Does Paintless Dent Repair Fix Scratches?
Paintless Dent Repair, or PDR for short, is an excellent method for eliminating and smoothing out dents big and small. PDR works best, however, when the paint itself has not been damaged.
Further, PDR works best with dents on relatively large, flat surfaces, such as a door panel. In some cases, paintless dent repair can be used to address minor scratches. However, there are a lot of important considerations.
Ultimately, paintless dent repair can smooth out some minor scratches. However, this is only if the scratch is in the metal underneath and the paint on top is still in good condition.
If the scratch is deep and metal is exposed, it’s unlikely that PDR, on its own, will not be able to cover up the scratch.
Let’s take a closer look at paintless dent repair and the role it plays in addressing scratches.
Here’s When Paintless Dent Repair is Most Effective
Paintless dent repair, or PDR for short, is most effective at addressing dents. PDR is especially effective when the dent is on a flat surface, say a hood or the car door panel. In these cases, popping the dent out is often a pretty straightforward matter. Repairs typically don’t take long, assuming conditions are ideal.
Paintless dent repair can work on sharp edges and rounded curves. However, using PDR on such surfaces is often much more difficult and time-consuming. Still, depending on the nature of the dent and the surface, PDR may be the best option.
The “paintless” part in paintless dent repair basically assumes that the paint itself has not been severely damaged. If deep scratches are present and the metal underneath is exposed, PDR likely won’t be able to fix the scratches. Still, fixing the dent itself may improve your vehicle’s overall looks. Often, dents are far more noticeable than scratches.
The same methods used to perform PDR may also be useful for mitigating scratches, although additional steps may be needed to cover up the scratch. Let’s take a look at how paintless dent repair might help.
Here’s How PDR Methods Can Help With Scratches
Paintless dent repair, on its own, may not be enough to treat the scratches on your car. That said, the tools and methods used may play a role in the larger effort to get your vehicle in top-notch condition.
Let’s assume that your car, truck, or SUV suffered both a dent and a deep scratch in the door panel. An autobody repair technician can first pop the dent out. The scratch will remain, but now the technician can get a better grasp of how serious the scratch is and what treatment methods might work best.
In some cases, you may not have to repaint the whole panel. It might be possible to use touch-up paint and other solutions to cover and seal the scratch. Often, touch-up paint can nearly completely restore your vehicle’s good looks. In other cases, someone might see the touch up job if they look closely, but otherwise most people will never even notice.
Thus, PDR will solve the dent, and once that’s out of the way, technicians can fix the scratch.
When is PDR Not Good For Fixing Dents and Scratches?
Unfortunately, in some cases, the scratch is simply too deep to repair with touch-up paint and similar solutions. The entire panel may need to be replaced. It might be possible, however, to keep the original panel.
Instead of replacing it, you may want to strip the paint down and repaint it. Depending on the vehicle, however, it might actually be cheaper (and easier) to simply replace the panel.
As for dents, if your vehicle has suffered a large number of dents, PDR may not be financially feasible even if it is physically possible to repair the dents. You’ll have to pay for each dent removed and the costs can quickly add up. At some point, these costs will simply be too prohibitive.
So does paintless dent repair fix scratches? The answer, as we’ve seen is complicated. PDR may resolve some minor scratches. The methods used to pop out dents with PDR may also help with other scratch mitigation procedures. On its own, however, paintless dent repair is effective at addressing serious scratches.
Scratch and Dent Repair FAQs
Does paintless dent repair damage paint?
Generally speaking, no. PDR may be useful for addressing some scratches that aren’t deep in the paint and where metal is not exposed. If the metal is exposed, PDR on its own likely won’t repair the scratch. However, the methods used by PDR, such as pulling the dent out, may be useful in combination with other methods, like using touchup paint.
Is it worth repairing scratches on a car?
Generally speaking, yes. Scratches not only ruin your vehicle’s sharp appearance, they also leave your auto exposed to rust and other risks. If not mitigated, scratches could detrimentally impact the value of your car, potentially costing you thousands or more when it comes time to sell.
Further, if you address scratches quickly, the repairs are often cheaper. If you don’t act fast and the damage spreads, the repair costs may quickly rise. This is especially true with rust. Thus, repairing scratches is a wise investment no matter the method.
What Does Paintless Dent Repair Involve?
With PDR, autobody repair technicians will use a variety of tools to push or pull the dent out. What tools should be used? That greatly depends on the nature of the dent itself. It’s best to visit an autobody repair shop to talk with experts who can provide concrete advice.
How Much Does PDR Cost?
PDR typically costs between $125 to $300 to repair a single dent. However, some dents will cost more. The larger the dent, the larger the bill. Likewise, dents in hard-to-treat places will also be more expensive.
Also, keep in mind that the more dents treated, the higher the cost.
Further, if your vehicle has been scratched, you’ll have to factor in touch-up paint and other mitigation methods into the final repair costs. Fixing scratches could cost quite a bit more than simply addressing the dents themselves.
What factors impact PDR costs? How about scratches?
Many different factors impact the cost of paintless dent repair. The following factors are among the most important: 1. size of the dent 2. location of the dent 3. depth and shape of the dent 4. the number of dents.
As for scratches, the bigger and deeper the scratch, the more you’re likely to pay. Further, you’ll typically pay for each scratch. The factors mentioned here are not exhaustive and other factors could impact the final repair costs. It’s wise to speak with auto repair experts for specific advice since PDR does offer quite bit of flexibility on scope.
