Panels & sheet metal
Auto Body Repair in Garland, One Panel at a Time
A sideswipe while merging, a pole in a tight lot, a door that met a cart corral. Each panel gets its own call: straighten it or replace it.
(000) 000-0000 — describe the panel damageSheet Metal, Handled Like a Work Order
Think of body work as the skin of the car, every door, fender, quarter, hood, roof and decklid. Most of what rolls in from Garland streets is moderate damage, the kind left by a botched merge where the George Bush Turnpike meets local traffic, or a lane change in heavy traffic on Jupiter Road. Each panel is judged separately: work the metal, or order a new part. That call depends on how deep the damage goes, where it sits and what the manufacturer allows. Once it's made, the work follows a set order: metal, a thin skim of filler where appropriate, primer, paint, then fit. Nothing gets painted until the panel is straight and the gaps check out.
Panel Work on the List
Here's what a typical body job covers. Not every vehicle needs every line, and the estimate only includes what yours does.
Door skins and door shells
A creased outer skin is usually repairable. If the inner door frame is crushed, a new shell goes on and the glass, handle and regulator move over.
Bolt-on fenders
These are straightened when the damage is shallow and swapped when the edges or mounting points are torn.
Welded-on quarters
A quarter panel is part of the body shell, so the first choice is to repair it whenever the metal allows and section them at approved seams when it doesn't.
Hoods, decklids and hinges
A buckled hood or decklid usually means the hinges and latch took stress too, so we check those, fix the panel and set it to close cleanly.
Roof and pillar dents
Damage on the roof skin or pillars gets extra scrutiny, since that metal ties into the car's crash structure.
Seam spacing and flush fit
Panels are shimmed and adjusted so the seams run even and each edge sits flush with the panel beside it.
Filler as a skim coat only
If filler goes on at all, it's a light skim over properly straightened metal, never a thick layer covering a poor repair.
Moldings, clips and emblems
Clips, moldings and badges come off before the work starts and go back on straight, with broken clips replaced.
The Order Panel Work Follows
- 01
Walk-around and the repair call
A technician checks each damaged panel under good light and feels for creases the eye misses. The estimate marks every panel as repair or replace, with the reason next to it. Copies go to you and, with an open claim, to the adjuster. Questions get answered before the car rolls into a bay.
- 02
Metal work and prep
Damaged panels are pulled, hammered and shaped back to their original contour. Replacement panels are test-fit before paint so there are no surprises at assembly. Every repaired surface is sanded, primed and block-sanded flat. This is the stage where a good finish is actually made.
- 03
Paint, fit and final look
In the booth, the repaired panels are sprayed and the color is feathered outward. Trim and hardware go back on, and gaps are checked along every repaired edge. Doors, hood and trunk are opened and shut to confirm they latch properly. We walk the vehicle with you before it goes home.
What You Can Count On From This Shop
Repair versus replace, explained
You'll know why a panel was fixed or swapped. It goes in writing, so there is nothing to argue about later.
Straight metal under the paint
Paint can't hide wavy metal for long. We get the panel right before primer goes on, so the reflection stays clean.
Gaps you can check yourself
Run a finger along any seam we touched. It should feel even from end to end, and we check it before you ever do.
Panel Damage? Let's Get Eyes On It
Bring the car by or describe what happened over the phone, and you'll get a straight read on what the job involves. Plenty of our body work comes from Richardson and Dallas commuters who pass through Garland every week.
Walk us through the damage — (000) 000-0000