With a growing number of companies opting to undertake minor repairs on a mobile basis, we can understand why so many motorists in Kent feel confused about who to use for small-scale dent repairs and bumper repairs. The automotive sector has many SMART repairers who will travel to your home or place of work to assist you, but can these providers match the standards that you’d get from a traditional local bodyshop?
We are still proponents of SMART repair technology, but it is often the case that some mobile repairers are better than others, and very few are as good as land-based garages.
This blog post explains how mobile repairers in Kent use SMART systems to perform dent repairs and bumper repairs. It also provides an insight into how we complete the same work at our premises in Royal Tunbridge Wells using a combination of traditional repair techniques and modern paint materials.
What are SMART Repairs?
A SMART repair is a process where the work is contained to a smaller area of the damaged panel and stands for Small to Medium Area Repair Technology. SMART systems are commonly used to complete dent and bumper repairs but motorists in Kent are advised to exercise caution when looking for services online. While SMART repairs can lower costs and help in avoiding panel replacements, there are still practical issues to consider.
• Not all SMART repairers have workshop experience and do not know the exact science behind repair work
• Some SMART repair systems are very low in quality and do not hold up well to ultraviolet light exposure
• Repairs look fine after completing a job but over time, filler scratches and fade-out areas start to show
• In realistic terms, SMART repairs are best suited to very small chips, not to most types of collision damage
A land-based bodyshop will be able to provide you with a more informed assessment of any damage before advising you on the best ways to have dent repairs or bumper repairs completed, knowing that the standard of the finish is going to last.
Traditional Repairs
While the “Repair, Don’t Replace” philosophy of SMART repairs is a good one on certain types of work, trying to replicate what bodyshops in the Kent area can do will often leave a customer feeling dissatisfied when standards come into play. At Hillary’s Coachworks, we use traditional repair practices to complete dent and bumper repairs. We also have low-bake oven facilities for refinishing and a paint mixing scheme.
Low-bake ovens provide optimal conditions and temperatures for refinishing, extracting overspray and reducing the circulation of contaminants to leave a cleaner paint surface. Modern paints and clearcoats won’t sink into the repaired area and look like a badly thought-out DIY project after a few months.
Not all SMART repairs are the same, and we do see examples of good workmanship from time to time. In much the same vein, no two bodyshops are ever the same either. At Hillary’s Coachworks, based in the Kent town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, we deliver superior finishes on dent repairs, bumper repairs and all work related to accident, crash and collision damage.
