Question 1

Can rusted metal be welded, or does the whole panel need replacing?

Accepted Answer

Both happen, and which is right depends on how far the corrosion has spread. If the rust is confined to a section of a sill or an arch, we cut that section out and let in a new piece of steel welded to sound metal, which is quicker and cheaper than a full panel. If the corrosion has eaten through most of the panel or reached the folded edges where it joins the car, replacing the panel is the honest answer.

Question 2

Will welding get my car through its MOT?

Accepted Answer

We cannot promise that, and you should be wary of anyone who does. We are not an MOT centre. What we can do is cut the corroded metal out of the sills, arches or floor, weld in new steel and seal it properly, which deals with the underlying problem. Whether the car passes overall is a matter for the testing station, since there may be other items on it we have never looked at.

Question 3

How much does car welding cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends almost entirely on how far the corrosion has spread, and that is often unknowable until the panel is opened up. A contained repair to one wheel arch is a very different job from both sills and a floor section. Send photos to 07939 755264 on WhatsApp for a free, no obligation quote, and if we find more than expected once we start we stop and ring you rather than adding it to the bill. We will also tell you when a car is not worth welding.

Question 4

Is filler ever acceptable over rust?

Accepted Answer

No. Filler over rust always comes back, because corrosion carries on working outwards from the inside of the panel regardless of what has been laid on top. A thin skim of filler used to level a properly welded seam is a normal part of finishing the job. Filler used instead of cutting the rust out is a cosmetic delay rather than a repair.

Question 5

Do you weld older and classic cars?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and older cars are often where the work is most worthwhile, because sound original metal is worth preserving. They take more patience, as the corrosion is usually further advanced and repair sections often have to be made up rather than bought in. We will tell you honestly whether the metalwork is worth saving, and on some cars it is not.

Question 6

Will I be able to see where the repair has been done?

Accepted Answer

That is the standard we work to. The weld is dressed back flush, the joint is sealed against water, the area is primed and then colour matched to your car's paint code, sprayed in our booth and blended into the surrounding panel so there is no hard edge where new paint meets old. Metallic and pearl finishes almost always need blending, and on faded paint we spray a test card and check it against the panel in daylight first.

Rust and MOT welding repairs in Bury St Edmunds

Car Body Welding Repairs in Bury St Edmunds

Sills, arches, floors and repair patches

Cut out, welded, sealed and painted properly

The kind of damage welding is made for

Where plastic damage is dealt with instead

A welded repair should be invisible by the time you get the car back

Refinished in our own booth

How to get a quote for welding work

How a welding repair is actually done

From cutting out the rust through to the final paint

Why corroded metal has to be cut out, not covered over

Corrosion and the MOT, told straight

What happens if we find more rust than expected

Everything is done at our Bury St Edmunds workshop

Questions we get asked about welding

Welding and corrosion repair, answered honestly

Welding repairs for the wider area

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