We’ve all seen it before a time or two.

A car is driving around with mismatched paint, and it looks horrendous. Whether it’s a circular spot where there was clearly a dent, or the hood was replaced and is now a dull factory tone rather than the vibrant color it once was. Or that beautiful white boat that looks great except for the yellowish blotch on the hull that shows where a repair was made.

Whatever the case may be, the need for gelcoat or paint color matching has likely been apparent to you at some point or another.

The experts at Hassis Paintworks are trained, licensed, and certified to color match paint and gelcoats. We pay a level of attention that is unmatched by other shops in this day and age, simply because we care about the product and quality that we are putting out there. And after all, you’re paying for this service — so why not give you exactly what you’re looking for?

When it comes to marine or auto paint matching, nobody in Stillwater does it better than Hassis Paintworks — that’s why it’s right there in our name.

But why is this service important? Well, there are actually many reasons. Here are just a few reasons why marine and auto paint color matching is important after a scratch, gouge, dent, ding, or accident:

• Aesthetic: Of course, one of the most important reasons why marine and auto paint matching is so important is so that it makes your boat or car look good. Nobody’s going to be visually impressed by a boat or car that has unmatched body panels or obvious signs of sloppy repair work. Color matching will make your car or boat look like new again with no signs of any repairs.

• Value: Chances are, you’re not going to be in possession of your current vehicle or boat for the rest of your life. If it’s a newer make or model, you might even be able to sell it and recover a decent amount before buying a new one. However, if your car’s paint is ugly and unmatched, then your car’s valuation is going to drop significantly. And if your boat’s gelcoat or paint show signs of repairs, this may hinder a sale.

• Convenience: The final reason why marine and auto paint color matching is an important service is simply because it’s available. Why have a multi-colored vehicle or discolored boat when you don’t have to? Remember that you are paying the repair facility to repair damage and restore to pre-accident condition. While other repair facilities may simply go through the motions when repairing or refinishing, Hassis Paintworks pays a level of care and attention to detail that is unmatched when it comes to finding the right color match. We have more than 20 years of experience in marine and auto paint color matching, which means we are very knowledgeable and you can clearly see this through our work.

How Reliable Is Marine and Auto Paint Color Matching

Color matching from a professional shop like Hassis Paintworks is 100 percent reliable. Hassis Paintworks specializes in color matching, which creates amazing results when doing all repairs, refinishing, and repaints. Our marine and auto technicians utilizing the latest in technology, along with 20-plus years of experience to ensure a proper color match and a remarkable finish.

When it comes to marine and auto paint color matching, nobody does it better than Hassis Paintworks. Bring in your vehicle or click here to get a free auto paint matching estimate today.

Being involved in an auto accident can be a jarring and stressful experience.

Once the initial shock of the accident is over and you have assessed that everyone involved is OK, your mind will most likely be racing through a million different thoughts.

The biggest question that will come to mind is, “What happens next?” Remember, you just went through a shocking and potentially traumatic experience, so it’s completely fine to take a few moments to collect yourself before proceeding to the next steps.

As soon as you have taken some time to assess the situation and compose your thoughts, there are some things that need to be taken care of. Keep reading to learn the next steps and contact Hassis Paintworks today to learn about our free estimates on auto body collision repair.

THE NEXT STEPS

OK, so you’ve been in an auto accident. That is a bummer. Hopefully, it was a fairly minor fender bender and won’t require too much stress on either end. But in order to determine that, there are a few steps you need to take. Here’s where you can start.

• Move Over: If you are physically and mentally OK, and your car still has the capability to move, it’s best that you slide over to a safe area, such as the road shoulder. That way, you can get out of the way and protect yourself against further damages. If you can’t move, be sure to turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers on the road that you are there—and will be there for some time.

• Check On The Other Car: Next, you’ll want to step out of your car and make sure the other vehicle (if there was one) and its passengers are all safe and accounted for. If someone is a little bit shaken up, it may be best to contact a medical emergency team immediately.

• Call Police: Even if nobody is seriously injured, the police are most likely going to be involved. Not only can they help further protect the accident scene, but they can also be useful when it comes to filing an accident report and ultimately an insurance claim. Make sure you cooperate with police completely and give them all of the details you have without assessing blame or admitting fault, when possible.

• Get Information: Once police are on the scene and can properly mediate the situation, it’s time to start collecting information about the accident. A few things you will want to jot down include the passenger information (names, insurance info, driver’s license info, and contact info) from the other vehicle, license plate numbers, makes and models of each vehicle, eyewitness information, the location of the accident, and the name of the police officer who was at the scene. You would also be well-served to take photos and document the scene, which can come in handy when the time comes to file an insurance claim.

• Contact Insurance: Now comes the part where you file an insurance claim in order to minimize or eliminate the costs that you may be facing. Whether you have just a minor dent or extensive structural damage, insurance (yours or the driver at fault) can be a huge help in offsetting the costs and finding the right auto body collision repair shop.

• Contact a Reliable Collision Repair Facility: The next and final step is to contact your friendly neighborhood auto body collision repair experts in Stillwater. At Hassis Paintworks, our auto body technicians are well-equipped to handle auto structural repairs following a collision.

Don’t let an auto accident stress you out to the point of no return. In most cases, our auto body technicians can return your vehicle back to the way it was before the accident. So don’t fret, just contact Hassis Paintworks for auto body collision repair in Stillwater, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the entire Metro area for an accurate and honest estimate.

When searching for a trusted auto body technician, you’re going to want to find one who is well-versed in the latest and greatest techniques.

One of the most revolutionary auto body repair methods, for example, which has been sweeping the world by storm (pun somewhat intended) is paintless dent repair. Paintless dent repair, or PDR for short, is an effective way to remedy those pesky dents and dings that occur after a hail storm, door ding or other minor incidents.

This technique utilizes specialized tools and careful attention to detail to pop those dents out without compromising the car’s lavish layer of original paint. That means no buffs, no scratches, and no cracks. And what’s more, it’s affordable and can help you avoid the costly repairs and restorations quoted to you by other shops who aren’t equipped to perform this service in-house.

No longer do you have to look at your vehicle with despair following a hail storm or lose your marbles if your car gets a door ding at the grocery store; instead, you can trust Hassis Paintworks to get your car looking just like new once again with the best paintless dent repair in Stillwater.

What are the benefits of paintless dent repair, aside from being an affordable and simple solution? Well, we’re glad you asked. Keep reading to learn more and contact Hassis Paintworks to get your free estimate.

Paintless Dent Repair Advantages

• Quick Turnaround:The top auto body technicians, like the ones at Hassis Paintworks in Stillwater, are well-equipped to handle all of their jobs in-house. They are experienced, trained, and certified in a number of techniques like paintless dent repair, which means they have the capability to perform a repair in a timely fashion. PDR, when done right, is a fairly quick process — though don’t take that to mean that we are going to rush through. We’ll still take the time to get the job done right the first time. But we also know that you have other things to do besides waiting around for your car, which is why we get you in and out as soon as possible.
  
  
• High Success Rate: As long as your car’s paint wasn’t damaged or cracked during the storm, there is an extremely high possibility that paintless dent repair will be successful. Whether it’s minor or extensive, you can rest assured that your car’s hood, roof, and even door panels can be restored back to mint condition with paintless dent repair. That helps save you money and headaches.
  
  
• Maintain Value: Chances are, you’re not going to have one car forever. That’s part of the reason why it’s so important to take good care of your current vehicle at all times. Dents, dings, and hail damage can greatly depreciate your car’s resale value. But with paintless dent repair, your vehicle can shine like new and keep or even improve upon its value.
  
  
• Safety: Obviously, paintless dent repair does not require the use of any paints or chemicals which can be detrimental to the environment and even to people. Instead, this technique uses specialized hooks, hammers, and other tools to push and pull the vehicle back to its proper shape.
  
  
• Affordable: In many cases, paintless dent repair can help save you money. You not only don’t have to pay for an expensive new coat of paint, but you can also in many cases avoid paying for a full restoration or replacement of your hood or doors. Plus, most auto body repair shops can work with your insurance to find a price that is fair and affordable for you.

Stillwater Paintless Dent Repair Experts
As you can see, there are countless benefits of PDR. When searching for a trusted auto body technician to perform paintless dent repair in Stillwater, there’s only one name you can trust to get the job done right: Hassis Paintworks.

We’ll treat your vehicle as if it was our own. Contact us to get your free estimate and get back out on the road.

SEE A CRACK IN YOUR WINDSHIELD? DON'T WAIT!
December 2017

Windshields chip and crack more often then we'd like.

The worst part is, this can happen in the blink of an eye! You could be driving down the highway and all of a sudden — DINK. A rock gets kicked up by the truck in front of you and leaves you with a fractured windshield.

Or, perhaps you left your car parked underneath the tree in your driveway just before one of our signature Stillwater snowstorms. OOPS! A branch broke off and landed right on your squeaky clean (and clear) windshield.

No matter how it happened, the important thing is that you act quickly after discovering a cracked windshield. While sometimes, smaller chips and cracks can be repaired without incident, there are other times where your car might require a full-on windshield replacement. This is typically necessary if the crack extends all the way across the windshield in either direction.

Luckily, the trusted auto body collision repair technicians at Hassis Paintworks have you covered. If you’re looking for glass replacement in Stillwater, then this is the place to be.

Here are a few reasons why you need to bring your car in today, rather than driving around with a cracked and obstructed windshield.

It’s Dangerous
Driving with a chipped, cracked, or broken windshield can be extremely dangerous for a variety of reasons.

First of all, particularly if the crack is in the driver’s field of vision, it can obstruct the view and create a significant hazard. In that case, you’re not only endangering yourself, you’re endangering the other drivers on the road as well.

Not only that, a cracked or damaged windshield can be extremely detrimental to your safety in the event of an accident or impact.

Cracked windshields are known to break and shatter much easier, as there is already a compromise in the structure of the glass. That can leave you vulnerable to ejection, a loss of structural integrity, and an overall increased risk of injury in the event of an auto collision.

The windshield is more than just a protective layer from the elements while driving; it’s a crucial part of the structural integrity. Having a damaged windshield can be devastating not only your car, but your safety, and can even cause the roof to collapse in the event of an accident.

All of this can be avoided, of course when you act quickly to have your windshield replaced.

It Looks Bad
While safety is the most important issue when it comes to a cracked windshield, you should also be aware of the aesthetic displeasure that comes from a crack.

Your car simply looks bad with a cracked or chipped windshield, which can decrease its value and really be a problem if you are trying to sell or trade in your vehicle.

It Might Be Illegal
In Minnesota, the laws don’t specifically state that a windshield is required — but if you’re driving around this winter, we think you’re probably going to want one.

However, the laws do have a few specific guidelines when it comes to obstructions as a result of chips or cracks.

While the size of permitted cracks or chips isn’t specified in the bylaws, you should be aware that a ticket would ultimately be up to the officer’s discretion. There are penalties for driving with a windshield that is discolored or cracked in a way that limits your clear view.

In that case, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Trusted Windshield Replacement In Stillwater
At Hassis Paintworks, we do a whole lot more than auto body collision repair. We can handle your glass replacement in a quick, efficient manner to help you remain as safe as possible while on the road. Reach out today for your free estimate.

WATCH OUT FOR BLACK ICE THIS WINTER!
December 2017

   

Minnesota weather is quirky and unpredictable.

But in the winter, there area few things that we should know to expect: freezing cold temperatures, fresh blankets of snow, and that dreaded black ice.

Black ice is one of the more unfortunate and dangerous byproducts of our cold weather climate here in the Stillwater area. The worst part about black ice is that it’s largely unavoidable — unless you plan on staying off the roads completely this winter.

At Hassis Paintworks, we have you covered if you’re in need of auto body collision repair after a run-in or accident caused by black ice. But more importantly, we want to be here to give you a few safety tips to help you properly spot and navigate black ice safely.

Here are a few things to keep in mind while driving on the Minnesota and Wisconsin highways this winter.

What Is Black Ice?
Black ice is ice that forms without many air bubbles inside. Black ice commonly occurs on roads due to moisture from car exhaust at sub zero temperatures or from when temperatures are sitting right around freezing. Black ice can accumulate when the ground temperature is so cold that rain, sleet, or snow freezes immediately upon contact. Or when wet snow thaws and refreezes overnight before it has a chance to evaporate.

Black ice is transparent, as it takes on the color of whatever surface it forms on, which is usually pavement. Hence the name “Black Ice”. This is the reason that black ice is so dangerous, because that clear sheet of ice is almost impossible to identify when driving.

However, this dangerous road hazard is anything but normal; it is slippery, often unavoidable, and can ruin your travel plans in a hurry.

Spotting Black Ice
Black ice can be a tricky thing to spot, largely because the road usually appears as if it were normal or possibly just wet. Of course, black ice doesn’t occur on the roads every time it snows. It doesn’t have to snow at all! This is what makes it hard to detect.

However, by using the thermometer in your car (if you have one), you can properly gauge the outside temperature to know if there is a risk for black ice. If the temperatures are below freezing and there is precipitation on the ground, then chances are you’re going to want to drive a little bit slower and be more aware of your surroundings. Also, if you are in an area where there may be traffic congestion and the temperatures are sub zero, this is also an indication that black ice may be present.

In Minnesota and Wisconsin, the department of transportation will sometimes attempt to neutralize black ice on roads by pouring salt or sand, so this is another thing to look out for during the winter. Even if you see an abundance of sand/salt on the roads, it’s best to be cautious. Remember that road salt is not as effective at sub zero temperatures.

Tips For Driving On Black Ice
Driving on black ice can be a tricky and dangerous thing.

However, by following a few of these tips from Hassis Paintworks, you can possibly avoid some of the dangers and hazards associated, and possibly even save yourself a trip to your local auto body collision repair shop.

Our top tips for driving on black ice include:

• Keep Your Distance:You should remain about five seconds behind the car in front of you, as it takes twice as long to stop on black ice.
  
  
• Don’t Slam The Brakes:When skidding, you’re going to be tempted to hit the brakes. Instead, you should attempt to remain calm and hold your steering wheel steady to even out.
  
  
• Be Aware:Again, you should always be aware of your surroundings and the outside temperature. Remember, the ground temperature in the winter is likely colder than air temperature, particularly in the mornings.
  
  
• Don’t Over Correct:This goes back to tip No. 2. When you feel your car sliding, do not feel the need to overcorrect. Instead, try to keep the wheel steady and firm until you come to a stop.
  
  
• Plan Accordingly:If you can avoid driving at night, when black ice is more difficult to notice, do so.
  
  
• Keep It Slow:Your destination can wait. Drive at reduced speeds in order to minimize the risk of black ice, slips, skids, and accidents.
  

If you do encounter an accident as a result of black ice this winter, don’t let it beat you up. Come into Hassis Paintworks for the best auto body collision repair in Stillwater and we’ll get you all taken care of!

WHY DO I NEED AN ADJUSTER TO LOOK AT MY CAR? DO I NEED TO GO TO A SPECIFIC SHOP FOR REPAIRS?
November 2017

Having damage to your vehicle or boat after an accident, hail storm, or other incident can leave you grasping for answers and searching desperately for quick and cost-effective repairs.

Likely, the first thing you’ll be wondering is whether or not your repairs will be covered by your insurance. Well, if that is the route you choose to pursue there are a few things you need to understand about the process.

First, your insurance company will likely refer you to one of their preferred adjusters in order to assess the damages and the costs for both parties. But you may be asking yourself, “Why do I need an adjuster/ What do they even do?”

Well, having an insurance claims adjuster look at your vehicle is a necessary process in order to help the insurance company, whether it’s your own or that of the person at fault, to determine the extent of the damages.

You likely won’t have the choice of choosing from an adjuster of your own, and that’s because it’s supposed to be an objective practice which will allow the adjuster to inspect and ensure that nobody is paying for damages from a previous incident.

Therefore, the claims adjuster will go through and inspect the vehicle for rust, previous repair attempts, or other signs to ensure you are only being compensated for the accident in question.

However, there’s a good chance that the insurance company’s adjuster will try to give you the least possible amount for your damages. You may be able to negotiate or counter their initial valuation, if you have a convincing reason. That’s where having an estimate from a trusted auto body collision repair shop is a key factor. Which brings us to our next point.

Choose Your Own Shop

After your adjustment is finished, your insurance company will probably refer you to have your auto body repair work done at a preferred shop.

But wait.

Before you head to the shop that they recommend, take the time to shop around a little bit. While they may have their own preferred shops that they recommend, it is not a requirement for you to take your car into them. They may have special deals worked out with certain shops, but that does not mean that you have to abide by their preferences. Instead, you can and should take your car into an auto body collision repair center that you know and trust.

When it comes to auto body collision repair in Stillwater and the rest of the East Metro area, there’s only one name that you can trust to handle all of your needs: Hassis Paintworks.
Whether we’re on your insurance company’s preferred list or not, we will work with you and the insurance company to ensure that all repairs are accounted for, at a price that is fair to you, and we’ll make sure the job is completed in a timely manner.

Plus, if we find any additional damage or work that needs to be done throughout the process, we’ll take care of submitting those claims into the insurance company ourselves, so that you don’t have to deal with the hassle.

When it comes to auto body collision repair in Stillwater, there’s no better place than Hassis Paintworks. Contact us today for an estimate.

FALL IS HERE - LOOK OUT FOR DEER!
October 2017

In Minnesota and Wisconsin, the risk of automobile collisions with deer tends to increase during these fall months. In fact, according to a StarTribune article from October 2016, there were 2,141 accidents involving deer and automobiles throughout Minnesota in 2015 – 82 of which were right here in Washington County.

At Hassis Paintworks, we want to make sure you are safe, first and foremost. Which is why we want to warn you to be wary of deer this fall season. There are many reasons why they are more prevalent during the fall, the most common one being that they are on the move to warmer pastures before winter hits. Plus, there is such a large population of deer in general throughout the state, that there’s a good chance you will encounter one along the road at some point or another, whether you’re in the rural outskirts or even right near the metro areas.

So, if you’re on the road this fall season, be sure that you’re fully alert, not distracted, and you keep your eyes open for potential hazards including deer crossing the road.

However, if you do happen to be one of the licensed motorists who comes into contact with a deer, don’t fret. You may think the damage to your car is too extensive to be fixed, especially at a cost that is reasonable. But you may have another option.

At Hassis Paintworks, we specialize in car collision repair of all types, whether it’s minor dents and dings or a full on front bumper collision. If you hit a deer this fall, contact Hassis Paintworks for an estimate in order to fully understand the extent of your damage, as well as what our experienced technicians can do to restore the look and functionality of your vehicle.

We are a full-service, one-stop-shop for all types of car collision repairs, from damage to your doors to a broken or shattered windshield. If you collided with a deer, chances are you’ll need one or more of our reliable services to help get you back on the road safely and quickly.

Whether it’s a small cosmetic repair or a full-on large structural collision repair, we can do the job -- and we will do it right. Rather than outsourcing or subcontracting our collision repair jobs, we opt to handle them all in-house with skilled, experienced, and attentive auto body technicians.

Among our bevy of services offered at Hassis Paintworks are:

• Glass Replacement
• Structural Car Collision Repair
• Paintless Dent Repair
• Color Matching
• Detailing and More!

Hassis Paintworks will work with insurance companies to help minimize the cost to you after such a traumatic, and potentially damaging, auto collision.

It’s important to note that during the months of October, November, and December, the deer in Minnesota will be the most active as the herd migrates. So, be on the lookout this fall and winter season, and contact Hassis Paintworks today if you are in need of experienced car collision repair in the East Metro area.