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Detailer’s Definitions

Protecting your Investment, Understanding the WHY

Understanding the WHY! Why do you choose to have your vehicle(s) detailed? Why is it important to chose the right detailer for your specific needs? Yes, it is always nice being the shiniest car at the stop light. Or the envy of all your friends in your car group. But, If we dig a little deeper into the why, it shouldn’t be much more of a decision after that.

Studies show that the average age of vehicles on the today is 11.6 years young. This is up from years past. Although everyone loves the fresh new car smell and shiny paint. Truth is, with the right detailer with the right process, these results can very much be achieved without the hassles of the new car process more importantly the new payment. The average American spends nearly 300 hours in their vehicle each year, not including if we travel as a part of your job. We hear time and time again “oh my car is new, I don’t need it detailed. Unfortunately, it is not that simple.

Although there may not be any miles on your new beauty, the exterior is far from new. From the assembly line, to the freight car it was stored in while shipped, from the truck it was hauled on to the dealer, to an open car lot it sat on for a while before you came along and found your brand-new car. In all the time between assembly to your drive way chances are your new car was not cared for properly. If you take care of what is under the hood, there should be no reason you are not taking care of the rest of the investment.

This brings me to WHY it is important to MAINTAIN your investment. As you would maintain the engine with regular oil changes, tire rotation, brakes, etc. The same needs to be done to the rest of the vehicle. When it comes time that your ready for the new car again you are getting the best return on your investment. If under the hood is tip top but the rest is neglected and tough to look at, your leaving money on the table.

There is nothing more important than the ones we care for. Whether you drive for a living or just cart to family around the country, Things happen, spills happen, we drop everything in the seats. Things we may never see again. Over time unwanted things can happen to forgotten about spills or the opps I forgot to close the windows before the storm last night. Although these things dry and are forgotten about. Things you can no longer see or feel are starting to take affect. Mold, mildew, bacteria, etc. These can be very harmful to us and our loved one. So next time the car starts to smell funny, address the issue before anything harmful begins. Who is your detailer?

Detailer’s Definitions

Auto Detailing Clay Bar
Auto Detailing Clay Bar is an engineered resin compound used to remove contaminants from the surface of your car’s paint, glass, fiberglass and metal that a simple wash will not remove. Your vehicle is under constant assault from airborne pollutants. Brake dust, industrial fallout, acid rain deposits and rail dust all can adhere to your vehicle. These contaminants often contain metal particulates, which accounts for the ease with which they penetrate the clear coat to attack the paint below. These contaminants then oxidize, and they allow rust to spread beneath the clear coat. Tiny orange spots today, total paint system failure tomorrow! Detailing clay removes these contaminants to keep the paint healthy and vibrant. Detailing Clay also removes stubborn sap, tar, and bug remains.

The Bag Test: There’s a simple test that will indicate whether you need to clay. Wash and dry your vehicle, put a plastic sandwich bag over your hand and lightly rub your fingertips over the paint. If it feels gritty or rough, your paint is contaminated.

Soaps
Customers are always asking now that you have detailed the vehicle and it looks great how can I maintain this level of shine and protection on my own without compromising the finished product. Well there are a few ways. We offer a maintence program with our details that way you never have to worry about putting your investment at risk and be worry free. Or for you do it yourselfers. I also ask what kind of soap are you using to wash your car. I hear far to often that people are using dish detergent such as dawn on their car. It is great for your dishes, not so great for you clear coat. Dawn is such an aggressive cleaner that it will strip away any protection on your cars paint, plastic or chrome. After it has stripped away your protection it also opens the pours in paints clear coat. Now that all the protection is washed away add the elements of weather and the containments in the air sticking to your vulnerable paint. All the soaps we use are PH balanced and environmentally friendly to keep that beautiful finish we love while keeping the environment unharmed!
Carnauba Wax
Wax is great for that deep, rich gloss that looks awesome when driving down the road or at your local car show. What most are unaware that carnauba wax has a very short life span. Approximately 6-8 weeks! This also depends on what kind of climate you live in. wax burns off around 200 degrees give or take the brand of wax you are using. So that means us in the lovely state or Florida we are looks at a couple weeks of protect with carnauba wax.
Synthetic Sealants
(Our go to for your 6-month protection) sealants are much harder than wax. Sealants creates are barrier if you will around your cars paint. Unlike wax like goes into the paint. Sealants have much more durability and longevity. A sealant can last anywhere from 4-6 months. We are also prefer an sealant over a wax is that the only way to remove the protective sealant is from abrasions (washing the vehicle) they don’t like break all the way in the elements the way a wax would.
Compound
For heavy defect removal. If your paint is oxidized. We often hear people say my vehicles paint is very dull or cloudy. They are referring to the paint being oxidized. This happens due to neglect to your vehicle. This can also happen to due improper washing techniques which is creating scratches and swirls (micro marring) in the paint that you may not know you are even creating. The elements then attack the paint and create the oxidation you are seeing. This can also happen if you have had your car detailed they used the wrong methods to try and make your car shiny. It will look great for a short period. Then back to oxidation as it looks worse than it did before you started. If we have to compound the car this is the 1st step of a 3-step process.
Polish
(2nd step of 3) There are a few different types of polishes that will get the job done. There is a heavy cut polish, medium cut polish and finishing polish. With the correct polish and pad combinations this process will remove defects (scratches & swirls) greatly without having to get the compound out and adding another step in your vehicles restoration.
A-I-O (all-in-one)
If your vehicle is well taken care of but you went through that 5.00 car wash just once because you were in a hurry and now you paint has a few fine scratches here and there. Using an A-I-O is great because it will repair light defects, polishes, cleans and protects the paint without having to do a multiple step correction. These A-I-O products are our go to. They save us time and most of all you can have your car back to looking the way you have it without spending a fortune to have to back the way you want.
Marring or mirco marring
Marring can occur from a variety of different ways. This can happen from improper washing method from using a bristle brush grinding into the paint. This can also occur from having a foreign object in your washing mitt such as sand, dirt etc. Marring will also occur with a heavy compound or polishing step/. Sound counterproductive? Introducing scratches to remove more in-depth scratches. Therefore sometimes a multi-step correction is necessary.
Etching
Most commonly causing by bugs or birds and their lovely gifts they leave for us on our beautiful vehicle. Once this happens and do not remove in an timely matter 1-2 weeks AT MOST. The acidic properties of the dropping mix the with clear coat on the vehicle and the UV rays from the elements. If caught fast enough you can avoid having to clay bar or polishing the paint to eliminate the etching. In worst cases may need to be wet sanded away or may have to live with the imperfection.
Waterless/Rinseless wash
This type of wash used only being used for vehicles with light dirtiness or just dusty from being in the garage or covered. Rinse washes will only use about 4-6 gallons of water. With minimal to zero grey water touching the ground. We often use this option for our maintenance package details.