Question: Do you need full paint correction or just a detailing?
by Eric SchusterWhat’s the difference you ask? Well, they are actually in the same ballpark, but opposite ends of the field! In simple terms:
A detail is just that, getting to the details – the cracks, crevices, addressing trim and conditioning it, conditioning leather, cleaning glass, waxing the exterior paint to protect it, cleaning the wheels, etc. This entails the basics where you go over and simply clean and condition all parts of the car. Rough time estimate is about 3 hours, give or take.
Paint correction, however, that’s a whole different game plan! This involves decontaminating the paint via clay or de-ironizer sprays, multi-step machine compounding and polishing, re-leveling the paint to a completely flat surface so there are no scratches or swirl marks that are taking away from the gloss of the paint, correcting and polishing metal trim, and so forth. This is much more labor intensive, and will no doubt cost 3-4 times the price of a “detail”. Rough time estimate ranges depending on the size, condition, expected final results which can lead to 12-30 hour jobs, add in color sanding and you can hit the 40-60 hour time point rather easily!
How do you know which one you should choose?
Well, if you are the type to always take your car through the local car wash, then you should probably plan on just getting a “detail” since the car wash will rapidly ruin the finish of a full paint correction rendering it pointless. I have done full corrections on cars only to go back a month later and it would be really scratched up due to 4 car washes from the local car wash. Had the owner been hand washing it with proper technique, it would have still looked good!
If you are car crazy, always liking to drive a freshly detailed car, then paint correction might be what you need! This will restore that like new condition to the paint, or better than new where there are no scratches, oxidation, swirling…just purely liquid looking paint! Paint correction is the process typically done on show cars to get that fresh paint job look, without the paint job! One can take a lack luster car and turn it into a car the owner falls in love with all over again via true paint correction! It may be pricey in comparison, but the results speak for themselves in the end!
I would love to perform only full correction jobs, but truth be told, you don’t always have to do that in order to keep your car in tip top condition. Figure one massive detail to get things looking how they should from the start, and then maintaining it from that point on with lots of little details and occasional single step polishings! Maintaining is easier than fixing, and cheaper, so get on a good regimen, stick to it, and always drive a brand new car!
Great write-up Eric. Seeing that we have pretty nasty winters here, it is hard to get local customers to keep out of the drive thru wash bays. But the few that are able to get into a “proper wash” routine, obviously keep there cars looking pretty good. Which in turn saves a ton on the pocket book, since they only need the occasional “detail.” As always your write ups are very informative and I think I speak for everyone here in saying, we look forward to seeing more of your work and knowledge soon. Have a nice day sir.
Does this include touchless car washes?
To my understanding touchless washes… While they may not leave the heavy swirls, the chemicals they have to use to remove the contaminants will also remove and protection on the paint. If a touchless wash is absolutely needed then I would recomnend following immediately with some kind of wax or sealant of your choice. Please correct me if I am wrong.
David:
I agree with your conclusions. Back in 1995 I saw my first “touchless” car wash and was intrigued at the prospect of a “friction less” wash. So much so, that I seriously considered buying one as a business venture. I researched touchless extensively, visiting touchless car wash manufacturers, soap suppliers and scores of in-bay washes.
While touchless got the car pretty clean it seemed to me that it did so at the expense of whatever wax protection was on the car. Strong soap solutions with long “dwell times” (soaking in suds designed to loosen dirt), hot water under pressure (“impingement”) added up to a wash that could strip wax in a few sessions.
Supplementing afterward with a liquid or paste wax — or even a hand sprayed wax — is a logical follow up step to touch less car washes.
It almost makes me cry when i see people take their cars through car washes.
I know this is an old thread, but lots of good info. What about hand car wash places that still use the water gun to rinse? (I’m in Chicago)
Just don’t touch your car with that nasty brush
I have a 1999 Camry that still runs beautifully. However it has badly oxidized. I will probably sell it within 2 years and someone suggested I just get a good detail job. I am not happy with the way the paint has oxidized, and I would like to drive a pretty car. Do you have any suggestions?
Oxidation can happen over time if the paint is not cared for properly, however, there is a chance it can be removed with a polishing process. I would recommend taking some photos and contacting us here (https://www.detailedimage.com/Contact/). We would be happy to take a look and see what we can suggest.