Frequently asked questions about our cosmetic repairs
What is cosmetic repair?
Plastic Surgeon's cosmetic repair service uses fine finishing techniques, many originally used in the automotive trade, but also drawing on the skills of French polishing. Our specialist Finishers use a vast array of proprietary fillers, hardeners, polishes and colours, to mend surfaces that have suffered damage such as scratches, dents, chips, gouges, staining or similar.
What can you repair?
We can repair almost any internal or external surface in a property.
Plastic and GRP repair
Bath and Basin repair
Window Cill repair
uPVC repair
Wood, Veneer and Laminate repair
Worktop repair
Stone and Brick repair
Brick Tinting
Ceramics and Enamel repair
Glass and Glazing repair
Metal and Foil repair
And many other surfaces.
Do you have pictures of surfaces that you have repaired?
Yes, visit our Gallery to see before and after pictures of actual repairs.
Are you a nationwide company?
Yes. Plastic Surgeon is a national company, with a head office based in Devon. We operate from six regional centres, each with their own management and teams of Finishers. Our service is available in every area in mainland UK.
Are your Finishers employees or is it a franchise?
All our Finishers are directly employed by Plastic Surgeon. We don't operate any franchises. All Finishers undergo a rigorous training programme at head office, followed by further on-the-job training in the field.
Once I have placed my order, can I book a date for the repair to be carried out?
As soon as we receive your order our customer services team will arrange a convenient date to carry out the repair. This will depend on the availability of our Finishers and your time commitments. The appointment time and date will be confirmed in writing, with full details of the Finisher, including ID and vehicle registration.
Why can't someone come out straight away to carry out my repair?
Although we have teams of Finishers working in all areas of the UK, there are times when we are extremely busy. In some cases we may able to get a Finisher to you the next day, but we can't guarantee this.
How long will the repair take?
This depends on the item and the extent of the damage. We will assess the damage and provide you with an estimate of how long the repair will take. The average time for a repair is around 2 hours.
How is the repair carried out?
This will depend on the type of damage and the surface. Our Finishers are trained to use a wide range of repair techniques and they will use the most suitable and cost-effective one for you. A typical repair to a scratched surface would involve filling it with a two-part filler, sanding and levelling and then mixing an exact colour match which is applied by hand, re-creating any artistic details such as wood grain or marble effect.
What materials do you use to do the repairs?
Our Finishers are equipped with a huge range of finishing products, including resin and carbon fibre fillers, hard and soft waxes, special colour pigments, strengtheners and coatings. Depending on the type of damage, we may use heating equipment, for example to recreate the profile of uPVC. The Finisher will also use a range of specialist tools to fill, level and complete the repair.
Why does it take 2hrs approx to repair a small chip?
The average time for a repair is around 2 hours and so our minimum charge is for a 2 hour call-out. Each repair is different and the complexity of the repair will depend on the surface and the extent of the damage. Our Finishers are highly skilled and will always endeavour to complete the repair as quickly as possible, without compromising on quality. If you compare the time and cost of repairing with the time and cost of replacing an item, you'll see that 2 hours really isn't that long.
Will the repair be visible once it is complete?
This depends on the surface being repaired. Most of our repairs are virtually undetectable, and if they can be spotted it is usually only by someone who knew where the original damage was.
How long will the repair last for?
Again this really does depend on the surface and type of repair and where it is situated. For example, a repair to a kitchen worktop that is continually in use may not last as long as a repair to a window cill that only receives periodic cleaning. We do offer a one year guarantee on all domestic repairs, so if a repair fails within that time, we will come out and re-finish it at no extra cost.
Am I saving the environment?
By repairing, rather than replacing, we reduce what is sent to landfill and what is transported to your home. We not only save labour, transport and landfill but the cradle to grave lifecycle of any item. Making a new component uses energy in the manufacturing process, while restoration reduces this environmental impact dramatically. Our repairs saved 2,250 tonnes of waste from landfill in 2011 alone.
Why Plastic Surgeon?
We provide the right equipment, the right solution and we can perform a comprehensive damage assessment online prior to any work being carried out. Our qualified team will answer any queries that you have about repairing the damage backed up by expert knowledge and experience. Furthermore, every repair is covered by our 12 month guarantee.
