Hail damage doesn't just ruin your car's looks; it can also compromise your body integrity and vehicle resale value if you let it go unaddressed. Here are some important considerations to keep in mind about vehicular hail damage.

Hail Can Wreak Havoc on Kentucky Cars

Kentucky can experience a variety of unpredictable spring storms which produce thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hail. As recently as March 3rd, 2020, quarter-sized hail battered property throughout the Bowling Green, Dawson Springs, and Smiths Grove areas.

You can prepare against these onslaughts (to some degree) by purchasing comprehensive insurance that includes hail damage coverage, parking your car in your home's garage whenever possible, and using covered parking at your apartment or workplace.

Unfortunately, even a moment's exposure to hail can cause extensive damage to your car's exterior. Most hail damage occurs from hailstones larger than one inch in diameter, but smaller hailstones can also do harm. The faster the wind speed and the longer the storm, the worse the damage.

Hail Can Do More Damage Than You Think

Hail does more than just cosmetic damage to cars. Before you decide to tolerate a few dents in your vehicle, consider that those points of damage may have penetrated the paint job. Once moisture gets past this protective barrier, it can promote rust. You can prevent this issue by scheduling the necessary body work.

When you inspect your hail-damaged car, check the glass carefully. Even if your windows still appear intact, tiny chips or hairline cracks may have formed. You should get these problems mended, or even replace the glass if necessary, to ensure that your glass remains strong and moisture-resistant.

Don't forget that hail damage to your car may bother prospective buyers more than it bothers you. If you decide to sell the car at some point, you'll command significantly higher asking prices if the car displays an undamaged body, undamaged glass, and an intact paint job.

Hail Damage Repair Requires the Right Tools and Techniques

Resist the temptation to remove your car's hail-related dents yourself. Home remedies such as the use of suction cups or heat may do more harm than good, leaving you with an even more challenging repair puzzle. Save yourself time, effort, and frustration by seeking help from professional body shop technicians.

Even in the world of professional auto body repair, it pays to understand how the professionals correct hail damage. The repair method your car receives will depend both on the extent of the damage and the techniques and training of the technicians.

The simplest technique for correcting auto body dents involves the use of filler material. The technician adds the smallest useful amount of filler to the dent and then smooths it out until it matches the body panel contours as closely as possible. A fresh paint job then helps to hide any difference in color or consistency.

Under the right circumstances, trained technicians may use a technique known as paintless dent repair, which removes dents without adding filler or repainting the vehicle. In this method, sophisticated tools and careful procedures enable the technicians to push or pull at the metal until they achieve a smooth contour.

Not all hail-damaged cars can benefit from the paintless dent repair technique. For instance, paintless dent repair will not work on stretched paint or the deepest dents. In these cases, you may get better results from the fill-and-repaint technique.

Find out what degree of hail damage you've actually sustained, ask about the wisest approach to repairs, and then get the skilled professional help you need to restore your car's pristine looks. Contact Cambron Body Shop to learn more and schedule an evaluation.