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What You Should Know About Paint Correction

Written by admin on . Posted in car detail, paint, paint restoration, restoration, Uncategorized. No Comments on What You Should Know About Paint Correction

Paint correction is the process of machine polishing to remove dull finish swirls, spider-webbing, and minor imperfections in the clear coat, to bring back a showroom-like finish. But what exactly does all of this mean? Here is what you should know about paint correction.

The Process

The first thing is we use a two-bucket wash system to gently hand-shampoo away any sand, debris, or loose dirt. This reduces the introduction of marring and micro-scratches.

Second, a clay bar is then used to remove bonded surface contaminants. A common misconception is that once a vehicle has been washed, it is clean. While it may be clean to the naked eye, the surface is often still embedded with dirt and covered with stubborn contaminants. These contaminants settle on your car’s paint and become “bonded” after baking in the sun. We all know how strong the Florida sun is, and how much damage it can do.

The next process is a machine polish to smooth out the micro-scratches, spider-webbing, and swirl marks. 

After all correction has taken place, it is time to seal up the vehicle’s paint to protect it from further scratching. Waxes and sealants are used to maintain a protective layer on your paint for several months. And by the way, upgrading to ceramic coatings can add years to your paint’s protection!

Why Is Paint Correction Important?

This process will keep the paint surface smooth, protected and as glossy as the day you bought it. If you see swirls or spider-webbing on your car in the sunlight, paint correction is your solution to get your car’s paint back in shape. 

We can help renew that new car gloss. Book today – 850-248-2270.

The Importance of a Car Detail After a Storm

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After our many tropical storms last year, we thought it appropriate to discuss the importance of a car detail after a storm. We realize that your car may not be the first thing on your mind, but once you have everything settled, it’s important to take care of any problems the weather may have caused to your vehicle. 

Rain Causes Damage

A good rain shower, or in this case a storm, may seem like the perfect thing to rinse off your car, it actually causes damage. The high winds throw debris onto your car’s paint, and this may cause damage like scratches, chipped paint, or corrosion. Dirt on your car also causes damage and can weaken the car’s paint, making it lose its resale value. Not to mention, looking dull or old. 

Acid Rain

While we don’t live in a huge city, acid rain is still an issue. According to the Environmental Protecting Agency of the United States, normal rain is “slightly acidic” due to the levels of carbon dioxide that dissolve in the liquid and form “weak carbonic acid.” That means that even in smaller cities, the threat of acidic rain is still relevant. 

What a Detail Does

A car detail is more than a simple car wash. Every little area is taken into account and cleaned. You’ll have a sparkling clean vehicle that looks showroom quality. And you won’t have to worry about the damage the storm did because we’ll undo that. We’ll remove any debris, clean everything like new, and ensure that you don’t have more damage from our tropical weather.

Paint Correction or Repainting?

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If your car has lost its luster, you might think that it’s time to repaint any scuffs or scrapes.. But what if you could restore your car paint’s shine and brilliance easily? Here are some tips on choosing between a paint correction and repainting certain areas..

close up photography of car wheel

What is Paint Correction?

You all know what having your car’s paint touched up does, but do you know what a paint correction is? It’s a highly meticulous way of making your car’s paint look shiny and lustrous again. 

Paint correction is a much more involved process than repainting specific areas. The professional detailer meticulously buffs out any imperfections with various polishing machines, abrasives, and polishing pads. The work the detailer must do is far more specialized than general repainting techniques, resulting in a clean, clear, brilliant finish.

While the outcome is superior,there are no shortcuts in paint correction. This is because the process is so thorough, and necessary to do the job correctly. 

So, Which is Best?

If you want a way to get rid of swirl marks, scuffs, scrapes, and imperfections – call us and ask us how a paint correction may benefit your car’s appearance. Your car will have its shine again, and you won’t have to worry about the paint being mismatched. Call and ask us about paint correction and how we bring back the shine. 

Why Your Car Should Be Detailed After Rain

Written by Michael Paul on . Posted in car detail, paint, restoration, Uncategorized. No Comments on Why Your Car Should Be Detailed After Rain

Lately, it seems as if it rains every day – and pretty much has. You might think there’s no need to have your car detailed, and we get that. Yet, there are plenty of reasons to make your car look like new – even when it’s raining. 

Rainwater Isn’t Clean

A fresh rain might make your car seem clean, but it’s not. Unfortunately, rainwater has a lot of natural pollutants. This is because rainwater catches things as it falls. Things like dust, dirt, and other materials not good for the long-term health of your car. In fact, they catch all of the pollutants in the air and those end up on your car’s paint. Once the rainwater evaporates, guess what’s left on your car’s exterior? Not only that, but the sun helps corrode things further. And while this isn’t an immediate issue, it is eventually.

Acid Rain

While we don’t live in an area with heavy pollutants, they’re still out there. It depends on the cocktail of pollutants in the air, but with the right mix, you get acid rain. This causes damage like etched water marks. And these end up having to be buffed and polished to remove the damage.

How Often Should You Have Your Car Detailed?

While it’s not necessary to have a detail job every time it rains, every 6-8 weeks is ideal in order to ensure your car stays in pristine condition. In between details, try to wipe down the rainwater with a microfiber cloth, if possible. We realize that with it raining so often, this is often hard to do. That’s why a detail is imperative to reverse some of the damage rainwater does to your car. 

Swirl Marks on Your Car

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In certain lighting, you may notice swirl marks, spider webbing, and other tiny imperfections in your car’s paint. What causes this, and what can you do to fix it? Learn more about swirl marks on your car and why it happens.

How To Spot It

How well you see swirl marks depend on a few factors. For example, the color of your car. In dark colors, the marks show up more frequently, while lighter colors reflect more light and it’s harder to see any imperfections. You will mainly see these marks on areas that are flat, like the trunk, hood, and roof. Yet, in darker colored cars, these show up on doors and fenders too. And don’t let the swirl marks title fool you. They’re not always a circular area. In fact, swirl marks can be in any shape at all. 

Why Does This Happen?

Swirl marks come from different sources, but here are some of the more common reasons.

  • Buffing or polishing with the wrong type of pad
  • Using harsh paint cleaners or polishing compounds
  • Using a dirty chamois or towels and applicators containing polyester threads
  • Wiping dirt or dust off your car with a dry towel
  • Using a dirty car duster
  • Not rinsing your sponge often enough when washing
  • Driving through an automated car wash that uses brushes and other wipers
  • Failure to rinse your car completely before washing
  • Not thoroughly washing your car before drying
  • Placing a dirty cover over your car

How To Remove Them

Once you get these marks on your car’s paint, there is just one way to remove them. They must be machine polished out, AKA paint correction. 

Got Swirls? Let Us Fix It

Noticing swirl marks and imperfections on your car? Call us to find out how we make your car’s paintwork glossy and free of imperfections. 

What Is Ceramic Coating and Why You Should Get It

Written by Michael Paul on . Posted in car detail, paint, paint restoration, restoration, Uncategorized. No Comments on What Is Ceramic Coating and Why You Should Get It

You want your car or truck to look great and maintain that brand-new presence like when it came off of the showroom floor. You may have heard about ceramic coating. But what is it, what does it do, and why should you invest in it? Here are some answers to help you decide for yourself.

orange sports car

What Is Ceramic Coating?

It’s a nano-ceramic polymer coating that reacts with your car or truck’s clear coat finish to form a thicker coating and second layer for extra protection. It provides UV protection, is very weather-resistant, and resists acid rain and normal wear. In fact, it’s so durable that ceramic coatings are often used in the aerospace industry.

What Ceramic Coating Protects Against

These are the things your manufacturer warranty doesn’t cover, but a ceramic coat protects against.

  • Corrosion
  • Acid rain
  • Road de-icing materials
  • Bird droppings
  • Hard water spots
  • Tree sap
  • UV damage
  • Insects
  • Paint overspray from road work
  • Aerosol spray paint

Oxidation, chemical stains, and etching are other variables protected with a ceramic coating.

According to J.D. Power:

That long-lasting protection is the main reason car owners choose a ceramic coating over the other options. Essentially a hard shell, a ceramic coating will prevent water stains, road grime, bird droppings, and other substances from reaching and harming the paint. With a quick rinse, they’ll simply slide right off.

And that brings us to an interesting word: hydrophobic. Typically, anything related to “phobic” has a negative connotation, but in this case it’s all positive. A ceramic coating will create a hydrophobic layer that essentially repels water, meaning mineral deposits and dirt have less opportunity to damage the paint surface.

How Long Does It Last?

Our ceramic coating comes with a fully-insured two year warranty, but independent laboratory tests show it lasts far beyond the two years of warranty coverage.

Minimal Maintenance

While you still need to keep your car detailed and as clean as possible, a ceramic coating makes all of that easier. Not only that, but you don’t have to wax every few months. If this layer of protection interests you, call us – your local ceramic coating professionals at 850-248-2270. 

Paint Decontamination

Written by admin on . Posted in car detail, paint, paint restoration, restoration, Uncategorized. No Comments on Paint Decontamination

Just like people, our vehicles are in a polluted environment. Over time, this affects your car’s paint. What is paint decontamination, and how does your car get contaminated in the first place?

How Is Your Paint Contaminated?

Even in the cleanest air, there are natural contaminants like tree sap, bird droppings, and insect residue. Your car’s paint is also exposed to things like brake dust, industrial pollution, and hard water from sprinkler systems. And while it seems that just a simple wash would remove things, that’s not always the solution.

What Do Contaminants Do To Your Paint?

No matter how much you clean your car yourself, these contaminants can remain. This causes your car’s paint to lose its shine and lustre. The paint becomes lifeless and dull, and one way to check is to run your hands along your car’s hood while it’s wet. If you feel a rough surface, then you have contaminated paint. The contamination looks different in different colors. A white car will sometimes show orange spots, and these are iron deposits. On darker colored cars, tar spots in black or brown are often evident.

How Can You Fix It?

Washing alone is not enough. Our decontamination process starts with a two-bucket wash system to gently hand-shampoo away any sand, debris, or loose dirt. This reduces the introduction of marring and micro-scratches.

Second, a clay bar is then used to remove bonded surface contaminants. A common misconception is that once a vehicle has been washed, it is clean. While it may be clean to the naked eye, the surface is often still embedded with dirt and covered with stubborn contaminants. These contaminants settle on your car’s paint and become “bonded” after baking in the sun. And we all know how strong the Florida sun is, and how much damage it can do.

The next process is a machine polish to smooth out the micro-scratches, spider-webbing, and swirl marks. 

After all correction has taken place, it is time to seal up the vehicle’s paint to protect it from further scratching. Waxes and sealants are used to maintain a protective layer on your paint. 

Want your car’s paint looking glossy? Call us at 850-248-2270, and ask about our paint enhancement service.