Blog / Madison Group Dealer

How to Protect Your Car During the Summer

Summer car care
Constant exposure to sunlight, extreme temperatures, and the occasional hail storm can wreak havoc on your car’s exterior. Follow these simple steps to maintain the look and quality of your car as long as possible, and make them part of your summer car care routine.

Tips to Protect Your Car From the Elements

Head for cover

The best way to protect your car from the elements is to store it in a garage. A garage provides a sanctuary away from all the elements, including sunlight, freezing temperatures, heavy rain, debris, and hail. While a garage is ideal, not everyone has that luxury. The next best option is to seek out a suitable cover for the car to provide respite from sunlight, tree foliage, and heavy rain. If you live in an area where hail is a common nuisance, a cover specifically designed to prevent hail damage could save you hundreds of dollars over the years. 

Wash, wax, repeat

Dirt, grime, and debris can wreak havoc on your paint. The easiest way to maintain your car’s exterior is to wash it using soap that is free of detergents because those can remove the protective wax layer or even cause staining to your vehicle. Always opt for the wax treatment after getting your car washed. Wax is your first line of defense when protecting your vehicle’s paint. While it’s important to wash your car regularly, pay careful attention during the winter months as many city roads are salted to combat slick conditions. This salt can erode and rust your car’s exterior. 

Avoid unnecessary exposure

When out and about, aim to park your car in a location where there is minimal opportunity for damage. Whenever possible, seek out a parking garage or covered parking deck in case the weather turns south while you’re shopping. Seek out shade but avoid parking under trees, which could either cover your car in sap, debris, and bird droppings or cause damage from a fallen limb. If you experience a hail storm while you’re driving, seek shelter immediately. Look for a parking garage or return home if possible. 

Schedule Repair Services in Madison, WI

Aim to correct any issues like broken paint, a cracked windshield, or dents as soon as possible to avoid further damage. At Zimbrick Body Shops, we offer dent removal in Madison, Wisconsin, and can help you get your car back to its former glory. We can also help with glass repair if your windshield is damaged. For more information about how to maintain your vehicle or our auto repair services, contact our service department or visit our dealership.
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Zimbrick Takes Home Gold in “Best of Madison” Poll

News Release Madison, WI Madison Magazine readers have spoken, and the decision is unanimous: good as gold. Zimbrick Body Shop, a member of the Zimbrick family of dealerships, was recently awarded a gold star for the category Auto Body Repair in the 39th annual “Best of Madison” readers poll. This year’s poll was themed in the spirit of the Roaring Twenties to coincide with the year 2020. With this distinction, Zimbrick joins the company of 572 other winners throughout Dane County. On behalf of the entire Zimbrick family: Thank you to everyone who voted this year. About Zimbrick At Zimbrick Body Shop, we take this honor as an obligation to serve our community to the fullest. We’re proud to address the collision repair needs of our customers in a courteous, timely, and cost-effective manner. Whether you need dent removal, glass repair, car painting, or something else, we’re there for you from estimate to delivery. Our locations at Fish Hatchery Road, High Crossing, and Stoughton Road are ready to assist you today.

Body Repair Shop

Workmanship Guarantees and Other Questions to Ask Your Body Repair Shop

If you’re ever involved in an auto collision or even a little fender-bender, you’ll likely want to take your car to a body repair shop where you can have it returned to its peak condition. What you don’t want to do is take it to the very first body shop you come across. Not all body repair shops are created equal, and it pays to do your homework and find a shop that you can really trust. There are plenty of ways to perform this due diligence. Reading online reviews is a good start. We would also recommend talking with someone from the body repair shop and asking them a few key questions, ensuring a fully informed decision. Here are just some of the questions that you might consider asking. What to Ask at the Body Repair Shop Does your work come with any kind of warranty or guarantee? Some body shops will vouch for their workmanship by offering a warranty or guarantee. Ask if such pledges exist, what they cover, and how long they last. Does your body repair shop offer loaner vehicles? You’re going to need something you can drive around while your car is in the shop. Ask if there are rental or loaner vehicles you can use, minimizing your inconvenience. How long will the work take? It’s only natural to want to learn more about the timeline. There’s no hard or fast rule here, and it will largely depend on the scope of the damages to your vehicle. Expect it to take up to 10 days for your vehicle to be returned to you. Will the body shop be able to replicate your vehicle’s paint color? Verify that the repair technicians will be using the exact same paint that’s currently on the car, not something that’s merely “close.” Will you put everything into a written estimate? It’s not out of line to ask your body repair shop to give you a written contract, outlining the scope of the work, guarantees/warranties, cost, and timeline. Choose the Right Body Repair Shop Do your research and seek a repair shop that impresses you with their friendly, knowledgeable customer service. Don’t hesitate to contact Zimbrick Body Shops to ask us any of your questions.

a dent in a car

Common Types of Auto Body Repair

On average, 6 million people get in car accidents every year. That’s why it’s important to understand your post-accident auto body repair needs. Let’s take a look at four types of common car body repairs. 4 Common Car Body Repairs Paintless Dent Removal Paintless dent repair (PDR) entails removing small, shallow dents in the body of a car. This type of repair is very common and can be used on vehicles as long as the paint surface of the car is not damaged. Common types of damage that can usually be fixed with PDR include: Minor dings Auto body creases Hail damage The time involved in performing PDR can vary depending on the severity and number of dents. For a single dent, it often takes about an hour to complete. Glass Replacement and Windshield Repair Glass replacement is performed when a windshield or window needs to be completely removed and replaced with new glass. Small chips, scratches, or cracks often can be fixed through repair, but for more serious damage, glass replacement may be needed. While the time involved in glass replacement can vary, a windshield replacement usually takes about an hour. Windshield repair involves fixing chips, scratches, or cracks on the windshield when glass replacement is not needed. This process involves injecting a clear resin into the areas of damage, then curing and polishing the resin. This ensures the damage will not spread and results in a smooth surface. Windshield repairs usually take roughly 30 minutes to complete, though this can vary depending on the job. Auto Body Painting Auto body painting is needed when the paint surface of a vehicle is damaged. This involves removing dust and other particles from the surface of the car, priming it, painting it, lacquering it, and polishing it as needed. This process can take up to five days to complete, depending on how much of the car needs to be repainted. Collision Repair After a serious vehicle collision, major auto body repairs may be needed. In these cases, the body shop team will inspect your vehicle and assess the damage. Once an estimate on the repairs is put together and approved by the customer, the technicians will disassemble the vehicle as needed and complete the repairs. They will then reassemble the vehicle and detail it as needed. Time can vary based on the number and severity of the repairs needed. Schedule Auto Body Repair in Madison, WI Looking for an auto body repair in the Madison, Wisconsin area? Learn about Zimbrick Body Shops’ auto body repair services —  our expert technicians are happy to walk you through our process and bring your car back to pre-accident condition.