INTERIOR DETAIL

Interior detailing involves a deep cleaning of the whole interior cabin. Automobile interiors of the last 50 years have a variety of materials used inside the cabin such as synthetic carpet upholstery, vinyl, leather, various natural fibers, carbon fiber composites, plastics, and others. Different techniques and products are used to address cleaning these. Vacuum cleaner|Vacuuming is standard, and steam cleaning, liquid and foam chemicals, as well as brushes may be used to remove stains on upholstery. Some porosity|nonporous surfaces may also be polished.

EXTERIOR DETAIL

Exterior detailing involves cleaning and restoring or exceeding the original condition of the surface of the car’s finish (usually a paint with a glossy finish), Chrome plating|chrome trim, windows, wheels, and tires, as well as other visible components on the exterior of a vehicle. A wide array of products and techniques are used to do this based on the surface type, surface condition, or the detailer’s preference. Products include, but are not limited to: detergents and acid free degreasers (to break down dirt and soil), detail clay (to remove embedded contaminates), waxes and polishes (to resurface and then improve reflectivity), as well as a variety of applicators, brushes, and drying towels.

CERAMIC COATING  

To understand ceramic coatings, it’s helpful to first look at the most common paint-protection products. 

Wax is organic and the most affordable, available in various forms ranging from an old-school paste to a quick-and-easy spray. For decades, “waxing” a car has been synonymous with keeping it looking shiny and new. Unfortunately, wax isn’t terribly durable and, therefore, should be applied multiple times per year. Some companies claim otherwise but environmental contaminants and even a harsh soap can easily break through that thin wax barrier. 

Sealants, on the other hand, are synthetic and developed to last several months. They are easily applied, though typically don’t offer the same deep shine one gets from a quality wax.

Both are outmatched by a ceramic coating. This silica-based liquid polymer is applied by hand and cures to form a protective layer that, when properly maintained, can be effective for several years.

ADVANTAGES OF CERAMIC COATING 

That long-lasting protection is the main reason car owners choose a ceramic coating over the other options. Essentially a hard shell, a ceramic coating will prevent water stains, road grime, bird droppings, and other substances from reaching and harming the paint. With a quick rinse, they’ll simply slide right off.

And that brings us to an interesting word: hydrophobic. Typically, anything related to “phobic” has a negative connotation, but in this case it’s all positive. A ceramic coating will create a hydrophobic layer that essentially repels water, meaning mineral deposits and dirt have less opportunity to damage the paint surface.

What Ceramic Coating Won’t Do

Unfortunately, ceramic coatings are not ideal for everyone, primarily due to high costs. Unlike a wax, for example, a ceramic coating adheres to and bonds with a car’s paint and cannot simply be wiped off and reapplied. The process is more akin to applying stain to a piece of wood, where the application needs to be smooth, consistent and, for the best results, performed by an experienced professional. If a mistake is made, or if something touches the surface before it has fully cured, the entire area of the car must be wet sanded and the coating reapplied. 

While the price of ceramic coating kits is less than $100, proper preparation can make this an expensive endeavor. Since the coating will magnify any imperfections, you must first laboriously polish the paint to remove any swirls, scratches, or discoloration. Experts claim that’s even true for brand-new cars fresh off of a dealer’s lot, as they likely have slight paint damage from being run through an automatic car wash. 

With this in mind, you may not be surprised to learn that a professional may charge $1,000 or more to apply a ceramic coating to your vehicle. We don’t recommend the average do-it-yourself attempt on a car of any value.

Perhaps more significant than the cost of a ceramic coating are the unrealistic expectations some people have with regard to the result. Granted, ceramic coatings offer unrivaled protection, but your car won’t suddenly have an impenetrable barrier. Stones will still chip your paint, rogue shopping carts will absolutely dent your fender, and tree sap left to bake on the hood will laugh at your $1,000 silica-based polymer. 

Furthermore, you must maintain a ceramic coating with frequent brush-free washes (to avoid swirls and scratches) and occasional treatment with a particular spray which, thankfully, owners can do themselves.

Clay Bar ?

Clay bar detailing is when you use an engineered elastic clay compound to remove particles from your car’s surface that a thorough car wash could never get. This includes:

• Brake dust

• Metal dust

• Industrial pollution

• Road grit

Everywhere you go, your car is being pelted with miniscule particles that bond to its surface.

They can work their way down through the clear protective coat, through your paint, and all the way down to the metal frame.

You’ll know you have a lot of particle buildup if you run your fingers along the paint after you wash your car.

Does it feel bumpy?

You’ve got particle buildup. But this won’t be solved with a simple wash. You need clay bar detailing.

Paint correction stages explained

Stage 1 Paint Correction or Single Stage Paint Enhancement is just that, polishing the paint work in one stage or one step with only one type of polish and pad combination. This is suited to paint work in good condition already that have no real visible swirls and only very minor marring – the Stage 1 or Single Stage Machine Polish involves refining the paint work with a finishing polish and a finishing pad only and is generally not abrasive enough to remove swirl marks and scratches, it is then followed by a wax or paint sealant to protect the paint work.

Stage 2 Paint Correction is suited to cars that have moderate swirl marks and light scratches and involves using 2 different polish and pad combinations; the first step is generally a cutting (abrasive) polish or compound to remove imperfections such as swirl marks, light scratches and other moderate paint defects. This is followed by a finishing polish and finishing pad to refine the paint work even further by removing any marring or holograms left by the previous step, it is then followed by a wax or paint sealant to protect the paint work.

Stage 3 Paint Correction is suited to cars that have heavy swirl marks, scratches and other paint defects, it involves using 3 different polish and pad combinations, and this can also include spot wet sanding for heavier scratches. The first step is a heavy cutting compound with a heavy cutting pad to remove those deeper swirl marks and scratches, the second step is a cutting polish and polishing pad to remove further swirls marks followed by the finishing polish and finishing pad to further refine the paint work to a swirl, mar and hologram free finish, it is then followed by a wax or paint sealant to protect the paint work.

What is an ozone TREATMENT?

An ozone generator is a device that sucks in air from 1 side, passes it through an area where electrical discharges turn the Co2 into O3. The device is placed inside a room or vehicle, when there are no animals or humans present, the device can be turned on. After a certain amount of time (depends on level of odor and size of room), the device is turned off. The room or vehicle is then opened up to let the ozone filled air blow away. After the gas is completely gone, the room is safe to enter. Ozone is especially effective to clean air and remove smoke odors. Ozone doesn’t linger for very long, the gas will quickly decay into diatomic oxygen. This treatmentcan also be used to disinfect fabrics during the washprocess. 

BENEFITS OF AN AUTO DETAIL

Detailing has many benefits beyond providing a clean fresh vehicle, it also…

1. Preserves and correct your exterior paint job
   Many things can contribute to swirl marks and paint dullness however; auto detailing can help safely remove debris that cause deep scratches to your paint job. Professional grade wax is applied to the exterior to provide an extra layer of protection until your next service.

2. Preserves your upholstery
   Regardless of the type of upholstery your vehicle has, an auto detail will provide a deep cleaning and will sometimes include protective solvents. For leather surfaces, a protective and moisturizer is applied to prevent cracking and tears. For soft surfaces, a shampoo may be involved to lift stains and a fabric guard applied to prevent future 

3.  Enhances car performance
   Detailing is more than just making your car look great, it also involves cleaning out the engine. By removing dust and dirt from your engine, it allows your car to run smoothly and at lowers temperatures.  Engine cleaning is a big benefit of auto detailing that is not provided with a regular car wash.

4.      Extends the cars lifespan
When your engine is clean and running optimally, your car will naturally have a longer life span. The same principal applies to your car’s interior and exterior surfaces.   Your cars paint will last longer with less scratches, swirls or bubbles. Your car’s interior upholstery will be clean and free of deep set stains or leather tears.   

5.     Preserves your vehicle’s resale value
Regular auto details contribute to better paint on the exterior, maintained upholstery, longer life span and a healthy engine which all increase the resale value on your vehicle.

6.     Improves the air quality inside your vehicle
If you are not detailing your car regularly, dust will collect over time and stay in your vehicle, your air conditioner and heater will regulate this dust throughout the air. The deep cleaning that an auto detail provides removes dust and allergens from your vehicle, this improves the overall air quality that is being circulated.   

7.     Overall appearance
Auto details clean everything, down to the smallest crevasse of your vehicle. These areas are not cleaned on a regular basis by car washes and can easily generate build up.  When they are cleaned with an auto detail, your car will instantly look better and appear cleaner. It’s all in the details!

To maintain pristine performance and protect your car it is recommended you get your car detailed every 3/4 WEEKS - 1/2months.   The more frequently you get your vehicle detailed, the better maintained your car will be which, will ultimately prolong the lifespan and resell value.