How do I get hail damage repaired on my car? You can fix the damages with the right set of tools and techniques. Please keep reading to find out what you can do to repair the damages.
The weather can be very unpredictable, and this means hail storms can occur anytime. If you have not parked your car in a carport or garage during a hail storm, it can damage your vehicle and its accessories.
There is nothing you can do to prevent the bad weather or the damage. However, there are plenty of things you can do to fix it.
You may think that these options may be expensive. Well, it does not necessarily cost so much.
You can restore your vehicle to perfection even if your insurance does not cover hail repair. In this article, we shall discuss the various methods you can use to fix hail damage.
So How Do I Get Hail Damage Repaired on My Car?
Since hails can easily damage cars left out in the open, you need to know some handy ways to fix the damage. The damages are usually terrible if the hail is larger than an inch in diameter.
So, how do I get hail damage repaired on my car by myself? Here are some of the steps that you can use to help yourself with fixing the damages.
Method 1: Heating
It is one of the easiest methods to fix hail damages. You can use nothing more than natural heat to fix your car.
You can park your vehicle in a sunny area after the storm passes. However, the heat of the sun will cause the damaged metal to expand.
As it happens, small dents will slowly bulge out.
However, it will take a very long time if the vehicle is not in a very hot place. To make this technique work perfectly, you need to leave your car in the sunlight for as long as necessary.
On the other hand, if you can not leave your vehicle in the sun for too long, you can apply hot air on the dents. This way, you can fix the dents real quick.
Hold the hairdryer about six inches away from the dents for a few minutes. You must remember not to touch the car surface with the dryer since it can cause discoloration and further damage.
If the car’s paint starts to fade, you will have to stop the dryer immediately. After this step, you can add a rubbing compound such as wax to restore the paint.
Method 2: Cooling
If you do not want to park it in the sun or do not have a dryer at the moment, you can go with the cooling method. You will have to apply dry ice on the dents.
The sudden change in temperature levels will cause the dents to bulge out. That is a very easy and quick solution, although you can expect some remnants of the dents after the repair. Therefore, it may require additional repairs later.
Dry ice can damage your skin; therefore, it is important to wear gloves when handling it. Otherwise, this is an easy and safe way to fix the damages.
Method 3: Pushing Tools
You can repair hail damage with the help of long-handled metal pushing tools. Usually, you can find them in stores sold in kits. They have a unique design that can reach underbody panels or inside them. you can also use a car lift.
You will have to apply leverage carefully and gradually repeat the pushing. You need to apply pressure on the underside of the dent until it disappears.
These tools can apply continuous pressure and quickly remove the dent. They employ a gentle pulsing pattern to finish the task.
However, this task is quite difficult, and if you are not good with tools, it is better to avoid this. It is so because it can do more damage than good.
Method 4: Pulling Tools
Pulling tools are similar to pushing tools. However, they are easier to operate since it does not require any finesse during fixing. It includes an adjustable pulling handle, numerous types of plastic plungers, and even a glue gun.
Even though they are easier to use than pushing tools, they require you to be extremely careful and gentle.
You have to fix th plastic plunger of the correct size and shape and glue it on the dented area. Then, you will have to attach the handle to the plunger. Now, you will have to apply gentle outward pressure on it.
Also, remember that you need to apply pressure in a long series of small applications. You must not attempt one continuous pull since it can cause more damage to the surface.
Tips for Professional Care
How do I get hail damage repaired on my car if I can not do it myself? It is not possible to repair all hailstorm damage on your own. Hence, you will need professional care. Here are some insights on standard autobody repairs for hail damage.
There are few ways to fix hail damage on your car. The first method is the PDR or Paintless dent repair.
It is one of the quickest and inexpensive methods to correct the dents. Plus, they do not remove any paint while fixing the dents; therefore, it is called the Paintless dent repair.
However, PDR is not feasible for sharper and deeper dents. In this case, they use conventional dent repairs that are relatively expensive. It involves removing paint or replacing the panel or the entire part.
Also, you will have to replace broken windshields to spare you from any visual impairment while driving. That is highly important because if you avoid replacing it immediately, you are compromising your safety.
Final Words
Hail storms can quickly hit any part of the country. Unfortunately, it will leave behind various damages on the things around us including our car. We know that there is only little when can do to prevent these damages.
However, we hope you have learned answers to how do I get hail damage repaired on my car. Moreover, we hope that this article was insightful enough for you to learn something about fixing the damages.