SMART repair stands for Small to Medium Area Repair Technology. It’s a method for fixing minor vehicle damage without replacing entire panels or parts. SMART repair is considered a cost-effective approach for car body services. When your vehicle suffers light scuffs, dents, or scratches, Smart Car Repairs offers a quick and cost-effective approach to vehicle restoration services without unnecessary downtime or expense.
In this guide, we will provide an overview of smart repair, how it works, and its benefits
Highlights
- What is Smart Repair
- Types of Smart Repair
- Limitations for Smart Repairs
Uses of SMART Repair Service
Smart repair services are used to fix small to medium localised damaged areas of your car to maintain its original look. They are a quick and effective way to fix minor cosmetic damage. By focusing only on the damaged area, smart repairs minimise disruption, preserve your vehicle’s aesthetic integrity and protect its market value, save you time while maintaining your vehicle’s original look, and offer a faster turnaround than conventional repairs.
What does Smart Repairs Involve?
Smart repairs combine different techniques to restore minor damage to your car. They involve paintless dent removal (PDR), Scratches and paint corrections, interior restoration, and windscreen and headlight repairs.
Scratch and Paint Corrections:
In this process, dents are restored, and small scratches are repaired with minor paint touch-ups. This helps maintain your car’s original finish and value.
Here are the techniques and tools used in repairing the scratches and paint corrections:
- Colour-matched paints are precisely blended to match your car’s original shade, ensuring a flawless finish.
- Fine brushes and applicators are used for minor touch-ups on small chips or light scratches.
- Spray guns provide precise paint application to restore only the affected section. It reduces overspray and delivers a clean, professional result.
- Paint blending seamlessly matches the repaired section and the surrounding surface, maintaining the vehicle’s original appearance.
To explore this further, check out our full guide about scratch removal and repair blog for detailed insights on restoring your vehicle’s paintwork.
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Paintless Dent Removal
Minor dents where the car’s paint is still intact can be repaired with paintless dent removal. This process reverses the minor dents and dings from the panel to restore it to its original shape.
Here are the techniques and tools used in the Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) process:
LED Dent Lights:
LED lights cast a bright, even shine across the vehicle’s surface, creating reflections that highlight dents and imperfections. Technicians use these reflections to accurately see the shape and size of each dent, allowing precise and careful repair.
Glue Pulling System:
This method involves applying specialised glue tabs to the dent’s surface and using a pulling tool to pull the dent when access behind the panel is restricted. Usually, dents come out with a single pull, but in some cases, it may take multiple attempts.
Tapping Down Tools:
This process involves tapping hammers, such as rubber, plastic, or metal-tipped hammers, to smooth high spots and refine the repaired area for a seamless finish. These tools allow technicians to repair dents with precision.
Rods & Hooks:
Technicians use slim metal rods from behind the panel to carefully push dents out without affecting the paintwork.
You can read a full guide on how paintless dent removal works, visit our blog:What is Paintless Dent Removal and How Does It Work?
Bumper and Plastic Trim Repairs
Smart repairs for bumpers and trim damage, mostly involve repairing minor scuffs, cracks, or scratches on bumpers or any plastic body part.
Here are the tools and methods used for fixing bumpers or plastic trim on your car.
- Plastic Welding Tool: Used to join cracked or broken plastic pieces back together securely.
- Filler or Plastic Filler: Applied to fill in deep scratches, gouges, or dents before smoothing.
- Sanding Blocks: Smooth the surface and shape the repair area for a clean finish.
- Heat Gun: Helps soften and reshape slightly warped or dented plastic parts.
- Masking Tape & Cleaning Agents: Protects nearby areas and ensures a clean surface for paintwork.
- Touch-up Spray Guns: Repaints only the repaired section, blending it with the rest of the bumper.
These tools are mostly used to restore plastic components efficiently and seamlessly for smart repairs.
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Headlight and Windscreen Repairs
Smart repairs can also restore visibility and aesthetics by addressing dull, cloudy headlights and minor windscreen damage like chips or surface scratches.
Headlight Restoration
Dull, yellow, or scratched headlights can make your car look worn out and reduce nighttime visibility. Clear headlights help you see better and be seen by others, so it’s important to get them fixed promptly for safer night driving.
Sanding with discs or pads – Wet Sanding with pads or discs gradually removes oxidation and surface damage. It usually starts with coarse sandpaper and moves to extra-fine grit.
Plastic polish and headlight compound – Plastic polish and headlight compound are applied using foam pads to buff the surface. It will restore the clarity and a smooth, shiny finish.
UV sealant or protective clear coat – Applied after polishing to protect the surface from UV damage and hazing.
If you want to know more about all the detailed processes involved in restoring your car’s damaged headlights, you can read our blog for how to improve visibility with quality repairs.
Windscreen Smart Repairs
Smart windscreen repairs are designed to fix small chips or star cracks before they spread further across the glass. These quick repairs help restore strength and improve visibility without needing a full windscreen replacement.
Here are the standard tools used in windscreen smart repairs:
Resin Injection Tool – Fills small stone chips or cracks with a special transparent resin to stop them from spreading. It is injected into the cracks to strengthen the damaged area. The excess amount is later sanded off.
Vacuum or Pressure Device – This device helps the resin settle deep into the chip by removing air from the damaged spot.
UV Light – Used to quickly dry and harden the resin for a solid and lasting repair.
Polishing Cloth or Pad – Cleans off any extra resin and smooths the glass surface, making the chip barely noticeable.
Need Car Body Repair?
Get a free assessment and quote from our certified technicians today!
Are There Any Limitations for Smart Repairs?
Smart car repair is a cost-effective option for fixing minor damage for all types of body repairs. Here are a few limitations you need to understand what limitations make smart repairs as not the right solution for your vehicle.
- Large dents or structural damage usually require complete panel replacement.
- Deep paint damage that affects multiple panels may not qualify for smart repair.
- Rust or corrosion in the affected area could limit the success of a smart repair.
To understand the different types of car body repair and when traditional methods are needed, check our blog on: Types of Car Body Repair Services
Frequently Asked Questions
SMART repair is an economical solution as it’s only meant for small to medium area damage. It’s also quick and can be performed on the same day.
SMART auto repairs include scratch removal, dent removal, alloy wheel repair, bumper scuff repairs, and more.
SMART repair produces good results if performed expertly. Otherwise, you may get an uneven finish or missed damage. Therefore, it’s essential to choose reliable experts like AVX to perform SMART repair on your car.
AVX is Your Best Choice for Smart Repairs
Smart car repairs are a quick and effective way to restore your vehicle’s original appearance without the stress of lengthy repairs. If you’re in London and need a trusted car body shop for expert smart repair services, the AVX team is here to help. Contact us today and let our specialists bring back your car’s flawless finish.
