We love the idea of a convertible car where the roof of the car can be automatically adjusted with buttons, presenting the car to be without a car roof. However, the experience is not the same when the roof of your car has caved in or has broken.
First off, it would be an eyesore and also a safety hazard. The roof of convertible cars can be adjusted to close during harsh weather conditions but this can not be said for a car with a caved-in roof. Now imagine you in your car with a caved-in roof during harsh weather conditions.
You would want to forget the experience in a hurry. Therefore, we should take proper care of the roof of our cars to avoid unpleasant expenses.
How Strong is the Roof of a Car?
Based on standards, the most weight that can be put on a car’s roof is between 70 and 170 pounds. As long as the weight you put on the car roof complies with the weight specifications, the car roof should stay in place.
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Regardless, you can exceed this weight limit and see your car roof stay in place. But for how long? You could dent your car roof or see it cave in if you constantly put the weight that exceeds the weight specifications required for the proper functioning of the car roof.
How to Fix a Caved In Car Roof?
Fixing a caved-in car roof is possible but it is best to avoid going through the process. There are many methods that make the process possible and we will be explaining them below.
- Seek help from professionals
- Using a plunger
- Using a rubber mallet
- Using dry ice
The outlined methods may not be guaranteed and may work based on the severity of the damage to the car roof.
The ideal method is to leverage the services of a professional. This is because they would have the best knowledge on how to go about the repair regardless of the extent of the damage.
Use a Rubber Mallet
A rubber mallet of standard size will work well. Find the center of the part of the roof that has caved in.
Hit the center of the dent hard enough to get all or most of it back into place. Then, starting in the middle and working outward, tap the roof back into place with the rubber mallet.
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You should only hit the roof hard enough to put dents back where they belong. Don’t hit the roof so hard that you make a dent in the opposite direction.
Once you’ve tapped most of the roof, you’re done. If you can’t get sharp dents out of the metal with a rubber mallet, you may need the services of a professional.
Use a Plunger
The plunger method can work well but a strong one must be used. Once you’ve found your plunger, press it into the center of the dent and connect it to the plunger.
Press gently up and down a few times to push the air out of the plunger’s head. This makes the plunger’s grip stronger and its suction stronger.
Now that the plunger is securely attached to the car’s roof, you can open the top. Hold the plunger tightly with both hands and pull it up firmly and steadily. You might have to do this more than once to get the roof back in place.
Once the roof is back in place, you can figure out if the car needs more bodywork. When a caved-in roof is fixed, it may still have dents. A body shop can take care of these dents for you.
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Use Dry Ice
Using dry ice is another way to fix a car roof that has caved in. The dry ice method uses the extreme cold of dry ice to contract the metal on the roof and pop it back into place.
This method may be a gamble though as it doesn’t always work and you may eventually need a professional to handle the situation.
Proceed by putting a handful of dry ice in a glove and press it to the middle of your roof that has caved in. Start to slide the ice across the top of your roof in a circular motion so that a large area of the dent gets the same amount of exposure to the dry ice.
The roof might go back into place after a minute or two. However, if it doesn’t work after 10 minutes of applying the ice, then you should opt for another procedure.
Seek the help of a Professional
As pointed out earlier, this could be the best way to go as other methods are not guaranteed. Different car models, different car roofing materials, and different roofing designs, amongst others, are factors that will play a role in how these car roofs can be fixed.
If you’ve made the efforts and can’t arrive at a solution, then go for a pro to avoid worsening the state of your car roof. Going for the services of a car repair shop is arguably the best step to take.
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What is the cost of fixing a dent on a car roof?
It is a no-brainer that it would cost money to fix a dent on the roof of a car. However, the cost would depend on some factors such as the extent of the damage, the car brand, and the model, amongst others.
If the dent is small and doesn’t damage the paint, it will cost less to fix than if it’s big and does damage the paint. For each dent that needs to be fixed, it will also cost more.
If it is not a luxury car, minor paint damage will cost between $200 and $500. If the dent is bigger and the paint is damaged, it will cost between $1,500 and $4,000.
All of these prices don’t take into account high-end cars. Even if you only need small repairs done on a luxury car, it could cost you $2,500. A luxury car with a big dent could cost as much as a whopping $7,000 to fix.
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Conclusion – How to Fix a Caved in Car Roof?
Your car roof is a vital component of your car and should be properly taken care of to avoid dents and possible caving in. Seeing the speculated prices that have been listed for car roof repairs, it is obvious that it is costly.
We’ve outlined some ways to fix a caved in car roof and recommended going for the services of a car repair professional to avoid the possibility of further damages and complications.
Also, the processes that will affect the fixing of your car roof will depend on factors like the model of the car, and the design of the roof amongst others.
Regardless, no one wants to drive a car with a caved in roof due to the possible hazards. Therefore, take measures to prevent a dent in your car roof or its caving as it gets complicated from there.