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The Repair Process

Knowledge is power. In collision repair, knowledge is also peace of mind. But to take you through the basics, this is the way we return your car back to pre crash condition.

Before any work is done on your vehicle, Bruce’s staff will do a thorough damage assessment and examine the critical safety systems of your vehicle. After everything has been inspected, we explain which areas of your vehicle require repair, and answer any questions you may have about the repair process.

  • You are given a printed copy of the estimate which details the repair.
  • Bruce’s works will all insurance companies.  If needed, we will negotiate with those agents to make sure repairs meet your standards.
  • You will never pay more than your deductable when you bring your car to Bruce’s
  • At Bruce’s we wash your vehicle before we begin the work.  It helps us see problems and solve them as we do our work.
  • Bruce’s handles it all… from all-wheel alignment to frame straightening –returning your vehicle to manufacturer’s specs.
  • Our equipped is up-to-date including low heat welding which is crucial for vehicles younger than 10 years. It’s new technology — which many other shops cannot afford.

We begin by removing original layers of paint, dents are taken out and the vehicle body is prepared for refinishing. The repair area is cleaned again and sanded.  Where needed thin coats of body filler may be used.  This is typically done in two applications to ensure a perfectly clean and smooth surface.

Any bare sheet metal is covered with a two-component primer to protect against corrosion.

  • Preparations start for applying the color coat. The vehicle is covered to protect it from overspray. A primer surfacer is applied to seal the substrate and guarantee good adhesion of paint. After the surface hardens, it is sanded (and cleaned again).
  • From here it’s into the our BlowTherm Downdraft Paint booth. 
  • It assures the safety of our workers and the environment by capturing any overspray of paint.  It also elminates dust particles and other impurities from the new paint surface.
  • It also allows us to turn repairs around faster… so you get your car back quicker.
  • The paint is mixed using Dupont’s Acquire RX.  This technology and Bruce’s color matching technique assures you of an original factory color with seemless color from the repaired area to areas not injured.
  • The color coat is applied in a spray booth.
  • Finally, a clearcoat is applied to ensure the gloss and texture of the repaired areas is identical in every way to the original finish. The clearcoat also provides protection against fading, and it guarantees that your vehicle will keep its beautiful color for many miles.
  • Then it’s time to put it in the oven. Once sealed in the Blow Therm, the temperature climbs to 200 degrees in less than 4 minutes – giving you a baked on factory finish.

Once complete, we then wash your car a second time.

Delivery of your repaired vehicle comes with an opportunity to inspect our work before you leave Bruce’s.  We want to answer all your questions. We’re so sure you’re going to love our job we guarantee our work for as long as you own your vehicle.

At Bruce’s, you’re the customer…not the insurance company.
If we need to play consumer advocate—it’s a role we welcome.  Because we warranty your repairs for LIFE (as long as you own the vehicle) it’s important for us to do the job correctly.  Your safety and satisfaction is our goal.

You can relax…and know that Bruce’s has returned your car back to it’s pre crash condition using manufacturer’s specs.  Even if that means challenging the insurance company if they advocate the use of  ill-fitting, non-OEM parts.  They might be cheaper but yield inferior repairs.

It doesn’t cost more…you just get more at Bruce’s.
Virginia law is very specific in protecting your right to choose the repair facility of your choice. It is illegal for an insurance company to badger, intimate or discourage you from taking your vehicle to the body shop of your choice. A copy of this law is located in the menu above.

We work with these insurance companies:

  • State Farm
  • Progressive
  • Elephant
  • AllState
  • VA Farm Bureau
  • USAA
  • Met Life
  • Liberty Mutual
  • Erie
  • Mercury
  • AIG
  • Southern Insurance

 

Bruce’s is the preferred body for many local dealerships including:

 

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