As Christmas grows closer the weather is bound to get colder. Despite the weather turning frigid, the need for collision repair and auto body services won’t decrease. In fact, the demand for these services may increase due to the increased amount of vehicle damage from winter storms. If you have a heated garage, collision services will be easy this winter. Unfortunately for those who have to work outside or in an unheated garage, the colder weather can have an effect on body work.

One of the most common problems with cold weather collision repair and body work is metal cracking when you are trying to repair it. If the metal is pounded out when it is cold it can actually cause it to crack. Unfortunately, the weather can also cause the paint to crack. The best way to avoid this is to slowly heat up the metal then gently pound out the dent. When heating the metal, be sure to not let it become too hot or it could end up becoming soft.

Paint can also be negatively affected by cold weather. Paint takes a lot longer to dry in colder temperatures. When the paint does start to dry, the cold weather may cause it to crack and flake off. This means the paint will never fully cure and you will likely have to do it all over again. The best way to combat this is to have the paint dry in a temperature controlled garage. You should also give it more time to dry in colder weather.

Body filler must also be heated when working in colder weather. The filler may not cure properly in temperature below 60 degrees. It also may cause the filler to have adhesion problems. To prevent cold weather problems with body filler, you will want to work in a heated garage. If access to a heated garage is unavailable, a portable space heater should do the trick. Just be sure to use the heater safely and never leave it running unattended.