Services explained
Claying treatment
A service you can use separately or prior to our polishing services. Claying is the process of removing bonded particles and contaminants from the surface of your paintwork and glass safely and effectively.
Claying is a highly effective way to deep clean your paintwork prior to polishing and leaves a faultlessly smooth surface. By rubbing the clay across the paintwork with the aid of a lubricant, the clay will pull engrained dirt, fly marks and other contaminants out of the surface. This process not only leaves the paintwork smooth, but means that cleaning agents found in polishes are not relied on to clean the paintwork as well as polish. In most cases you will be surprised at how much dirt is still left on a ‘clean’ car.
Basic hand polishing
As in Valet Service 2 or as a separate service as required. The most basic form of polishing that we offer although still guarantees a huge improvement over many other polishes and leaves what most would consider a ‘showroom shine’
The polish we use is one of the best hand polishes on the market and is classed as an ‘all in one’ product meaning it will put down a basic layer of protection (wax) as well as polishing at the same time. You can expect the ‘protection’ from this polish to last four to six weeks.
The process involves working the polish onto the paintwork as necessary and then buffing away the residue to leave a much improved finish.
Paintwork correction – Severe polishing
As seen in Polishing Service 2 this is the most involved and intense polishing service we offer. Paint correction is the process of removing swirls, slight scratches, bird etching and other defects from the paint using varying abrasive polishes and pads with a rotary polisher. The benefits of using a rotary machine polisher over hand application are huge and enable a finish easily superior to any other method of polishing and in some cases many body shop re-sprays.
The main cause of these swirls is mainly down to a poor wash technique or the use of drive through car washes. Over time more and more swirl marks will be apparent in the paint which, in turn, dulls the finish considerably.
Although the process can take a long time (approx 1-2 days) the results are dramatic and, considering the cost of re-spraying, or the financial gains on your car, it makes good, economical sense.
Final Polishing
As seen in Polishing service 1 & 2 this final stage of the polishing process is what restores the gloss, depth and clarity to the paintwork. Using market leading polishes you can be sure of the best finish. Once the correction process is complete using more abrasive polishes the finishing polish is what gives the true end result. In the same way that you would follow up a course grade sandpaper with a finer one during decorating, using a finishing polish is the same theory but on a much finer scale.
Some of our finishing polishes contain, what are called ‘fillers’, oils which help to hide and fill in minor swirl marks and defects which, during our Polishing service 1, prove massively effective in creating the best possible finish for the money.
As well as leaving the ultimate finish, a finishing polish prepares the surface for the application of a wax. Many of these polishes actually help the wax to bond to the surface giving you superior durability from the wax.
Wax & Sealants
A quality ‘hard’ wax is the final stage of the detailing process and has two jobs. One is to protect the paintwork from all that driving throws at it. Salt, tar, industrial fallout, lime & bird droppings and general dirt to name a few. It will also go a long way to protect from UV light from the sun. This is particularly important on cars with un-lacquered surfaces as the wax goes a long way to refract the UV rays rather than absorb them. Unprotected, the paintwork is heavily prone to oxidization.
The second is to enhance the finish. This is very often only subtle but always noticeable and some waxes go a long way to enhance the appearance of certain colours and finishes. Two waxes that we use are great all rounder’s but have slightly differing properties. Autoglym HD wax leaves a slightly sharper finish and has a great protection time while our premium wax, Blackfire ‘midnight sun,’ leaves a much glossier finish giving the impression that the paintwork is ‘dripping wet’ as well as having a great protection time.
Both of our Carnauba waxes give great protection times of around six months.
We also offer a range of sealants which are essentially synthetic waxes. Although these products are ‘man-made’ they offer outstanding durability on paintwork as well as wheels, metal trim and exhausts.
