What is detailing ?.....
Detailing is very different from valeting, in the sense that valeting is mainly about freshening a car's appearance. Detailing, however, is about reconditioning and reviving every aspect of a vehicle's appearance. Whereas a valet may spend a couple of hours on a car, a detailer could spend a day - or even up to a week - in achieving the highest level of protection and finish possible. On some details we will even remove the wheels to clean the inner rims and wheel arches by hand. In every instance, the result is far more impressive than a valet, and in many instances, the results are even more effective (and far cheaper) than a respray. And remember, once you have a 'fresh finish', maintaining the looks of your car becomes much easier.
Here's our quick summary of the most important stages of a detail:
Wheel cleaning......
Clean wheels can really enhance the overall look of a car, so we believe in cleaning the whole wheel, front and back, using non-acidic cleaners and specialist brushes to reach and clean every part of the wheel. This process can take around 20-30 minutes per wheel, as invariably brake dust and tar spots prove stubborn to remove. We finish wheels with a durable sealant, or 'synthetic wax', to ease cleaning of the wheels in the future and help protect them against pitting or corrosion.
Washing........
The wash stage is critical when it comes to a vehicle looking its very best. We spend between one to two hours on the wash stage alone, using specialist natural cleaners and purified water, starting with a citrus degreaser around the window surrounds and trim. By pre-treating these areas and agitating the dirt with boar's hair brushes and micro-brushes, we can remove the ingrained contaminants that are often left behind with a normal wash.
Then we move on to pre-treating the dirtier parts of the vehicle: the lower half of the bodywork, the wheel arches and sills. We scrub the arches by hand and rinse down the whole car.
Now we move onto the foam stage. The special foam we use 'dwells' on the bodywork rather than running off instantly, allowing its cleaning action to be sustained. We rinse again and then wash, using the 'two bucket' method. Put simply, this means using two buckets, both with grit guards and full of warm wash solution. The first bucket is the wash bucket and is used to dose the lambswool mitt. The second is the rinse bucket, and is used to take the dirt off the mitt. This ensures that the water applied to the car is always as clean and fresh as possible - and keeps the chances of introducing swirl marks to an absolute minimum.
Finally, we rinse down using purified water (filtered down to 0 parts per million) to prevent spotting and runs caused by limescale, then we dry with soft, clean microfibre towels.
Claying............
Claying, or clay bar treatment, is another crucial stage. 99% of the vehicles we come across have bonded contaminants - even the brand new ones. This process removes any bonded contaminants from the paint without causing any damage, leaving a smooth, glass-like finish. Clayed panels are extraordinarily slick to the touch; the roughness of normal paint is usually caused by the ingrained dirt.
Paintwork correction...........
Paint correction really sets detailing apart from valeting; it is the process where machine polishers are used to correct any defects in the paint finish, such as swirl marks, small scratches or oxidisation (fading). The first step is to measure the paint thickness on the panels of the vehicle, using a state-of-the-art digital meter. This is a specialist tool used in the coatings industry and it can measure paint on all metals and plastics - even carbon fibre. It can also distinguish between the separate layers of paint, so there's no danger of cutting through the clearcoat layer into the base coat beyond. Once it is known how much paint/clearcoat is present, polish and pad combinations are chosen depending on the condition and type of paint. The aim is to cut the minimum amount of clearcoat to remove any paint defects, then to provide a 'final finish' using a refining/finishing polish. This gives the paint a crystal clear clarity and the deepest reflections; most people think that this gloss come from the wax, yet actually most of the shine and finish is brought out at this stage. The wax layer can enhance it, magnify it, and add depth - but it is only enhancing a finish that has already been achieved. This means that paint correction is probably the single-most important stage of any detail.
Pre-wax cleansing...........
Machine polishes contain oils to keep them workable; these need removing prior to the finishing coats of wax. We use high grade pre-wax cleansers that clean the surface of the paint and provide a 'primed' base for the wax to bond onto. This helps the wax last as long as possible on the paintwork.
Waxing.........
Carnauba wax is the most durable natural wax in existence and we use a selection of high carnauba waxes, some of which cost thousands of pounds. A high end carnauba wax like Dodo Juice Supernatural gives a finish that cannot be captured in full by a picture - it really does need to be seen 'in the metal' to be appreciated. It adds a depth, warmth and 'wetness' to machine polished paint that can turn even the most normal car into one that turns heads.
We apply the wax either by foam applicator, or by hand - simply taking a small amount of wax, softening it in the palms of the hands, the applying it in smooth strokes to the paintwork. After application the wax is left to cure, buffed, then rebuffed. If another layer is required, we wait 24 hours for the wax to fully bond, then apply another coat. We have applied between two to five coats during our high end details.
Interiors....
Interiors are treated with exactly the same care, and attention to detail, as the exteriors of vehicles. We only use natural cleaners and products to restore and rejuvenate the materials being treated, rather than cheap "quick shine" products. We clean every inch of the vehicle, from roof lining to carpets, including the air vents and spare wheel compartment. Once the interior is as clean and fresh as possible, the leather is treated with the finest quality hide food (to replenish and restore its appearance and texture), the glass is treated with anti-fogging agents, and the plastic trim is treated to glazes that give a natural 'as new' look.
The detail within The Detail........
It is almost impossible to list every part, component or area of a vehicle that enjoys our attention during a detail. However, the list below shows a few selected tasks that we never leave out. We believe that it is the smallest touches that make the largest difference in setting us apart from the competition.
- Door jambs and hinges are cleaned, polished and waxed
- Engine bays are cleaned, degreased and polished
- Chrome trim and tail pipes are polished
- Wheels are machine polished for the ultimate finish
- Glass is not just cleaned, but treated to rain and fog repellants
- Tyres are cleaned and dressed, with durable natural-look dressings
If you would like to talk to us about specific requirements, or to come and see us at work, feel free to get in touch *HERE*
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