FAQ

Detailing is a service where the more time spent on a task the better the results. By performing a deeper clean the final result will be better and will last longer.

An example of this is cleaning around the house. A quick clean can be done in 30 minutes and a deep and thorough clean in two hours or more, even if performing the same tasks. At a quick glance the results may not look very different but upon closer inspection, there is a huge difference.

Our service covers most areas of Melbourne and some cities outside this area. A surcharge may apply to cover distance travelled outside Melbourne. Temporarily we are not servicing some suburbs in the outer Southern and Eastern areas of Melbourne.

Also known as Paint correction, a cut and polish is performed to remove common paint defects such as scratches, bird stains, swirl marks and micro scratches. This is carried out by polishing the paint surface with products containing micro abrasives. These remove a very fine layer of paint to bring the paint surrounding these blemishes down to the same level, thus eliminating scratches etc.

Detailing clay is a substance that is designed to remove bonded contaminants from paint, contaminants such as tree sap, brake dust and industrial pollution which embed themselves into the surface paintwork

These bonded contaminants can be hard to see. After washing your vehicle, if you gently run your fingers across the paintwork you may notice that it feels rough – a bit like stubble in a way. This roughness or grittiness that you are feeling is the bonded contaminants in the paint.

These are not removed even after polishing. Simply put, detailing clay works by grabbing hold of the bonded contaminants and pulling them off of the paint surface:

Detailing Clay is wiped gently across the paint surface with a lubricant, leaving the paint smooth as glass, allowing easier and more fruitful applications of polishes and waxes.

Polish restores gloss by removing contaminants, restoring valuable oils and smoothing the paint surface. Most polishes accomplish this by being a mild abrasive and some do it by way of a chemical reaction. Polishes may also contain fillers which temporarily hide minor scratches.

Wax functions as a paint preserver by helping it to retain certain oils which reduce oxidation. It also serves to protect from environmental hazards such as bird droppings, tree sap, smog and the sun’s ultraviolet rays. And it gives paint depth, gloss and richness.

Carnauba wax is a resin produced by the leaves of a south American wax palm tree, Copernicia Cerifera, to protect it against harsh rainforest conditions (extreme heat, solar radiation, moisture and humidity). With a strong grain structure, carnauba is the hardest wax available, but also dries to a deep natural shine.

The finish of a car is always wet, even if it is dry. To make sense of this statement, consider the fact that paint needs certain oils to keep its fresh glossy look. Ultraviolet rays from the sun and smog can dry up these essential oils, and the result is a dull and flat finish known as oxidation. If you could look at oxidised paint under a high powered microscope, you would see a surface that looks dry and cracked like the desert. The solution to oxidation is to remove the uppermost surface of dead paint with a cut and polish.

Swirls are those fine circular lines that show up in bright sunlight and go a long way towards preventing your car from looking “right”. They are best thought of as microscopic scratches and are usually the result of poor detailing practices

In most cases, these defects can be completely removed, or at least improved. This involves using abrasive polishes or compounds by machine to “re-level” the paintwork. This step is known as paint correction. Depending on the level of severity of the swirling, 1-4 polishing steps could be required. For example, the average vehicle would likely need at least 2 polishing steps—the first being a more aggressive polish to remove most defects and a final polish to further increase the level of gloss and clarity.

Clear coat is the final coat of paint applied to a vehicles finish. This colourless paint is sprayed over the coloured paint we see and serves the purpose of providing protection, depth and gloss to the surface finish. As detailers this is the paint we work with during a cut and polish etc.

Dirt and other pollutants, on your vehicle’s exterior and interior surfaces, along with lack of conditioners and protectants, are the primary causes of deterioration in a vehicle’s appearance.

Washing removes the loose pollutants, whereas detailing is a deep cleaning, rejuvenation, conditioning, and protection of all the surfaces. The defects that have penetrated surfaces are removed, such as oxidation, swirl marks, scratches and more. The interior is cleaned and protected by conditioning the leather and vinyl to prevent cracking. Cloth interiors are cleaned and protected from food/beverage spillage, etc. Interior odours are eliminated.

It is a great idea to detail your vehicle at least once a year. This will protect the exterior paint and keep the interior looking like new.

It is also recommended that you wax your vehicle every 3-4 months.

Detailing frequency is generally determined by the environment the car is used and kept in, as well as how often the vehicle is washed.

Your car’s exterior colour is also a major factor, Dark coloured cars should be detailed more often as fine scratches are more evident.

Car dealerships rarely wax new cars, and we’ve never heard of one that specially treats and protects leather interior.

Performing both of these procedures is important therefore, detailing is vital, if you wish to maintain it’s new look.

If you are leasing your vehicle, you are responsible for how well you have maintained it. Not taking care of its appearance can result in charges at the end of your lease. Also the better your car’s appearance and condition, the better trade value you will get on your car.

If the vehicle is not undercover, we can reschedule for you.

We are usually booked at least a few days in advance. It is best to book your detail ahead of time to avoid disappointment.

Clear coat is paint that lacks pigment. It is put on at the factory to give a shiny appearance to your paint colour. Because it is paint, it is still vulnerable to all the elements that paint is, such as oxidation, scratches, bugs, tar, etc., and it will deteriorate, as any paint does, if it is not kept clean and protected.

Spending your day washing and detailing your vehicle may be wasting your time if you are using improper products, and application techniques, that do not result in enhancing and preserving both the interior and exterior surfaces of your vehicle.

If you choose to use the car wash, the spinning brushes can cause damage to your paint and the car wash will not take the time, care, or use the techniques and high quality products, to leave all the surfaces truly clean and well protected.

100% customer satisfaction is our guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied for whatever reason, give us a call and we will do what it takes to fix the problem.

There are a number of reasons for this, but more often than not. It’s because someone inexperienced has been using the wrong products, techniques and buffing pads to remove scratches and other imperfections in the paintwork. The swirl marks appear after the first wash because the polishes and glazes they used to fill in and hide the swirl marks and imperfections get washed away.