Cut, weld, seal, paint. Done right the first time.
Maryland winters are rough on sheet metal. Salt, brine, and standing water eat through rocker panels, wheel arches, quarter panels, cab corners, floor pans, and frame rails. Once rust starts, surface treatment alone won't stop it — the only real fix is to cut out the affected metal, fabricate or buy a replacement panel, weld it in, seal it inside and out, and refinish. Airpark Auto Collision does it the right way, not the quick way.
Airpark Auto Collision of Gaithersburg — 7615 Rickenbacker Dr, Suite C, Gaithersburg, MD 20879. Call (301) 908-0606
Not every rust spot is worth repairing — some vehicles are too far gone, and we'll tell you. For everything else, we map out the affected areas, photograph the damage, and write a clear scope with prices for each section. No surprises after the panel comes off.
Affected metal is cut back to clean steel. We fabricate replacement sections from new sheet metal or use aftermarket reproduction panels (rockers, cab corners, quarter skins, wheel arch repairs). All welds are MIG or TIG depending on the metal and finish, ground flush, and treated.
The reason most rust comes back is shops paint over the outside and forget the inside. We treat the back side of every repair with a rust-encapsulating coating, then cavity-wax inside enclosed sections (rockers, frame rails, doors) so the repair stays sealed.
After body filler and block sanding to fair the repair, we prime in epoxy, seal, base-coat, and clear in our downdraft booth. Paint is computer-matched to the existing finish and blended into surrounding panels so the repair disappears.
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. If the rust is localized (one rocker, a quarter panel, cab corners) and the rest of the vehicle is solid, repair is usually a great investment. If rust is widespread through the floor, frame, and multiple panels, the cost may exceed the vehicle's value. We give you an honest read after we take a look.
Not when it's done right. The reason rust returns on most repairs is shops paint over the outside and skip the back side. We treat both sides and cavity-wax enclosed sections, which is what keeps a repair sealed for the long haul.
Yes — frame rails, rocker panels, floor pans, and cab corners. Frame and structural welds are inspected and verified to factory geometry before any cosmetic work goes on top.
Small spots: 3–5 days. Quarter panel or rocker panel replacement with paint blend: 7–14 days. Multi-area restorations on classics: 2–8 weeks, depending on scope. We'll give you a written timeline with the estimate.