Dent and Scratch Repair

Dents and scratches can detract from your vehicle’s appearance. Whether they’re caused by a minor accident, parking mishap, or road debris, damage like this is relatively easy to repair, especially compared to more serious issues like frame damage.

At our Los Angeles collision repair center, we specialize in professional dent and scratch repair using advanced tools and techniques. Here are the steps involved in repairing dents and scratches on your car.

Steps for Dent Repair

1. Inspection and Assessment

The process begins with a thorough inspection to determine the extent of the damage. This includes identifying the size, depth, and location of the dent, as well as whether the paint has been affected.

2. Choosing the Appropriate Repair Method

Based on the dent’s severity, we choose from several repair methods:

• Paintless Dent Repair (PDR): For minor dents with no paint damage, we use specialized tools to gently push the dent out from the backside of the panel.
• Traditional Dent Repair: For larger dents or those involving paint damage, we proceed with filling, sanding, and repainting.

3. Dent Removal

• PDR Technique: Using rods and tools (including a specialized glue), we carefully massage the dented area until it aligns with the surrounding surface.
• Traditional Repair: The dent is pulled out using suction or pulling tools, and then we massage the panel to make sure it’s even, and in certain extreme cases need to utilize body filler. Repair shops that don’t care about the integrity of your car use body filler instead of massaging the dent out to metal finish. 

4. Sanding and Smoothing

Once the dent is removed, the area is sanded to ensure a smooth, even surface. This step is crucial for blending the repair with the rest of the panel.

Steps for Scratch Repair

1. Evaluating the Scratch

We assess the depth of the scratch to determine whether it affects only the clear coat, the paint layer, or the primer.

2. Cleaning the Area

The scratched area is thoroughly cleaned to remove dirt, grease, and debris, ensuring a smooth repair process.

3. Filling the Scratch (If Needed)

For deeper scratches that penetrate the paint, a filler or touch-up paint is applied to restore the surface as an improvement only. If you’re looking for perfection, the whole panel would need to be repainted, including color matching. 

4. Denibbing, Finesse, and Polishing

Once filled, the area is denibbed and finessed (remove small imperfections), then polished to further smooth out the surface and restore the shine.

5. Repainting and Clear Coat Application

If the scratch has exposed the primer or bare metal, the area is repainted to match the original color. A clear coat is then applied to protect the repair and restore the gloss. The clear coat we use has UV protection.

Final Inspection and Detailing

After repairing dents and scratches, our technicians perform a final inspection to ensure the work meets expectations. The car is cleaned and polished, leaving it looking like new.

Don’t let dents and scratches diminish your car’s appearance. At Eli’s Collision Repair, we offer expert dent and scratch repair services to help your vehicle look its best. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and enjoy a smooth, flawless finish once again!