While hailstones can range from small pellets to large, golf ball-sized chunks, the barrage of ice from a hail storm can leave your vehicle covered in dents and damaged body panels. This not only dramatically impacts its appearance but significantly affects its safety and functionality.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the various types of hail damage a car can suffer, from minor imperfections to significant structural issues. More importantly, we’ll highlight how you can address them promptly.
Different Ways Hail Can Damage Your Car
From dents to dings, hail can damage your car in various ways, causing issues that could compromise the structural integrity and safety of your vehicle. Understanding the different types of hail damage empowers you to assess the extent of the damage and seek out top-notch hail damage repair technicians for the job.
The following highlights some common auto hail damage types and ways to address them.
1. Small Dings and Surface Imperfections
One of the most common forms of hail damage is small dings on the car’s surface. These are minor, shallow dents typically no larger than a coin. They usually occur when hailstones are small, nearly the size of a pea, or somewhat bigger. While these dings may not seem like a big deal at first glance, they can affect your vehicle’s aesthetics and lower its value if left untreated.
Repair Options for Small Dings
Even though small dings might seem insignificant, ignoring them can lead to rust. The protective paint coating may crack over time, exposing the metal underneath to moisture and air. This provides the ideal conditions for rust to develop. Unfortunately, once rust takes hold, it can spread quickly, leading to more severe body damage and higher repair costs.
Most small dings can be fixed with paintless dent repair (PDR). It’s a popular and cost-effective solution for this type of damage. The technique uses specialized tools to massage the dented area back to its original form without affecting the paint.
2. Medium-Sized Dents
Medium-sized dents are more noticeable than small dings. While medium-sized dents may not affect the car’s performance, they can impact the overall appearance. They are typically caused by larger hailstones, which range from the size of a marble to a golf ball. These dents may cover a larger surface area on your car’s body, particularly on the hood, roof, or trunk.
Repair Options for Medium-Sized Dents
Depending on where the dent is located and the level of the damage, an auto technician will decide how to repair this type of damage. Superficial dents in easy-to-reach areas can be fixed with PDR. However, if a dent is in a difficult-to-reach area or has caused the paint to chip or crack, it may require more extensive repair techniques, such as traditional dent repair.
3. Large Dents and Severe Body Damage
When a hailstorm produces large hailstones, the result can be significant dents and body damage that extend far beyond surface imperfections. Hailstones the size of tennis balls or larger can leave massive dents in a car’s body, break windows, and even damage critical components.
Large dents are not just an eyesore; they can compromise the structural integrity of your vehicle. Severe body damage can impact the framework, leading to a range of issues, including improper alignment or compromised safety features. Remember, the car’s frame has several crumple zones to absorb impacts during a crash. If these areas are damaged, they may no longer function properly in the event of an accident.
Repairing Large Dents and Body Damage
Large dents often require more than just PDR. In most cases, traditional bodywork involving filler, sanding, and repainting is needed to restore the car to its pre-damage condition. If the hail has caused structural damage, the repair process becomes more complicated and costly, as parts of the car’s frame or body panels may need to be replaced.
4. Broken Windows and Windshields
While dents and dings are the most common hail damage, large hailstones can also shatter windows and windshields. The impact can crack, chip, or shatter glass, especially if the stones are large or the storm is intense.
The windshield offers structural support to the roof of your car and helps in airbag deployment. A compromised windshield reduces your visibility, and if a crack spreads, it can interfere with your ability to drive safely. So, driving a car with a cracked or broken windshield can be very dangerous.
Repairing Broken Windows and Windshields
Immediately address broken windows and windshields to prevent further complications and ensure safety. Small chips or cracks in a windshield can be repaired using resin injection, which fills the crack and prevents it from spreading. However, if the crack is larger than a few inches or if the windshield is shattered, replacement is the only option.
5. Hail Damage to Headlights and Taillights
In addition to windshields and windows, hail can damage the headlights and taillights. Large hailstones can crack the plastic coverings or shatter them entirely. While this damage may not seem as urgent as a broken windshield, it’s still a serious issue.
Not only do broken or cracked lights reduce visibility on the road, but they can increase the risk of accidents, particularly at night or during adverse weather conditions. Damaged lights do not function properly, making it hard for other drivers to understand your intentions on the road, such as signaling turns or braking. Above all, driving with broken lights can result in a fine.
Repairing Broken Lights
Depending on the level of the damage, repairs may involve replacing cracked plastic covers, fixing electrical connections, or installing new light bulbs. In cases where the light is shattered or non-functional, a complete replacement is necessary.
6. Roof and Hood Damage
The roof and hood of a car are particularly susceptible to hail damage since they have the largest surface area. Even a light hailstorm can pepper these areas with dings, while larger hailstones can cause significant dents.
Repairing the Roof and Hood
While repairing roof and hood dents may seem purely cosmetic, they can lead to long-term issues if left untreated. Water can pool in the dented areas, increasing the likelihood of rust. The techniques used to repair these dents can vary depending on the severity of the damage. PDR is a viable option for smaller dents, but larger dents may require body filler and repainting.
Get Your Hail Damaged Car Repaired
Hail damage can range from minor dings to significant body damage. But regardless of the severity, always address the issue promptly. What might seem like a small dent today could become a more serious problem if left unchecked. So, take action sooner rather than later to protect your car.
