Blog Post

Rescuing Your Car From Rust

  • By Admin
  • •
  • 12 Apr, 2018
  • •
What happens if you notice rust on your car? Rust is one of the most dangerous types of damage, as it can quickly spread across your vehicle's frame. Rust is also, in some ways, inevitable; most cars are going to rust eventually. You need to be able to address it as quickly as possible if you want to prevent it from spreading.


Learning to Identify the Signs of Rust
Before you fix rust, you need to be able to identify it properly. Rust can happen anytime your vehicle's paint is scratched or dented. It can also occur along the vehicle's undercarriage, which can be dangerous because it may not be visible.

When first starting, rust can be detected through an orange or brownish appearance around the edges of a scratch or a dent. It may also occur underneath the paint job, at which point it'll show up as a bubbling, swollen surface on the vehicle. Around rust, the paint will often begin to peel up.


Getting Rid of Rust
Rust is going to continue to expand, destroying metal as it goes. There is no way to resolve the situation without first removing the rusted material. This generally has to be done by a professional.

Rust has to be mechanically removed, such as through sanding. But doing this also removes any protection the surface has from more rust. If you simply sand the rust off on your own, the surface will eventually begin to rust again.

When removed professionally, the surface will be covered with color-matched paint and a protective coating. This will make it appear like new again and will protect it from future rust and damage.


Common Mistakes With Rust
Many people mistakenly assume that they can cover up rust with paint to protect their vehicle. But rust isn't something that just happens when metal is exposed to the elements. Rust, in and of itself, creates more rust.

Covering over the rust is only going to make it more difficult to watch the extent of the damage. The rust will continue to spread under the paint, and eventually, the new paint will begin to flake off as well.

Of course, the most common mistake with rust is to ignore it. When it's a small spot, it may not feel urgent. But this small spot can rust over, eventually damaging the frame.


Slowing the Spread of Rust
What if you can't get to the shop immediately? There are things known as rust-fighting auto paints, but these are designed to prevent rust from actually occurring. Though they can be used over rust, they'll actually just create a hard surface over it that the shop will need to remove.

But there are ways to slow rust. There are rust slowing products that can be sprayed onto your vehicle. This isn't going to stop the rust entirely, but will simply delay the process of oxidation and consequently the rust's spread. An automotive shop should have a rust preventative.

Rust can also have its spread slowed by grinding it off, but this shouldn't be done unless you are knowledgeable and have worked with vehicles before. Small, cosmetic spots may be able to be sanded down, but as mentioned, this also means that the issue will need to be addressed quickly lest rust occur again.

If you notice rust on your car, it's a good practice to immediately go to an auto body shop. It's going to cost less to deal with rust early on than it will later, as later more of the vehicle will be impacted. Only a professional can reliably treat rust, as it requires you to both remove it and repair the finish. For more information about rust treatment and prevention, contact our experts at Dublin Auto Body.

The Value of Your Car After Collision Repair

By Admin • August 8, 2018
You won't find a universal standard when it comes to lowered car values after an accident. Trying to sell a car after repairing it isn't always easy, but it is possible. Here is what you should know about your vehicle's value after an accident and collision repair.

2 Reasons to Have Your Car Repaired By a Direct Insurance Repair Facility

By Admin • June 9, 2018
As a vehicle owner, there's a good chance that you'll have to have some auto body work done at some point. Whether you've been involved in an accident or if your car has been damaged by vandalism or hail, you probably want to choose the right shop for having the work done.

1. Simplify the Process
Dealing with vehicle damage can be a real pain. By choosing a direct insurance repair facility, you can help simplify the process.

Help Ensure That Your Claim Is Successful
If you have car insurance, you shouldn't have to worry about your claim being denied. Still, this sometimes happens. If the cost of the repair ends up being more than what the insurance adjuster estimated, for example, it could be hard to get the extra payment approved.

If you work with a company that your insurance company trusts and regularly works with, though, you can help prevent your claim from being denied.

Avoid Dealing With the Paperwork
Even if you aren't worried about your claim being denied, you might not want to deal with the hassle of the paperwork. Being in the middle of your repair shop and your insurance company can be a big pain and can leave you filling out one form after another. Auto body repair shops that work directly with insurance companies generally handle all of the paperwork for you.

With one of these shops, you should just have to drop your car off and then pick it up when the repairs are finished. This can make dealing with the aftermath of your vehicle damage a whole lot easier.

Avoid Paying Out of Pocket
Different insurance companies have different ways of handling claims and payments. With some companies, you might be expected to pay for the cost of your vehicle repairs to the body shop. Then, you can submit your receipt to the insurance company to be reimbursed. Unfortunately, this process can sometimes take weeks, leaving you with less money in your bank account.

You may want to avoid paying out of pocket if you can help it. Luckily, this generally isn't required with a direct insurance repair facility. This can help you avoid the financial hardship that can go along with paying upfront for your vehicle repairs.

2. Work With a Facility You Can Count On
When having your vehicle repaired, it's important to choose a shop that will do a good job. You probably want for your car to look like it did before the accident, but poor-quality work can sometimes be quite obvious. For example, if the paint isn't matched perfectly, your vehicle might appear to be two-toned. Even if the paint matches, a poor paint job can really stand out, too.

It's not just the appearance of your car that you have to worry about if you don't have your vehicle repaired by the right shop. Over time, poor work could become obvious. Paint that wasn't applied correctly might begin to chip, or body parts that weren't installed properly might fail prematurely. Additionally, the value of your car could decrease if the body work isn't done properly.

Since insurance companies often work with body repair shops on a regular basis, they often have a good idea of which ones do good work. By choosing a direct insurance repair facility, you can help ensure that you choose the right body shop for the job.

As you can see, if you are looking for an auto body shop to work on your vehicle, it's a good idea to choose a direct insurance repair facility. For auto body repair services that you can count on, contact us at Dublin Auto Body today.

6 Signs Your Vehicle Needs Professional Frame Straightening

By Admin • February 2, 2018
Many types of vehicle damage are easy to identify, even if you don't have experience in the automotive industry. For example, any driver can observe the signs that a windshield needs replacement or a paint job requires restoration.

However, many of the most serious types of vehicle damage can appear completely invisible unless you know exactly what to look for. One of the most potentially dangerous and most difficult-to-detect issues that can develop after a collision is a bent frame.

Frame straightening services can often correct this problem, but first you must identify the need for these repairs. In this blog, we list six common indicators that point to a bent frame.

Why You Should Fix Car's Paint Scratch Immediately

By Admin • January 3, 2018
Maybe someone side-swiped your car with a shopping cart at the grocery store, or maybe you had a run-in with an aggressive driver who raced up behind you and hit your bumper. Whatever happened, your car is left with a noticeable scratch.

Even a seemingly minor scratch in your car's paint can cause problems down the road. Thinking that you can let this scratch can stay on your car without fixing it is a mistake that you don't want to make.

Why do you need to take care of your car's scratches? Take a look at the downsides of not repairing scratches and small dents in your car are.

Should You Repair or Replace Your Vehicle After a Total Loss?

By Admin • October 13, 2017
When the cost of repairing a vehicle exceeds the value of the vehicle, then it's a total loss. However, for many people, the value of a vehicle goes beyond how much it costs. Even if there's a total loss, you still have options. This is especially true if you work with an experienced and reputable auto body shop.
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