Auto Repair in Austin, TX: Taking a Closer Look at the Fiberglass Repair Process

An estimated 20 million vehicles are damaged in accidents each year in America based on recent reports. In addition to that, well over half of the nation’s vehicles sustain damage while they’re parked. When auto body damage happens, it needs to be repaired as soon as possible. Besides detracting from a vehicle’s appearance, damage can lead to several other problems. It may grow worse over time, and it can even detract from a vehicle’s safety and structural integrity. 

Having Auto Body Damage Resolved

Most auto body parts are made of metal as they have been for over a century now. Repairing metal body parts often entails applying filler to the damaged area, sanding it, and refinishing it. In some cases, it may require cutting out the dented or torn portion of the metal and welding new material into place. If the damage is too severe to be repaired, the damaged body part needs to be replaced. Of course, at this point, certain body parts are made of fiberglass rather than metal. For those, the process of auto repair in Austin, TX is a bit different. 

How Fiberglass Body Parts are Repaired

Repairing fiberglass auto body parts begins with a thorough inspection to determine the extent of the damage and the best way to resolve it. From there, any loose fiberglass is removed, and the body part is cleaned to remove fibers, dirt, grease, and other materials that could affect the end results. Then, the area surrounding the damage is scuffed with sandpaper. That creates a rough surface that the repair materials can adhere to more effectively. 

With the damaged area cleaned and ready for repairs, auto body technicians then place a backing material behind the hole in the fiberglass and affix it to the body panel. That’s followed by saturating layers of fiberglass cloth with a mix of special resin and hardener and applying it to the damaged area in layers. Technicians allow each layer to harden before applying the next.

After the last layer of fiberglass has hardened, technicians begin applying filler in thin layers, allowing it to cure, and sanding it. Eventually, they have a smooth area that matches the original contours of the body part. When they do, they sand the area with increasingly finer grit sandpaper to make it as smooth as possible. If they find any small holes in the resin and filler, they fill those with glazing putty and continue sanding the surface. 

With a solid, smooth surface to work with, technicians then prime the body part for finishing and sand it yet again. Finally, the repaired part is painted, and clear coat is applied to protect the finish. Making sure the paint on the newly repaired part matches the rest of the vehicle can be a tedious process since automotive paint gradually fades over time and may not be exactly the same hue as newly applied paint. 

Keeping Your Vehicle in Prime Condition

Body damage can detract from a vehicle’s appearance. It may run much deeper than the clearly visible effects, though. Allowing it to go unrepaired can lead to far more serious damage and even safety issues. With that being the case, having it repaired as quickly as possible is recommended. Fiberglass repair is a drawn-out process that requires multiple steps, but it’s well worth the time and effort involved.

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