Can every dent be filled?
A dent changes the shape of the surface. Before levelling it is considered, it is necessary to check what has been damaged: only the coating, the metal facing, or other parts of the panel as well. The position of the mark, its shape and the condition of the surrounding area all count. A small area in a photo does not automatically mean a simple scope of work.
In Panel Cure+ screening, we start with a description and photos. Creases, torn sheet metal, an exposed interior and areas near edges or fixings are particularly important. Filling an indentation is not a way of confirming that the whole element is sound. First we establish whether a localised repair is the right direction, or whether a broader assessment or another solution is needed.
Filler, primer and topcoat have different functions
In conversations about repairs, these materials are sometimes treated as one product. In reality, levelling the surface must be separated from preparing it for subsequent coats and achieving the finish. The choice at each stage should take into account the other materials and the condition of the existing coating. Choosing the colour alone does not answer the question of how to level the dent.
Repair filler should not be confused with building plaster. We do not transfer formulations used for interior walls to sandwich panels. A material known from other types of repair also needs to be checked for the specific application. The client does not need to buy it in advance: it is more important to preserve information about the damage and agree the correct scope.
What determines the amount and thickness of material?
The answer requires naming a specific filler and its technical data sheet. Only then can the permissible substrates, preparation method, curing conditions and layer limits be checked. The size of the indentation alone does not make it possible to select the product or determine how much material can be applied safely. We do not give one thickness for all panels.
It is also necessary to distinguish the amount of material needed to prepare the work from the amount that actually remains in the repair. With several damaged areas, their shape and distribution matter, not just the total area. That is why a question about cost is best started with photos and the number of areas. The statement “I need filling” alone is not enough for a reliable quote.
Paint data are not filler parameters
Product documentation is often detailed, but each value must be assigned to the correct material and stage. For example, the Spectral 2K data sheet describes an acrylic enamel, its components and the paint coat. It does not define the permissible filler layer beneath a repair. Transferring the paint parameters to the filler would be a misreading of the document.
The same principle applies to formulations from training or a previous job. Before they are used in another location, it is necessary to check what they related to: the product, substrate, preparation method and conditions. On this website we explain the selection process, while the method statement is based on the documentation of the chosen system. This avoids a seemingly precise answer based on data from a different stage.
Source 1What do trials and training preparation teach us?
In preparations for the training with Pro-Painter, filling and primers were treated as separate matters, depending on the damage presented. The results of the paint adhesion tests did not automatically determine how dents should be filled. Selected examples were chosen for the exercises, while for another, the need to consider replacing the element was identified.
For the client, the key conclusion is this: the method should follow from the case, not from a promise to repair every mark. Photos of the exercises show training work and its visual result. They are not proof that all the properties of the panel have been restored, nor a ready confirmation of the scope on another building. Where the core is exposed, the compatibility of materials in contact with it must also be clarified.
What should you send to get a specific answer?
Prepare a view of the whole element, a close-up of the dent and a shot showing its position relative to joints and flashings. Add the approximate dimensions, the number of areas and the site location. If you know the manufacturer, coating type or history of previous touch-ups, include this information. Take photos from a safely accessible spot, without straightening or filling the mark before the assessment.
Also state what result you expect and whether the work needs to fit around the building handover or plant operations. Panel Cure+ will use your enquiry to establish the next step: completing the data, a site survey or preparing a scope. Before the work is carried out, we discuss the method, expected result and working conditions. This way, the decision to repair has a clearly described basis.
Sources and scope of information
Checked on 24 October 2026. Based on the sources listed below. This educational content was prepared by Panel Montage. The procedure depends on the specific panel, coating, damage and manufacturer’s recommendations. This article is not an individual repair assessment or an instruction for working at height.
Let’s start with photos
Show us the damage.
Let’s agree the next step.
Prepare a view of the whole panel, a close-up of the damage and the site location. If you know the manufacturer, coating type or RAL reference, add this information.
Prepare a repair enquiryTalk to the team