FAQ
Should you not find the answers to your burning questions below, please don't hesitiate to contact me.
For full details of each service please see our packages section.
what is 'detailing'?
‘Detailing’ is an american term that can be defined as the systematic rejuvanation and protection of the various surfaces of a vehicle. It goes beyond the basics of valeting to correct paint defects inflicted by poor wash technique, general wear and tear and exposure to the elements. This is achieved by means of advanced machine polishing. The results achieved can be quite spectacular, removing swirl marks, light scuffs, oxidation, tar spots, tree sap etc. Shine and clarity can be restored that you may have thought only a re-spray could achieve.
what are 'swirls'?
Swirls are fine scratches inflicted in a cars paintwork (see photo 1 below). They appear as lines and are often referred to as spiders webs. They dull the colour of paintwork and make a car look tired and worn. They are caused by mechancial car washes or poor hand washes using dirty, gritty water and cheap sponges.
Photo 1 - 'Swirls'
Over 80% of these marks, maybe more, can be removed by polishing (see a 50:50 example in photo 2 below).
Photo 2 - Halfway through machine polishing
My paint is cloudy and faded, can this be rescued?
Often, yes. Oxidation is caused by exposure to UV light. Mostly seen on red cars with a single stage paint (no clearcoat or 'lacquer'). The colour can usually be significantly improved, and by using UV resistant products further fading can be prevented or greatly slowed down. If the colour has faded under the clearcoat it will not be possible to rectify without repainting.
Below is an example of severe oxidation halfway through polishing. As you can see the difference is quite dramatic and removes the need for a costly respray.
Photo 3 - Severe oxidation removal
How do you do polishing?
Polishing is removing a thin layer of clearcoat (or lacquer) to level out defects and restore clarity. Polishing can be done by hand but this is slow and the results are limited. Machine polishing is much more powerful and excellant results are acheivable. Specialist diminishing polishes are used to 'cut' microns of clearcoat away. Automotive paint is generally between 100-130um (thousands of a millimetre) so an electronic measurement tool is used to check the levels of clearcoat available. The least abrasive method is always used. This is done by varying the grade of polish and stiffness of the polishing pad amongst other variables.
Photo 4 - My Makita rotary polisher and Meguiars polishers and pad
What happens if it rains during the Detail?
I will continue at a later date at no extra charge.
How do I look after my car once it has been Detailed?
Once detailed your car will be far easier to maintain. In order to keep it looking its best, and minimise the reappearance of swirls, I can demonstrate safe wash techniques. A good quality shampoo, together with a washmit and drying towel, used in conjunction with a bucket (ideally two) are the basic requirements.
The protective products will need periodically topping up. Depending on the choice of product, and the environment the car lives in, we would recommend every 3-6 months. Statements made by some product that claim to offer protection for years without further applications are simply not true and will fail leaving your paint unprotected.
I also appreciate that a lot of my clients don’t have the time or desire to spend time like this on their vehicles, so to help you with this I can offer maintenance packages tailored to suit your requirements. Monthly, bi-monthly, bi-annual or anything in between can be arranged to protect your investment.
What is Carnauba Wax?
Carnauba wax is world-renown for its crystal clarity, its protective properties and its uncanny shimmer. The wax is produced by a specific tree that grows in the hot, wet valleys of Northern Brazil. The leaves secrete the wax in order to protect themselves from the tropical sun and to shed rainwater, which falls to the tree’s roots. Carnauba wax has the distinction of being the hardest natural wax. I only use high quality Carnauba based waxes in my details.
How many cars do you do per week?
I detail on weekends and only do one car per weekend to give it my full attention. A full detail can take up to 15 hours but I don't charge by the hour. My prices are set and I will work on the vehicle until my high standards are met.
Where do you work?
I will Detail your pride and joy at your home, office or any location of your choice. All I need is a small area to work in, access to a power supply and ideally a hosepipe. Please note I do not carry any insurance so cannot drive your vehicle nor take responsibility for it.
How do I pay?
Cash or cheque are accepted.
What if I am unhappy with the work?
In the unlikely event you are dis-satisfied with my work then I will give a full refund. I have never had to do this in the past and every one of my clients have been very pleased with the results.
How do you remove interior stains?
Firstly upholstery is thoroughly vacuumed. Shampoo is worked in with a fine brush to loosen ingrained dirt. A wet vacuum is used to extract the dirt via warm water (see Photo 5 below) and the interior is left to dry. A fabric guard chemical is then applied to protect against future stains.
Photo 5 - Wet vacuum extraction upholstery cleaning
My Bumpers are faded, can they be saved?
Yes. Products such as 'back to black' offer a temporary fix to improve the colour of faded black plastic trim but I offer something more permanent. A heat gun is used in conjunction with chemicals to rejuvenate tired trim. The 'memory' of the plastic draws the colour back out even for trim that have almost turned white, as you can see below.
Photo 6 - Plastic trim refurbishment
What is a clay bar treatment?
A clay bar treatment is used to remove bonded contaminants from paint work. Bonded contaminants are those that cannot be removed by normal washing and include tree sap, tar spots and brake dust. They feel rough to the touch and can cause lasting damage to paint. Once removed a glass like, smooth surface is restored.
Photo 7 - A Clay bar