Restoration
Rust in a New England winter climate is inevitable, but it doesn't have to end your car's life. We cut out what's compromised, treat the surrounding metal, and refinish the repair so it lasts. No quick skim coat that comes back in six months.
Surface rust is cosmetic. It hasn't pitted the metal yet and can be sanded, treated, and repainted. Penetrating rust has eaten through the surface layer and usually means the affected section needs to be cut out and welded-in with a new patch. Structural rust (rust in frame rails, rocker panels, or unibody sections) is a safety issue. Structural rust can usually be fixed, but only with proper cutout, reinforcement, and welding to OEM procedures.
Quick rust 'repairs' that skim over rust with body filler always come back, often worse, because the rust continues to spread under the filler. If a repair isn't going to last, we tell you. In some cases the right answer is to sell the vehicle rather than invest thousands in a losing battle. That honest conversation is what we're known for.
After any rust repair, we recommend cavity wax in the surrounding panel structure, undercoating on exposed frame and rocker surfaces, and keeping drain holes clear. For New England drivers, an annual undercarriage wash after the salt season removes the bulk of what's eating your car.
Questions & answers
If you don't see your question, give us a call. We're happy to walk you through it.
Surface rust, yes, completely. Penetrating rust requires cutting out the affected metal and welding in new steel, after which the repair is as strong as the original. Structural rust can be repaired, but the economics start to matter: if the car needs extensive frame or rocker work, we'll be straight with you about whether it's worth the investment.
Wash the undercarriage regularly through winter to remove road salt. Treat any chip or scratch to bare metal immediately, because that's where rust always starts. Annual undercoating or cavity wax application adds meaningful protection, especially on older vehicles. We can apply these treatments as part of any rust repair or as a standalone service.
Small surface spots run a few hundred dollars including refinishing. Single-panel penetrating rust repair (like a rear quarter panel section) is typically $800 to $2,500 depending on complexity. Rocker panel or floor pan repair can run higher. We write a firm estimate before any work and won't start until you approve it.
Usually no. Rust is considered wear and tear, not collision or comprehensive damage. The exception is rust that results from a repairable leak or covered incident; in that case, we'll document the cause and submit to your insurer if there's a case.
No. Our lifetime warranty on labor covers collision and refinish work, but rust is the one exception. Rust starts from the inside out and from sources we can't always control, like a chip in a hard-to-reach panel or a drain hole that gets clogged years after the repair. We do everything we can to make a rust repair last, including welded-in steel patches, cavity wax, and seam sealing, but we can't honestly promise rust won't return on a different part of the same panel down the line. We'll always tell you up front whether we think the repair has a fighting chance.
Get a free photo estimate in a few minutes. We'll review your photos and reach out within one business day.
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