Below you will find some useful information regarding the processes we use as well as definitions of other products and services offered by Shade Tree Auto Detailing ……….. this should help you, as the customer, to better understand the time involved.
Hand Wash Process:
- Clean wheels/tires/wheel wells by hand
- Pre-soak exterior of vehicle to remove loose contamination
- Rinse vehicle
- Hand wash vehicle exterior surfaces
- Hand dry exterior of vehicle
- Dress tires
- Gently blow water from cracks & crevices of vehicle body lines
- Clean glass & mirrors inside and out
- Thorough vacuum (10 minutes max) of all interior areas including trunk
- Wipe down of cockpit/driver area
- Dry door jambs
** This same process is used for all services involving exterior washing
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Interior Detailing:
- Vacuum all interior areas
- Clean all vinyl surfaces (shampoo or steam cleaned)
- Clean all upholstery (shampoo or steam cleaned)
- Clean all carpeted areas (shampoo or steam cleaned)
- Clean headliner, visors by hand
- Clean all interior glass and mirrors
- Clean all vents, gauge cluster
- Clean all debris from cracks and crevices
- Clean and condition all leather where applicable
- Dress all vinyl with non- oily finish conditioner
- Vacuum a second time
- Apply fabric guard protectorate to all interior carpet and upholstery
- Clean all door jambs
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Waxes vs. Sealant:
Shade Tree uses a variety of carnauba waxes as well as paint sealants. The carnauba waxes used each contain a different carnauba content which makes them unique in not only the overall end result of beauty & depth, but also the amount & longevity of the protection given. Typical quality carnauba waxes will allow for 4-6 weeks of protection to any vehicle surface depending on the vehicle’s follow up care & treatment (garaged regularly? daily driver? regularly hand washed vs. conventional car washes?).
Sealants are also used by Shade Tree to prolong a vehicle’s exterior beauty & protection. Sealants are typically used for the vehicle owner wanting a stronger/longer lasting protection applied to the painted surfaces. Sealants , when properly applied, have a typical life span of 6 months to about a year. This once again is contingent upon the upkeep of the vehicle’s appearance and maintenance washes etc. Sealant is available for any vehicle at an additional cost of $20 per application.
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Deep Polishing:
This service is intended for the vehicle owner wanting the just painted & fresh look from their vehicle’s surface. The process includes a custom hand wash, clay bar service and 3 stage polishing of the painted surfaces.
The first stage consists of a deep polishing to remove 90% of the surface scratches visible.
The second stage consists of a lighter cutting polish to enhance the gloss while continuing to remove the lighter scratches from the surface.
The third stage consists of a jeweling polish that lends little to no cutting power thus greatly enhancing the depth & gloss of the paint.
After the 3 stage polishing process is complete; the surface is treated to a machine applied sealant coat. The sealant is then topped with a high quality carnauba wax for added depth. As if that weren’t enough, a second hand glaze is then applied to give the overall finish the WOW! effect we all love to see.
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Clay Bar Treatment:
(Please see video tutorial below) Used to remove paint contaminants from the surfaces of a vehicle. Paint contaminants consist of industrial fallout (we breathe it in everyday!), paint over spray, tree sap etc. Clay is the very best first step in preparing a car’s surface for either a machine polish, sealant or wax. Sealant or wax is recommended to be applied after this process.
Q: What is the benefit of using clay?A: Clay pulls out all the things you can’t see, but you can definitely feel such as industrial fallout, rail dust and brake dust. Though these contaminants are usually not visible; they cause a rough or gritty feeling on the exterior surfaces and may cause patches of paint to appear dull even after waxing. As these contaminants oxidize, they create rust spots within the paint. Once this happens, the oxidation is considerably harder to remove and will most likely take a good bit of paint or clear coat with it.
Q: Will a clay bar remove scratches?
A: No, clay bars and clay block will only remove surface contamination you can feel. Scratches are an absence of paint. It is often impossible to remove an absence of something. If you have a lighter colored vehicle and have noticed the scratches around the door handles then the clay will be beneficial to you. Those scratches will “disappear” with the use of clay as the clay will remove the embedded contamination within the scratches causing the illusion of a scratch free area. Unfortunately, the same process will not be as beneficial when viewing the same concern on a darker colored vehicle.
Q: Can a clay bar fill in a scratch?
A: No, clay bars are not used for filling; they are simply used to remove contamination from paint that feels rough leaving behind a smooth surface.
Q: I’ve removed oxidation, now how do I prevent it from reoccurring?
A: Once the paint looks good it is important to protect your investment with a coat of wax or ideally a long lasting paint sealant. Paint sealants seal in paint and protect the surface from the elements for a longer duration than most carnauba waxes.
Q: What is a surface evaluation?
A: It is the evaluation a detail technician performs before starting work on a vehicle to determine the best products to use and the steps that will be needed to achieve the desired result.
Q: What are water spots and where do they come from?
A: Water spots are caused by dissolved minerals in water. Calcium carbonate (sometimes called lime) is the most common and appears white and chalky when dry. These minerals form ions when dissolved in water. When the water evaporates it leaves the minerals behind. That’s why water heaters, coffee pots, and humidifiers will accumulate the “foggy” appearance of an unclean surface over time.. The harder your water, the more dissolved minerals there are.
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Wheel Brightening:
The wheels are first agitated & cleaned using a wheel cleaning gel to aid in removing built up road grime, brake dust, tar & other surface contaminants. In some cases light polishing on aluminum wheels & exterior pieces is available. Following a polishing process; Wheel Wax is applied to seal the shine & protect against the elements. Wheel Wax works exactly as a sealant with the main difference being that it is made specifically for sealing polished metals & withstanding extreme temperatures.
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Polishing Stages:
1. One stage polishing is meant for vehicles with light oxidation, wax build up or very light or minor visible scratches found within the vehicle’s surface clear coat. The single stage polish will remove most scratches, brighten the exterior color and leave a glossy finish. A sealant or wax protection is required upon polishing completion.
2. Two stage polishing is for the vehicle showing minor to moderate scratches & oxidation. The 2 stage polish offers a deeper paint cleansing to restore the finish to like new condition while adding above average gloss & depth to the color. A sealant or wax is then applied to ensure the newly restored finish retains its beauty.
3. Three stage polishing is for the owner who wants the very best results possible. The three stage polishing offers the deepest cleaning of the painted surface possible & removes 90% of the scratches found within the painted surfaces. The extended polishing is based upon a deep initial polishing followed by a mild polishing and finally a non cut polish for an absolutely gorgeous finish. Polymer sealant is then layered (2 coats) and finally a high quality carnauba wax is applied.
