Auto body repairs are common. Scratches, dents, or other damages are bound to happen. No matter who's at fault, repairing the damage quicker will help keep the vehicle in good shape. Repair for major damage resulting from accidents or similar events requires professional assistance from a car repair shop. But some minor damages can be repaired using DIY methods. With the right skill set, you can save money using these DIY methods.

Minor damages that can be repaired using DIY methods

The type of damage and its extent determine whether you can do the repair by yourself or take it to the auto body shop professional. Also, you should have the right skill and right tools to carry out the process. Here are some minor damages which you can try the DIY methods on.

• Minor dents: Dents are one of the most common damages in a vehicle, and it might be due to accidents, heavy objects thrown at the car, or even hailstorms. Dents usually come with paint damage due to the indentation on the car's surface.
• Cracks: Components of the car like the windshield, side mirrors, and headlights can be damaged during accidents and vandalism.
• Scratches: This is another common car damage that can be taken care of using DIY methods unless severe. Scratches might occur due to improper parking skills, vandalism, or encounter with the car's body with sharp items. 
• Paint: The car's paint is the first thing that gets damaged during an accident or similar events. If the damage is minor, you can try restoring it by yourself. But if you are noticing peeling paints in more than one area, then it is best to visit a car body shop.

Tips for the repair of the minor car damages

Before choosing to repair the damage yourself, it would be best to assess your skill level. If you are trying the repair for the first time, make sure to accept room for mistakes.

It would be hard to match the quality of auto body repair jobs done by the professionals since they are specifically trained for it and have the right equipment. If you are looking for a perfectly done repair job, it would be best to leave it to a professional.

Do not test your skills first on a new car. Start with an old car so that you can try doing it until you reach satisfactory results. Here are some tips to remember while trying out minor car damage repairs. 

Fixing dents

Minor dents can be easily popped out from behind. Sometimes you might want to use a suction cup dent puller for popping out the dent. Dents come with damaged paint, and you will have to fill the dented area and repaint it in some cases.

Body fillers are used to fill the dent's area, which is the part that requires skill. Until the place is filled adequately, it is essential to refill the area repeatedly. After the dented area is filled, it is left to dry. You can then repaint the whole area or leave the painting job to the professionals.

Repairing cracks

Minor cracks can be repaired using the windshield repair kit, which you can get from the auto body specialty stores. Usually, the process for the repair is given as instructions with the repair kit, and it is easy to follow and can be done at home.

Here is how you can deal with the minor cracks: 

• Thoroughly clean the cracked area and then use the razor blade provided to spread the resin on the cracked surface. 
• Use the suction cup stabilizer to hold the cracked area tightly until the resin fully dries.
• Check the area for the remaining cracks and continue this process until you get all the cracks.

If the rearview mirrors and the lights are broken beyond repair, it would be best to replace them. The headlights and tail lights are usually designed for easy replacement, and hence get good quality lights and replace them by yourself. 

Repairing scratches

There are simple scratches and deep scratches. While the shallow scratches are easy to repair, the deep enough ones for the primer to be visible need filling.

You should fill the scratch properly with a scratch filler and sand it down after it dries. It would be best to use fine sandpaper for the job. Once the area is smooth, you can wax it until the area becomes shiny. 

Repainting

If you need to touch up some places in your car and decide to do it yourself, the first step would be choosing the right paint. You can check your vehicle's paint code from the owner's manual and the sticker on your car. Ensure that you are skilled enough to do the job since a botched paint job is typical.

A Superior Collision Shop

Is the damage a little too much to handle on your own? Or do you want some insight before attempting the DIY repair methods? A Superior Collision Shop is a one-stop solution for all your auto body repair needs. Visit us at http://www.asuperiorshop.com/.

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