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Frequently Asked Questions What kind of car does the owner drive?
Take Pride In Your Ride
What is a "detail"?
Auto detailing is, to a greater degree, the
process of thoroughly cleaning and protecting, and to a lesser degree,
restoration and customizing of any vehicle.
Our cleaning and protection will include:
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Exterior hand wash
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Exterior wax and/or polish
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Interior vacuum and shampoo
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Interior dash and panels cleaned and UV protection applied
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Thoroughly cleaning windows and doorjambs
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Engine steam cleaning is also a nice touch, especially
when you are selling your car.
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Restoration and customizing might refer to
:
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"Wet" or "dry" sanding the paint
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Vinyl, plastic, and velour upholstery repair
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Carpet repair or replacement
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Windshield crack repair or replacement
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Pin Striping
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Paint touch-up
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Gold plating
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Dent Removal
Is detailing something anyone can do?
Sure. The basics are
things most of us can do, and probably have done. Washing, waxing
and vacuuming the family car is as American a apple pie. When we
think of professional detailing, these basic components are just the
beginning. The professional detail shop is (or should be) outfitted
with tools and equipment that give even a novice detailer a distinct
advantage over the average car wash or do-it-yourselfer.
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How often should
I have my car detailed?
Your car should be detailed at
the point where simple carwashes, waxing, and vacuuming no longer
yields a feeling of satisfaction when you finish.
Waxes should be reapplied when they wear out. Usually
from one to three months, depending on the amount of sun/heat, and the kind of
care and attention taken during washing.
Sealant users should reapply sealant-renewer per the
instructions on the sealant package and the warranty (if any). Most sealant
manufacturers recommend every 6 months.
What's that? You were told that you never had to put
wax/sealant on your car if you bought the dealers sealant. You better read the
fine print in the warranty. Most dealers don't really understand these products
and confuse the length of the warranty with the lasting power of the product
that's being warranted.
If you're looking for a round figure, we would say every
six months is a good time to have the average car detailed. Less if the car
isn't used much and more often if kids, dogs and 20,000 miles per year is more
like you.
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Are automatic car washes bad for my car?
They can be. Not all carwash machines are
created equal. In our experience, car washing is best performed by hand, but that
is not always practical. The things to look for in a carwash are:
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Neat, well maintained machine.
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Shaded prewash area
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Touchless wash system (no mechanical brushes of any kind)
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Spot-free rinse water
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Touchless drying system
Remember to talk with the owner or manager to get a feel
on how much integrity he/she might have. Some of the spray on waxes
can be effective, but don't rely on them for all your wax needs. You
can expect above average wear to the paint finish from regular use
of the automatic wash, but that can be offset through regular
detailing.
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My car has a clear coat, do I still need to
wax it?
This is something that has been asked of
us many times. The answer is yes. It is paint and must be protected just the
same. When base coat/clear coat paint jobs where first being applied by the auto
manufacturers, there was some confusion about what a clear coat was.
When environmental laws were passed restricting the use
of lead and other key ingredients in auto paint, new kinds of paint had to
be developed. The new finishes tended to oxidize rapidly.
The
pigments and metallic components created a terrible dulling effect when oxidized
and the new paint failed completely, in as little as a year. A layer of clear
paint with no metallic or pigments was developed to apply over a base layer or
color layer. This way, when the paint oxidized, no metallic or pigments are
present to cause the dulling effect seen with a single stage product.
Over the years the clear coat process has improved
resulting in a thicker longer lasting finish. However, the clear coat layer
still requires care to slow the effects of oxidation and wear. The clear coat
layer must be preserved. If the clear layer wears through, the paint is worn out
and must be repainted.
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What is a "paint sealant"?
Paint Sealants are applied to fully cured
paint finishes to help them resist the elements. Paint Sealants are much like
wax. Many sealants use wax as an ingredient in the formula. The major difference
between wax and sealants, is the way they lay on the surface of paint and
the life span of the chemicals used.
Wax features a vegetable oil as its base. The
most common (and highest quality) is Carnauba oil. The basic formula for
vegetable oil waxes has been in use for a long time. Most car enthusiasts prefer
these waxes because of the superior gloss and deep shine.
Poly-Sealants use a Soloxsane (dry type) Silicone
as the primary ingredient. This ingredient forms an inter-locking molecule when
applied to the paint surface. The resulting finish is very thin, but very
durable. Because any product with silicone (a poly molecule) can be technically
considered a Poly Sealant, it is important to use only products that feature a
soloxsane dry type base. Wet type silicone is most commonly mixed with water or
solvent and applied to rubber, vinyl, and plastic (Armor All etc.).
This is also called an optical brightener.
Many companies add silicone to their regular wax formula and proclaim it a Poly
Sealant. Don't be fooled. There are no known paint protecting benefits achieved
through the use wet type silicone on cars.
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I had a dealer apply paint sealant, do I
still need to wax my car?
Technically no. But you will need to
reapply a sealant renewer. Both wax and Paint Sealants are designed to protect
the paint finish. Sealants in general last much longer than pure wax, so why
would you want to wax over a sealant.
Also, since wax does not really stick to
the finish to well, it will have a much more difficult time sticking to the
sealant layer. If you own a black or dark colored vehicle, and will be showing
it off, you may want to apply wax over your sealant. The high oil content in
pure wax leaves a slightly more glossy finish but beware of the smears that
often occur when the two products are applied together. A damp diaper can
quickly remove this kind of smearing.
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