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We live in a time period where convenience and speed of service are rather important to a large number of consumers. You may expect that I’m going to completely demonize these style washes in this article. I assure you, they have their place and I will not. My goal is to educate you on the decisions being made. There is often a sacrifice being made when we take the easy, quick way out. Look at fast food for instance. Would it be smart to eat it 3 times a day for months on end? The documentary Super Size Me taught us that is not a smart idea. The same rings true for most quick and convenient pleasures. They should be consumed or used in moderation. There are two basic kinds of drive through or tunnel washes. I will be discussing both. The infamous touch wash is the first we will discuss. There is no touch wash out there that does not, at minimum, micro-marr your paint work, but why? Well, these washes see everything from work trucks to show cars. Every car is dirty and the touch pieces of the wash are designed to wipe off that dirt. These pieces, even if they are microfiber, collect the dirt as they are designed. This dirt is embedded and used on the next car. Micro marring happens when you use a dirty wash mitt, sponge or towel on your car’s surface. It is particularly evident when too much pressure is applied. These touch washes do both. They clean with contaminated cloth and high speed. This is a recipe for damage. Now, does that mean they don’t have a purpose? Nonsense, everything has a purpose. Just remember that convenience comes at a cost. So, don’t take your show car through them if you’re looking for a perfect finish. Now the solution to this was to create a touch-less style wash. While these are “safer” when it comes to the micro marring, they have their own set of issues. The biggest struggle with these washes is the chemicals. Being they are touch-less, they have to use more aggressive chemicals to get the dirt and grime to melt away. These chemicals carry high PH levels and leave the surfaces contaminated. The contamination will, over time, cause damage. They eventually dull the paint, contaminate the windows and fade the plastics on your vehicle. Again, they have a purpose, but convenience comes at a price. If you absolutely must use a wash, I recommend touch-less. It should never be your routine. It is like having Mcdonald's 3 times a day. However, if you supplement your regular washes with these the damage is very minimal. The moral of the story is this. Convenience comes at a price. That will never change. Use these style washes to supplement your regular detail maintenance. They are not a prescription for perfection and should never be used as the only means to maintain your finish.
Year, make and model of the vehicle matter at Revived Detailing. The goal and focus is to get you on a regular maintenance. One of the most common questions we get asked at Revived Detailing is , “How much is a detail?”. The answer to this question is harder than one would think. How much a detail is can be heavily dependent on many factors. These factors include several things like: type of vehicle, current condition of vehicle, expectation of client, and length of time since the last detail. I’m going to address each one of these pieces separately. Year, make and model of the vehicle matter at Revived Detailing. The reason they matter is because they are dramatically different. A smart car has quite a bit less surface area than a Toyota Sienna. Each model has different pockets, foldable seats, transforming interiors and more. There is more to it than that though. Here at Revived Detailing we are not your average detailers. We offer premium services, restoration services, full interior tear out detail, paint correction and ceramic coatings. Not everyone wants a $4,000 detail. However, knowing the year, make and model help us know what services that person may or may not be interested in. The odds a Toyota Sienna owner with 4 kids wants our top end services is pretty slim,but on the other side of the spectrum a 2020 Corvette client may want full protection on all services. Current condition of the vehicle is absolutely paramount to know before quoting a detail. Every client has their own idea in their head of what a detail includes. They also have their own idea of what dirty looks like. We detail for all walks of life and some of our clients have OCD when it comes to clean, while others don’t even notice stains because they’ve been there since they purchased the vehicle. This can get difficult when a client compares our services to a big box store like Santa Fe. I assure you the level of service is dramatically different when it comes to passionate detail vs. production detail. This is why we ask several questions and even ask for photos of the vehicle. It is our goal to put you in the package that suits your wants and needs and not ours. We customize nearly every detail to ensure we are meeting the clients expectation and not just putting them in a box that they are forced to deal with the results of. It is our ultimate goal to meet the expectations that we set for the detail each and every time. There is not a one size fits all with our company because results and expectations matter! Expectation of the client is a conversation that usually goes hand in hand with the current condition of the vehicle. Expectations can drastically change from person to person. There are folks that want a white glove style service and others that don’t. It doesn’t make sense for a professional dog walker to want ALL of the dog hair removed from a vehicle that will have 10 dogs in it the next day. On the other side, what if that rig was sold to someone who has an allergic reaction to dog hair and did not realize it until they drove the rig? That is a person who would want a full interior tear out and pet hair/dander treatment. The difference between these two levels can be staggering. The soccer mom minivan with 4 kids during sports season may not care one bit about stains. The soccer mom who just sent her last little one off to college ,but also just paid off that soccer mom van may very well want a full restoration detail. You just don’t know until you ask the right questions and listen to your client. Finally, we talk about length of time between services. Here at Revived Detailing it is our main goal and focus to get you on a regular maintenance. Whether we do the maintenance or we teach you how to do it, someone has to do it. Vehicles are disgusting places. I know that sounds blunt, but it is true. Most of us sneeze, cough, eat and drink in our cars. We also do a couple other things that simply are not professional to mention, but they stink! That doesn’t even account for the times we walk on surfaces that have bacteria and then bring that back into the car. Women can relate to this very well. Guys have terrible aim when they use the bathroom. They go into a public restroom and they are walking on urine. They then bring that back into the car with them. I know this sounds gross,but imagine cleaning it on a daily basis and having people not understand how gross it can truly be. The thing about this is you cannot see bacteria. You could have nothing on the floors and the vehicle could appear clean,but if it has not been wiped down in 6 months ….. guess what !? There is bacteria in that car. It’s most heavy in the carpets, on the steering wheel, on the shifter and that nasty KEY FOB ! Yes we clean those too! I told you we are on a different level. We appreciate each and every one of our clients, but also know that not everyone is a client for us. This is exactly why our industry has industry segments that break down as Express Detail Service, Production Detail Service and Premium Detail Service. One way or another we will steer you in the right direction as we are experts in our field. We represent the industry as a whole so even if you do not choose us , we want you to be happy with your detail.
Getting your car detailed is an essential step towards keeping it in peak condition. No matter how sturdy and low-maintenance you may think your vehicle is, all automobiles need regular car-care to ensure that they stay fit for the road for a long, long time. Getting your car detailed is an essential step towards keeping it in peak condition. For many people, car detailing may be too expensive to do once every week. That’s why knowing how often you should detail your car is paramount. Also – how can you tell that it’s time to get it detailed? To new car owners, in particular, learning what getting your car detailed means and why it’s essential to do it every so often will save you a lot of trouble in the long run. Read ahead to cover the basics of getting your car detailed. WHAT DOES A CAR DETAILER DO? In a nutshell, car detailing is the process of cleaning and aesthetically improving both the interior and exterior of your vehicle to make it look, smell, and feel better. A car detailer may take care of anything ranging from simple jobs like washing and vacuuming to more intensive work like steaming and deodorizing. External detailing may also include waxing, polishing, and applying protective agents to your car’s coat. Car detailers operate a variety of tools such as buffers, vacuums, and hoses to give your car the deep cleaning it needs. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO DETAIL YOUR CAR? What sets detailing apart from simple cleaning and washing is the amount of attention the process pays to your car’s smaller, often overlooked details. Detailing uses special methods to examine and care for your vehicle intensively. This helps you spot problems like grime build-up and engine malfunction earlier on, so you can address them before they get bigger and cost you a fortune to fix. It also acts as a preventive measure against scratches, chips, and other damages that your car may have acquired on the road. By regularly restoring your car to the state it was when it brand new, you help lengthen its lifespan. DETAILING MY CAR: HOW OFTEN SHOULD I DO IT? Most experts recommend getting your car detailed every four months, which roughly equates to at least 3-4 times a year. However, how worn your car gets daily also varies. It could depend on its build and the kind of lifestyle you lead. If you travel long distances, drive through rough roads, or carry items that will leave odors and stains inside your car, then your car will need more frequent detailing to give it the care and attention it needs. A rule of thumb is that it’s best to address damages as soon as they occur; even better if you can prevent them before they happen. The more often you get your car detailed, the better condition it will be in. WHEN SHOULD I HAVE MY CAR DETAILED? Keep in mind that the waxes most commonly applied in car detailing last around 3-4 months. When the wax coat has depleted, external elements such as heat, rain, insects, and contaminants may attach themselves to your car’s surface and cause damage. Mind the time interval between your regular car detailing so that you can schedule your next detailing appropriately. Experts also encourage car owners to detail during fall and summer especially. Summer is the period where your car becomes vulnerable to light and heat, which may cause discoloration and melt the wax off your car’s surface. It is highly recommended that you use products that protect your car from UV rays to prevent cracking and fading. Fall is an ideal period to get your car detailed because it prepares your car from the adverse effects of winter, such as rust and motor damage. SHOULD I DETAIL MY CAR MYSELF, OR LET THE EXPERTS HANDLE IT? Though you are perfectly capable of buying the necessary materials and detailing your car by yourself, that may not be enough. An intensive deep-cleaning performed by experts who know cars like the back of their hands will always guarantee a thorough job. Professional car detailers have access to state-of-the-art tools and cleaning agents that can clean areas regular people just can’t reach. They have been trained to spot small problem areas that car owners don’t even recognize as problems right away. Getting your car detailed by professionals is well worth the price. CONTACT REVIVED DETAILING Revived Detailing offers a variety of high-quality services that would best suit your car’s needs. We customize packages to fit the clients’ interest so they don’t receive a service they don’t need. As a Fire Fighter-owned business, we assure you that you will be getting service from car detailers with years worth of expertise. Our experience, precision, and attention to detail will ensure that you get your car back looking as sleek as it did when you bought it.
What is the difference between a 1 year coating and a 5 year coating? This is a question that I get asked pretty often. I’m going to cover the answer to this as well as some of the myths and misinformation out there about coatings in this blog post. The first thing we have to understand is what makes up a coating in the first place. A coating is a chemical reaction. Yes, we have coating products,but they aren’t the actual coating. The coating forms on the surface or substrate as we lay it on the vehicle. Most coatings have what we call a flash time. Once the coating flashes you wipe the excess off to make a mirror like finish on the surface. This is that chemical reaction we are talking about. The chemical reaction is assisted by the carrier solvent. I know, technical terms, so let me break down what that is. The carrier solvent is literally a solvent in the mixture of the coating that assists the chemical reaction. Some coatings have weak solvents and others have stronger solvents. This is where the magic of how long a coating lasts begins. The quality of the solvent or “carrier” is what lends itself to creating a quality chemical reaction and therefore a weak or strong coating. Now remember, I’m no scientist, I try to keep it simple because I don’t make coatings. We leave that to the lab rats and intelligent folks. I just make cars shinny,but I understand the basics of coatings and that is what we are talking about here. I have also experimented and used many different coatings and this gives me real life data to share with others. The difference between a 1 year coating and a 5 year coating has a lot to do with the quality of the chemicals that make up that coating. The carrier solvent and the amount of SiO2 in the coating plays a pivotal role in the longevity of the coating. So don’t get caught up in “layers” and the length of cure times etc. Some coatings take days to cure and others don’t. That is a subject for a different day. “Lifetime” coatings are a completely different subject that I will cover in my blog. This will break down more of the marketing approach of a coating company to be honest. No coating on the market actually lasts a lifetime.
The paint job on a new car can be a thing of beauty, but it is often overlooked how thin and brittle it can be. The paint job on a new car can be a thing of beauty, but it is often overlooked how thin and brittle it can be. This is due to the advancements in technology, where manufacturers are using thinner paint and clear coat layers to save money and improve efficiency. However, this also means that the paint job is more susceptible to damage from environmental factors and daily wear and tear. In this blog, we will discuss why new car paint is thin and brittle, the problems it can cause, and how to protect your investment. One of the main reasons why new car paint is thin and brittle is due to environmental regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set strict guidelines on the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be used in automotive paint. This has forced manufacturers to reduce the amount of solvent in their paint formulas, which has resulted in thinner and more brittle coatings. Additionally, carmakers are constantly looking for ways to improve fuel efficiency, and reducing the weight of the vehicle is one way to achieve this goal. Thinner paint layers help to reduce the overall weight of the car. The problem with thin and brittle car paint is that it is more susceptible to damage. Road debris, such as rocks and gravel, can easily chip the paint, leaving unsightly blemishes on the car's surface. Even something as harmless as a bird dropping can cause damage if left untreated for too long. Furthermore, UV rays from the sun can cause the clear coat to oxidize, resulting in a dull and faded finish. Salt and other chemicals used to de-ice roads in the winter can also damage the paint job. To protect your investment, there are a few things you can do. Firstly, it's important to be mindful of where you park your car. Try to avoid parking under trees or near construction sites where debris is more likely to fall on your car. Secondly, consider applying a ceramic coating to your car's surface. Applying a ceramic coating and prolong the life of your clear coat longer and protect the paint from UV rays and other environmental factors. In conclusion, the paint job on a new car is thinner and more brittle than ever before due to environmental regulations and the push for greater fuel efficiency. This makes it more susceptible to damage from everyday wear and tear. However, with proper care and attention, you can protect your investment and keep your car looking new for years to come. Remember to park carefully, apply protective coatings, and maintain a regular cleaning.
Ceramic coatings are a popular choice for automotive paint protection. However, many people don't understand what ceramic coatings actually are and why they're used. This article explains the benefits of using ceramic coatings for your vehicle. Another very common question that gets asked is, “What is a ceramic coating?”.Unfortunately, the reason this question is asked so frequently is because of the massive amount of misinformation out there. There are consumer grade coatings and professional grade coatings. There are even coatings that dare to name themselves things like “BulletProof” and send a very confusing message to consumers. I’m hoping to clear up most of the confusion with this write up. Let’s start with a simple answer to give you an idea of what a ceramic coating is and what it is designed to do for you. You saw the picture of the pan with butter in it right? The butter is added for not only flavor,but to ensure things don’t stick to the pan. Have you ever cleaned a pan that had crusted,burnt food on it. It takes a lot of time and is kind of a pain. Then we invented non stick pans to make it even easier. Now imagine a nonstick coating that lasts for years on your car. That is a ceramic coating. Now onto the more technical talk. A ceramic coating is a hardened layer of protection installed over your clear coat or paint. There are several great companies out there and also several snake oil products out there. I could get into some of the science I know about the carriers and SIO2, TIO2 etc, but I’m not a chemist and do not want to pretend to be one. I would much prefer to discuss the benefits of a coating and the features that make these coatings so desirable. A legitimate ceramic coating will have some self cleaning abilities. Now what does that even mean? The coating creates a super slick surface on your paint. This causes water to have a dramatic contact angle and bead very well. This action lends itself to helping keep the surfaces clean. It allows something like simple rainfall to rinse off a majority of dirt from the coatings surface. This by no means is maintenance. The coating will still need regular washes and upkeep to keep it looking its best just like your paint does. Let’s talk about our favorite feature of a coating, the gloss factor ! Any reputable detailer is going to do a paint enhancement or paint correction with the installation of your coating. This service lends itself greatly to increasing the gloss factor by reducing the damage in the paint. It is all about reflecting and refracting light. If the surface has a lot of damage then it will not have depth in gloss because the light is reflecting instead of enriching the paint. If the surface is smooth and damage free it will have a deep gloss factor because the spectrum is being absorbed creating depth. Once the correction portion is done and the coating is applied it is even further depth in gloss as it adds additional layers of protection. You simply cannot beat the depth in gloss of a true professional grade ceramic coating. The reason everyone should be getting on the coating band wagon is the ease of cleaning. We all know that anything you want to keep nice has to be maintained or cleaned on a regular basis. We have dispelled the myth that coatings clean themselves. While they stay cleaner longer,due to their self cleaning abilities. It would be a lie to say that you do not have to maintain them. The coating creates a super slick surface that debris will struggle to adhere to. Cleaning times get cut in half because of this super slick surface. It makes washes so much easier and drying becomes a lot easier as well because the water doesn’t WANT to stick to the surface due to reduced surface tension. My least favorite part of a coating to discuss is its hardness. Most coatings have a hardness rating. This hardness rating is widely based on the pencil hardness scale. Some coatings claim to be 4H all the way up to 10H in hardness. At no point in time should you believe a coating cannot be scratched or provides a scratch proof layer of protection on your paint. The coating is to be treated as a sacrificial layer on your paint. If a mishap happens ,it is more likely that it can be fixed if you have your vehicle coated. Nothing can make scratches and damage stop happening. It is a part of everyday life to expect things will wear over time. The coating provides a hardened layer of sacrificial protection should a minor mishap happen. They are not rock chip proof, scratch proof or any of the like. They simply are a better layer of protection for all the above reasons. If you are strictly looking for scratch protection or rock ship protection it would make more sense to look into something like PPF. In finality, there are several reputable coating brands out there like SB3, Gtechniq, System X and IGL to name a few. Each coating has a different formulation and provides different features and benefits to the client. Some coatings offer better protection from bird poop etching than others. There is always a give and take though. One benefit may sacrifice another benefit. The best suggestion I can make to anyone wanting to purchase a professional grade coating is to do your research on the installer. That is where the true expertise comes into play. The prep work greatly changes the way the coating will perform. If the prep work is poor, the coating will be poor. So, this truly is a matter of finding the right installer and not necessarily about finding the right coating. When it comes to our coatings, we back everything personally & with a nationwide warranty. We take pride in every installation here at Revived Detailing. Feel free to reach out anytime with any questions you may have. You do not have to be in our state to receive our advice. We are connected globally to a network of installers. We can always get you in touch with someone you can trust! Thanks for reading, Kyle Brooks
