidly as well.

As technologies and techniques advance, we are finding that we can make the vast majority of our customers with very large dents very happy with paintless dent repair. We can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars for our customers. The process for this type of repair varies greatly, as each large dent requires a completely unique approach. It takes a skilled and creative technician to make the repair correctly. The Car Bar has just such technicians.

I always tell my customers to come see me first. You never know how much damage we could repair and even better, how much money we can save you! I am confident that you will be surprised and happy with our results.

Adding Value With Dent Repair

When selling your car, it is important to make it as attractive as possible. Since I began working in the car industry, I have come to notice a few habits that people in the market for a car have. I do not sell cars personally, but deal with individuals selling them all day long. The most practical criteria when considering buying a used vehicle is the mechanical quality. However, it is often the car that looks newer and cleaner that is sold quickly, and for top dollar. We all want to buy a car that runs, of course, but we want a car that looks good even more!

There are some inexpensive ways you can really add value to your car, paintless dent repair being one of the best. When you take the time and effort to remove the dents, it adds incredible value to your vehicle. Cars that still have dents look as though the owner did not care much for the car and may lead the buyer to think that other needs of the car went unnoticed.

Even cars that have had body work can cause buyers to be suspicious of a vehicle's quality, however. When non-factory paint is used, a red flag pops up for many savvy buyers. To have the car painted implies that the car was in an accident, and the customer can become very suspicious of the car and its safety. With paintless dent repair, there is no altering of the cars factory finish.

I believe that it is safe to say that for every dollar of dent repair spent you should at least see two dollars added to the value of your vehicle. The process is quick and can be easily scheduled. Your car will sell more quickly and closer to the price you ask for simply because it looks good, leaving the customer nothing to point out for offering a less than reasonable price.

Paintless dent repair offers a valuable return on your investment, adding to the bottom line of any car sale. Be sure to watch for more posts regarding adding value to your vehicle and please leave a comment with any questions you may have!

Pet Hair Revisited

Here at The Car Bar we like to make sure that the job is done right the first time. So, when a customer asks to have every last little pet hair removed, the job should look a little something like this:

The interior must be completely pulled out.Getting under the seats is nearly impossible without removing them first.

Pet hair is tricky. It gets buried in the carpet fibers, collects under seats, and settles into places you never knew existed in your car. If not completely removed, smells and hair will continually plague your car.

A job like this could take you all day. Literally, all day! We are more than happy to take this on for you. This is of those situations where I highly recommend you drop your car off, head home, pour yourself your favorite beverage, and think about how much work you are not having to do at the moment. It’s a great feeling. Give us a call, let us make your life easier and you can have all the credit for the clean car.

Mold!

Water leaks on a car are pesky and destructive, and one of the ways that they can ruin the interior of your car is by creating a perfect environment for mold to grow. Unless a car is perfectly dried out, there is a risk of mold growth. Luckily, this mold can be removed effectively! Severity can range from just a few spores to having entire colonies under the carpet and in the padding (jute). Removing it, however, is not always easy.

First the material must be thoroughly cleaned. I mean the kind of thorough your mom wanted when you cleaned the bathrooms at home. The mold is not just a surface spot, it actually roots itself in to the material and, if not completely removed, can and will come back again. After a cleaning, an enzymatic chemical is applied that eats the remaining organic material. In the last stage the car is dried. When the car is completely dry there is no place for the mold to live so whatever material is left will die and no longer pose an odor or health hazard.

If the mold is severe, the padding must be replaced. Mold loves cool dark places and the padding is a veritable breeding factory. This is a very labor intensive task. The seats must be removed and any console on the floor must be removed as well. This also may require special tools, which means even more work, but it must be done. As always the final step is to dry out the car completely and replace the damaged parts with new ones.

You can take steps to minimize mold damage. Check you carpet regularly for excessive moisture and when you are able, leave your windows cracked a little to allow the moisture to leave the car. This is especially effective when the heater is on. Keep an eye on the trunk as well. Many car owners are not aware of mold in the trunk unless it is used regularly!

When it comes to mold, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That said, sometimes mold just happens and when it does you can always trust The Car Bar to do the job effectively the first time!

Dent Repair on Chrome Bumpers

I believe that there are two types of bumpers in this world: ones that have been bumped and ones that will eventually be bumped. It seems to be unavoidable. It is fantastic that they are there because they protect the car from greater and more costly damage, but the damage can be an eyesore and a reminder of bad parking lot experiences.

Fortunately, there is a solution that is both affordable and effective. It uses the same principles as Paintless Dent Repair, but with a different approach. This is actually a project that you can attempt on your own if you like. If you are mechanically inclined and enjoy taking on projects, you may be able to repair your own bumper with a simple investment of about 2-4 hours (depending on the vehicle).

I am finding that chrome is pretty resilient; it can stand up to pretty extreme temperatures which are great because the metal moves so much easier when it is warm.

The first step in repairing a bumper is to be remove it from the vehicle. This is where you can run into difficulty, especially on trucks with sensors and lights in the bumpers. Once removed, the damage should be relatively easy to access. Heat the metal, making sure to keep an eye on the chrome so that you do not damage or discolor it, and then gently pound out the dent. It sounds fairly easy, but can actually be more challenging than you would think.

Like I said, if you are mechanically inclined this may be something you want to try yourself. However, as with almost all things on your car or truck, there is a risk of damaging parts when you do the work yourself. Ultimately, I'd recommend you bring it by The Car Bar for this repair. The results will be professional and you do not run the risk of smacking your knuckles on the frame - this hurts a lot, trust me!

I priced out new bumpers for a 2005 Chevy 1500 and a 2005 Ford F150 just to see what an average bumper would cost. Both trucks ran just shy of $400 for the rear bumper and the front bumpers were around $350. And these were just simple bumpers - if you were to add sensors and lights the price goes up quite a bit. Our prices for bumper repairs range from $150-$250, depending on the damage and how difficult the bumper is to remove. As you can see, this is a great alternative to replacement and, as always, your satisfaction is guaranteed!