Birkholz Body Werks Repair Process is as follows:
Pre-repair Stage
- Our facility or an Insurance Company creates an estimate
- We Schedule the repair.
- Customer drops off their vehicle at our facility for repairs
- The repair order is created, and we order the parts
- We receive the parts and stock them
Repair
Disassembly Process:
- Automobile is disassembled and properly inspected for hidden and/or unknown damage.
- If we find hidden damage, we will notify the vehicle owner and his/her Insurance Company to get approval for the additional work needed.
- After we receive approval, verbal or otherwise, from the Vehicle owner and or his/her Insurance Company, the automobile will be placed back in production. (Sometimes an insurance appraiser comes to our facility to approve the additional insurance claim.)
Frame & Body Repair:
- We remove and/or repair any sheet metal parts
- We analyze other areas of the vehicle by removing additional external parts
- If there is structural damage the vehicle is moved and placed onto unibody repair equipment.
- We correct any structural inaccuracies by strategically using different methods to correct them such as measured pulls for length, sway, height, and twist corrections
- We prepare new panels for the vehicle by priming and edging out the panels prior to the installation
- Anti corrosion materials are applied to the unibody
- The parts of the unibody that were repaired and welded are painted
- After those areas of the unibody are painted, we re-install internal parts
- In the final step of the body and frame repair, the outer sheet metal is first fitted and bolted (or welded) to the body of the car.
Preparation and Paint Repair:
- We prime the vehicle by utilizing a rust inhibiting acid etching primer, followed by a 2 component filler primer.
- The vehicle is then block sanded and pressure washed.
- The interior door jambs and edges of the vehicle are painted
- The non-damaged areas of the car are masked
- The vehicle is moved to the paint booth where it is washed with solvents
- In the final stage of Paint Repair, the vehicle is painted with one, two, or three stage urethane paint.
Reassemble and Completion:
- The vehicle is unmasked, and we remount the exterior trim
- We redo the pin stripping and align the wheels
- The electrical system is reconnected during this stage
- We wash and detail the vehicle
- We perform a driving test prior to delivery
- The final bill of sale is generated at this point that accounts for supplements and increases in price parts
- The car is delivered