Car polishing techniques - wet and dry wax. What does wax protect the body against?…
How to protect your car against hail? How much does it cost to repair a bodywork after hail damage?
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How to protect your car against hail - Read the article
- What are the effects of hail?
- How to protect your car against it
- What are the techniques and costs of repairing dents
The untamed destroyer
We deal with hail in all seasons of the year, both in warm summer, rainy spring and even slightly warmer winter. These are smaller and larger pieces of ice. It also happens that they combine to form hailstones. They fall to the ground with enormous force, hitting sidewalks, building facades, roofs and our cars. The bodywork is much less resistant to such impacts than brick or concrete. In such situations, it is easy to get dents and scratches. Windows are also exposed to damage. The front one is at an angle, and the rear one is often also at an angle, which increases the risk of a block of ice hitting it hard. All this means that many cars do not look the best after hail, especially since drivers are not always aware that they can protect their four-wheeler against it without necessarily driving it into the garage.
Hail is coming, ...what to do?
If you have a garage or a carport, the solution is very simple, we quickly put our car under the roof, it is safe there. If this is not possible, it is worth knowing the locations of underground or roofed parking lots. You can always use them if necessary. An alternative to this safest solution is a tarpaulin, i.e. a large piece of material that covers the entire car. When choosing it, you should take into account its size so that it is possible to protect the entire car. Some of them come with attachments in the form of rubber bands or hooks, while in others we have to take care of the attachment ourselves. Is the tarpaulin alone enough? In the event of large and strong hail, the body of even a car protected in this way may be damaged. It is worth placing a soft sponge under it to absorb impacts.
When hail surprises you on the way
Not everything can be predicted, including the weather. Sometimes a storm hits us while we are driving on a highway or national road. It will rain or there is already small hail. Should I keep going? Your visibility is limited, pieces of ice hit the windows and the body, and the same applies to branches falling from trees. It is not safe, so in such a situation it is best to stop. However, never stop in prohibited places. Better find the nearest route and leave your car there under a roof and wait until it stops raining and you can continue driving.
Paint under additional protection
The weather can surprise us, leaving permanent marks on our car. Now you know what to do when hail comes and you're at home or on the road. Car care is equally important as the mentioned quick and appropriate response. Use cosmetics that not only clean and shine, but also protect the paint against the harmful effects of external factors. An additional layer of protection won't hurt, and may only help, especially when it starts to hail and you're looking for shelter for yourself and your car. Synthetic waxes or body balms with multi-directional effects will fulfill their role in this situation. They limit the risk of paint damage.
Unfortunately, there is damage
You don't have a garage, you didn't cover your car with a tarp, you didn't use a covered parking lot, there was no gas station nearby on the highway, so there is damage. You notice dents on the bodywork. This is a job for a specialist. The simplest method of repairing the defect is to straighten the dents. If we do not decide to additionally varnish, the cost of such a repair is around PLN 200, but this only concerns the repair of one dent. In the case of larger quantities, the price increases. Repair, however, means a thinner layer of varnish, which is more susceptible to chipping and corrosion. However, you can choose the varnishing option. First, the dents are straightened and then the paint is renovated. Sheet metal workers offer this option primarily for dents located at the edges of sheet metal elements. Professional repair – straightening and painting – can cost you from several hundred to several thousand zlotys. You always need to analyze whether such a large investment is worth it.
Summary
- Hailstones are small, large ice balls that fall to the ground with great force, damaging the bodywork and windows of cars, causing dents, chipping paint and cracks in the windows.
- It is best to place your car under a roof during hail. If you don't have this option, cover it with a tarp with a layer of soft foam
- While driving, find the nearest station where you can safely wait until the hail passes
- Use car cleaning products that additionally create a protective layer on the paint
- The simplest dent repair costs from PLN 200. If you decide to straighten and varnish, you will pay from several to several thousand
