Auto Body Repair at Home?

Many of us are looking for ways to spend out time during isolation. Is auto body repair a good DIY job?

One of the areas that the internet has revolutionized is auto maintenance and repair. With unlimited information available to motivated motorists through the internet, more and more people are attempting to fix their vehicles themselves. At Island Detail & Colour, we like to see people taking things into their own hands, but there are times when repairs are best left to professionals. The trick is knowing when you can tackle something yourself, and when it’s best to bring it in.

DIY Repairs

Many of us are turning to DIY projects using information we have found online. It often seems less expensive to roll up your sleeves and do a repair yourself than hiring a professional, however it is important to recognize when a repair requires more knowledge than what can be provided by an article or video.

Undertaking a DIY job that should’ve been left to a professional can quickly wind up costing you more money than it would have to just hire a professional in the first place. For example, fixing collision damage on your own could appear to be a good way to save money on insurance. However, during the repair process you may overlook damage that a professional would catch.

Why You Should Hire Pros for Auto Body Repair

Those of us who are mechanically inclined may try to fix our vehicles without consulting professionals. Here are a few reasons why it is better to leave certain jobs to the pros.

Equipment

Reputable auto shops have specially designed tools that make jobs easier, faster, and better for your car. Special parts and specific paint types and colours are easy for professionals to find at the lowest price. Trying to tackle jobs yourself will end up in you having to buy tools, materials, and paint that you’ll never use again, making it cheaper to have just gone to a shop in the first place.

Underlying Issues

If you aren’t trained in auto body repair, it is easy to miss an internal issue that could lead to big problems later on. A small dent in the fender may be hiding more insidious damage that, if not caught and addressed, could lead to serious structural issues. Auto body repair professionals are better equipped to spot and deal with hidden problems, which means solving safety concerns before they manifest.

Causing More Damage

One of the biggest risks surrounding home auto body repair is causing additional damage to your vehicle. Repairs take training and knowledge that professionals acquire through intense apprenticeships and years of experience.

Replacing parts that are damaged during botched DIY repair jobs can be incredibly expensive, and it is likely that you will end up causing more harm than good. Never try these repairs at home:

Windshield Replacement: Most insurance policies will cover damage to windshields. However, if you find yourself having to pay out of pocket, a DIY job could be attractive. Even after sourcing a windshield from a donor car, you will have to purchase trim pieces, tools, and adhesives. After all that, you may still end up with a windshield that leaks.
Paint Jobs and Bodywork: An improper paint job can devastate your car’s value and will lead to rust and other corrosion. Amateur bodywork is always easy to spot because it isn’t as simple as buying a replacement part and installing it. Shoddy paint and bodywork will look terrible and affect your car’s performance.
Fuel System Repairs: While other DIY jobs can lead to ugly, underperforming, and less-safe cars, working on your fuel system can be downright dangerous. These repairs run the risk of explosions and could set fire to your vehicle, home, and even yourself. This one is especially important to leave to the pros.
Transmission Repairs: The transmission is a notoriously complex component of your vehicle. This is an area that you don’t want to tamper with unless you know EXACLY what you are doing. Messing up a transmission beyond the point of repair is easy, and a replacement will cost more than a professional repair.
Airbags: Airbags are deployed with explosives, making it a dangerous repair to mess up. When driver and passenger safety is at stake, it’s best to leave it to the pros.

Professional Auto Body Repair

Sometimes it’s ok to work on your car yourself, but there are definitely times when the job should be left to professional hands. Prevent safety risks, lost time, and further damage to your vehicle by hiring trained professionals to work on your car. Our vehicles are often one of our most expensive possessions, and it makes sense to invest in having them treated well. If you think your car needs professional attention, bring it to a trusted small collision shop in your area.

Island Color is your local small collision repair expert – you can read more about it right here.