Restoring Your Car To Its Former Glory

1. Car Det Car Detai ailing ling

2. Restoring Your Car To Its Former Glory

3. Table of Contents What is Car Detailing? What is it all about? What does a full car detailing service provide? What to look for in a Car Detailing Service Cleaning and Protecting the Chassis and Wheels Restoring the Interior Cleaning the Engine Bay Cleaning the Glass Inside and Out The benefits of having your car detailed Professionals vs. Keen Hobbyist Car Detailing Costs Conclusion

4. Car Detailing Car detailing is a relatively new term in the UK as predominantly the tasks associated with car detailing was typically described as car valeting. However, in the US it is a well-defined service distinguishable from car washing and valeting. Recently in the UK the term has become more widespread and it has come to represent a more thorough and comprehensive service than the typical car valet. As a result car detailing is now seen as being the meticulous cleaning of a car inside and out with the purpose to restore the vehicle to close to showroom condition.

5. W Wha hat t i is s i it t al all l ab abou out? t? In broad terms car detailing is an enhanced valeting service which has the aim to restore the cars paintwork to enhance the appearance of the vehicle. After the paintwork has been restored and polished it will then be protected and sealed before the windows and external elements of the vehicle are washed and cleaned. The wheels, under body and brake calipers will be cleaned and polished and the tyres treated before moving on to the interior. The interior cleaning involves vacuuming and shampooing all the upholstery, scrub cleaning any leather and reviving any vinyl, plastic or trim.

6. W Wh ha at t d do oes Every car detailing service is likely to have its own service differentiators in order to make it stand out from its competitors but generally they will follow the basic broad areas of cleaning, polishing and protecting the vehicle from top to bottom and inside and outside. However that is a very broad categorization so to drill down into the specific tasks that you should expect from a professional detailing company let us consider some of the details es a a f fu ul ll l c ca ar r d det etailing ailing s ser ervice vice p pr rovide? ovide?

7. What to look for in a Car Detailing Service The most obvious visual enhancement to a car will be to brighten, enhance and restore the paintwork to its original showroom luster. What this entails is that the paintwork will first be thoroughly washed and cleaned to remove any obvious surface dirt, grease, oil and grime. After the initial wash and dry the next stage in restoring the paintwork is to use a clay bar application that is aimed at removing any other contaminants affecting the top clear coat of paint. This process will remove ingrained foreign objects, tar and grime. The next stage is to polish and fine sand the paintwork to restore the paint’s original brightness and remove any minor scratches, swirls or defects in the top layer of paint. It is at this stage that some professional detailers may use touch-up paint applicators to correct small chips in the paint but that by no means should be considered as a standard service. Finally the detailer will wax the paintwork to seal and protect it from the elements.

8. Cleaning and Protecting the Chassis and Wheels As part of any standard car detailing service you can expect a professional detailer to clean and protect the external parts of the car. This should include parts that are underneath the vehicle such as the chassis as well as other external components. This means cleaning, polishing and protecting the wheels, as well as enhancing the appearance and protecting the tyres and mud flaps. As these are typically the dirtiest parts of any car they need to be thoroughly washed and dried before a protectant is applied to both protect and restore their luster. Other external trim that needs to be treated is any chrome such as headlight casings or exhaust tips. Again most car detailing services should not only polish the headlights and tail lights to restore their gleam by removing any traces of oxidation but also ensure sealant is applied to protect against the elements.

9. Restoring the Interior One of the biggest differences between a car cleaning service and a car detailing service is the attention taken to restoring the interior of the car to its pervious splendor. This will require vacuuming, shampooing and scrubbing clean all the interior fabrics to remove any stains or dirt. However it will also entail polishing the vinyl and plastics as well as any interior trim. Professional car detailers will take a lot of time and care on the interior as restoring that ‘newcar’ sensory experience is an important factor in car detailing as it has a highly noticeable effect on customer satisfaction. Restoring the vehicles upholstery and interior to its showroom condition greatly improves driver and passenger experience.

10. Cleaning the Engine Bay Detailing the engine bay may not be a part of every service but it is worth paying extra for if necessary. It might at first seem like an extravagance but in cleaning the engine bay it shows the car in the best possible light, When cleaning the engine bay the engine itself is steam cleaned and degreased before being rinsed clean and dried. In most modern cars this is not as essential as the engine unit is often encased in a sealed reinforced plastic casing protecting the engine block and all the components from any detrimental environmental conditions. But in classic or vintage models this procedure goes a long way to adding value to the car by displaying the gleaming engine in all its engineering glory.

11. Cleaning the Glass Inside and Out Finally the professional car detailers will clean all the windows and mirrors inside and out to obtain a smear free sparkling finish. This is typically because the professionals will use a different technique on the inside of the glass such as work horizontally to when they are cleaning the outside glass whereas they will work vertically. . By adhering to this method they can instantly see if a smear is inside or outside by its direction. This saves a lot of time finding and rectifying ugly smears that catch the sunlight and makes the glass appear dirty. It is this type of attention to detail that separates the professionals from the amateurs. In addition professionals will also apply water resistant chemicals to the exterior glass to prevent water collecting on the glass surface.

12. The benefits of having your car detailed Despite the obvious aesthetic benefit of having your car back to showroom condition and looking and smelling inside as if it is brand new there are other practical reasons. Firstly detailing the car doesn’t just buff up the paint work and make it look great it takes a lot of preventative and protective measures. Waxing and sealing the paintwork protects the underlying metal from contaminants and oxidization. Similarly, applying protectants too many of the external and engine bay plastic and rubber components will likely extent their lifetime and prevent faults occurring at a later date. Needless to say though that the biggest benefit is realized by the increase in resale value as a vehicle in great condition is going to sell for a higher price - all things being equal - than one that has just been through the car wash.

13. Professionals vs. Keen Hobbyist There is no simple answer as to who is better as the professional is working to a schedule a price and a list of tasks whereas the hobbyist can spend hour upon hour lovingly restoring their vehicle to its former glory. However for most of us cleaning our car by hand or putting it through a car wash does not compare with valeting let alone car detailing. This is simply because the professionals have the tools, products, techniques and skills to transform the vehicle quickly and efficiently. A DIY enthusiast may well invest in these tools and products as well as develop the techniques and skills. However, it will be ultimately more expensive than taking their car to a professional detailer as they have the advantage of offsetting the cost over a broad customer base. Crucially the professionals also have the advantage of honing their skills on a daily basis making their activity highly efficient. The hobbyist may have time on their side but at what cost? Would they be not better driving their vehicle and simply enjoying it for what it is rather than spending hours buffing and cleaning? There is of course no simple answer but when we consider the pricing of a full professional car detailing service it is certainly worth taking into consideration as it cost effectively keeps the vehicle in tip top condition.

14. Car Detailing Costs To understand whether a car detailing service is for you it is important to realize not just the time saved or the results obtained by using a professional service but also the costs involved. However with every service what you get is down to what you pay for. Therefore evaluate the service and what tasks are included in the service plan as not all are standard. As a result prices and the time involved can vary depending on what you need done. A basic valet style service may take two or three hours but a full detailing may take all day so expect to pay accordingly. Of course where you live will have an effect on the cost as the cost of living can vary tremendously depending on the geography. Another point that can affect the price is whether you deliver the car to the detailer or whether they have to travel to you. The size of the car will also have an effect as an SUV or van has a lot more paintwork than a small family saloon so expect to pay a higher price. Similarly if the car has leather upholstery you can expect to pay a premium as cleaning it is more time consuming and hence more expensive. It will at the end of the day come down to a cost versus benefit balance so you need to shop around to find the best service that meets your needs and budget.

15. Conclusion Car detailing is an enhanced service that goes beyond car washing and valeting and is fast becoming an ideal way to keep your car in show room condition. Detailing can maintain the condition and hence the value and as your car is possibly the most expensive item other than your house that you have made it is well worth considering. To learn more please visit: • https://cardetailingshop.ca/mobile-car-detailing/ • https://cardetailingshop.ca/gallery/