10 / Service Category

Fiberglass, Composite and Delamination

Fiberglass and composite repair restores cracked, punctured, or delaminated panels on molded caps, composite bodies, and laminated walls. Repair rebuilds the laminate structure rather than filling the surface, because a cosmetic fill over a structural crack reopens.

Overview

What this covers for Irvine fleets

Fiberglass and composite panels fail differently from metal. Metal dents and stays dented. Composite cracks, and the crack propagates from stress and vibration until it runs the length of the panel.

Delamination is the other characteristic failure: the outer skin separating from the core beneath, usually because water got into the laminate through an unsealed penetration or a seam. It appears as a soft or bubbled area and it spreads.

Both are repairable, and both require rebuilding the laminate rather than filling the surface. A filled crack looks correct for a season and then telegraphs straight back through the paint.

Services

5 services in this category

Each links to a full page covering process, symptoms, ballpark pricing and related work.

Fiberglass Crack and Puncture RepairStructural laminate rebuild for cracks and punctures, ground back and rebuilt in a tapered scarf.$750 to $12,000 and up Delamination RepairRebonding separated skin and core by injection or by opening, replacing core, and relaminating.$1,500 to $20,000 Composite Panel Repair and ReplacementRepair and replacement of bonded laminated body panels using construction-matched adhesive systems.$750 to $12,000 Front and Rear Cap ReplacementMolded front and rear cap removal and installation with structure repair, bonding and refinishing.$4,500 to $25,000 and up Aluminum Skin Repair and ReplacementRiveted and bonded aluminum sheet repair, sectioning, rivet line restoration and corrosion treatment.$2,500 to $25,000

Vehicles

Vehicle types this applies to

FAQ

Fiberglass, Composite and Delamination questions

What causes delamination?

Water entering the laminate, almost always through an unsealed penetration, a failed seam, or impact damage that cracked the outer skin. Once water is between the skin and the core, freeze cycles and flexing separate them progressively.

Can delamination be repaired or does the panel need replacing?

Localized delamination is repairable by injecting and rebonding, or by cutting out and rebuilding the affected area. Widespread delamination across most of a panel is usually better replaced, because the repair area would exceed the sound area.

Will a fiberglass repair be visible?

Done properly, no. The laminate is rebuilt, faired, and refinished into the surrounding surface. A repair that shows later usually means it was filled rather than laminated.

How long does a fiberglass repair take?

Four to sixty labor hours depending on the area and whether structure has to be rebuilt. Cure time between laminate stages is part of the calendar and cannot be rushed.

Need fiberglass, composite and delamination in Irvine?

Body, paint, structural and upfit work, all performed at our Yorba Linda facility. Tell us the vehicle and the damage and we will schedule intake.

Request Service (714) 909-1844