Whats the difference between a paint sealant and a wax?
There is a lot of industry specific terms in car care and detailing that always aren’t so clearly distinguished for the consumer. It’s important to know what you are paying for and why the costs are so different. Both waxes and sealants can protect your car clear coat and paint work from the following:
Ultraviolet radiation.
Chemicals (salt, environmental fallout, road tar).
Increase hydrophobic properties (repel water).
Delay corrosion.
Make the surface easier to clean and maintain.
Most waxes (liquid or paste) are derived from the carnauba palm plant. And regardless of formulation are just intended for painted or metal surfaces. Waxes can stain plastic and rubber trim and provide about one to two weeks of durability pending on driving conditions and environmental factors. There is one product which has a registered patent that defies all of the above factors and its the only wax I use.
Sealants are chemically formulated to give the above properties to other materials such as plastic and rubber trim, glass, chrome, aluminum, or carbon fibre. In order to properly bond with the surface require additional decontamination steps such as clay bar, Isopropyl Alcohol wipe, or other paint prep steps recommended by the manufacturer. And depending on how the vehicle is maintained, driving conditions, and other environmental factors can last anywhere from 3 months to 1 year.
Most detailers use sealants instead of a wax because of the additional protection and longevity that can be achieved through proper application and maintenance.
Things I do not Detail.
While there are many things I can bring back to their maximum potential there are a few I do not touch for safety reasons. Here is a list of what I will NOT detail or do while detailing a vehicle:
SEAT REMOVAL: Today on Youtube you see a lot of detailers unbolting seats from interior to complete remove. This is dangerous for several reasons; the first is that a lot of people doing this are not a mechanic and do not know if these are held down with bolts that can be reused (most cannot) or what torque specification is required to securely bolt the seat back to the frame. Most vehicles have enough clearance under the front and rear seats to clean and protect without removal.
WHEEL REMOVAL: This requires a lift which inherent their own risks in operating and contrary to popular belief do not need to be removed completely to get a good result detailing. Once more the only person who should be touching bolts or other hardware on your car aside from you is your mechanic. They are licensed, insured, and trained. Anyone else poses a safety risk to you and anyone else you transport in the vehicle. If you get hurt because of something they did you will never recover monetarily what you stand to lose which cannot be bought for any price. It looks cool in the videos but it isn’t necessary.
SEAT BELTS: This applies more to someone who purchases a used vehicle or wants to sell a vehicle. While there may be dirt or other things that detract from their appearance seat belts can become compromised from chemicals, steam, or friction (scrubbing) trying to revive their appearance. Again, the only time you would know if they were compromised is the time you don’t want to find out. If your seat belts appearance is really bothering you contact your local dealership and see what it would cost to just replace them. This is something that can and should be performed by a licensed and insured mechanic with the proper tools and knowledge.
BIOHAZARDS/ HAZARDOUS WASTE: There are several items that fall under this category so here is a list of several things I do not remove or detail from vehicles: Bodily fluids (human or animal), drugs or unknown substances, mold or mildew, infant or youth carseats, flammables, needles, viruses. All of these require separate certifications, licenses, and proper disposal I am not setup to handle.
HEADLINERS: Not only is this fabric very delicate but it also usually held in place by an adhesive. Excessive heat from steam cleaning or excessive friction from rubbing with brushes or microfiber towels can cause this adhesive to fail resulting in the fabric separating from the backing. If your headliner of your vehicle is dirty from smoking or driving with the windows down it is best to have it replaced.
What Credentials do we have?
Education through industry recognized organizations are what provides our foundation to perform our work with excellence and quality. Here are a few of our certifications and credentials we have received to date:
INTERNATIONAL DETAILERS ASSOCATION (IDA):
Member: An annual membership to learn and advance the profession of detailing worldwide.
Certified Detailer (CD): Understandings the process and products required to safely and effectively detail a vehicle.
Skills Validated (SV): Has demonstrated understanding of process and products live in front of a Recognized Trainer (RT).
DETAILING SUCCESS TRAINING CENTER:
Detailing Business Certification Course: A foundation of the logistics that are required to run a professional detailing business.
Professional Detailing Technician Course: An in depth five day training that encompasses 60 hours of hands on training in the following;
Paint Correction.
Scratch Removal.
Interior Detailing.
Steam Detailing.
Ceramic Coating.
Exterior Detailing.
Headlight Restoration: How to properly remove oxidation, scratches, and restore clarity and protection.
Inspiration Ceramic Coating: How to properly prep and install P&S Double Black Collection ceramic coating to a vehicle.
Double Black Renny Doyle Collection: 60 hours with all products in the P&S Double Black lineup for detailing.
Flex Power Tools Certified Technician Course: Comprehensive hands on training with Flex Power tools.
DR. BEASLEY’S: FUTURE OF DETAILING CLINIC
Matte Paint: How to properly care and maintain a vehicles matte finish.
Matte Ceramic Coating: How to properly apply and maintain a matte ceramic coating.
Micro Suede/ Alcantara: How to properly clean and protect this high end fabric.
Paint Correction/ Nano-Surface Primers: How to safely and properly perform paint correction with their patented microsphere technology.
Metal Polish + Coating: How to properly polish metal trim and wheels. How to ceramic coat these surfaces following cleaning and polishing.
GLASSPARENCY
Authorized Installer: Install professional grade hydrophobic coating to vehicles windshield and glass to help improve visibility and reduce night glare. This product comes with a three year warranty provided by Glassparency.
Why Have an automobile Detailed?
Whether your vehicle is brand new, certified pre-owned, used, or your in the market to sell it any vehicle can benefit from some level of detailing. To help frame this question we can think about detailing on four principles: enhance, preserve, protect, or correct. Let’s talk a little about each of these:
ENHANCE: Your car may be well maintained already. You wash it once a week or at least every other. But still it seems to lack some of the luster and shine it once did when you first owned the vehicle. There is always a method and process that we can apply to your paint or interior to take it to next level.
PRESERVE: You are meticulous. person who parks in the back corner of the lot where your car is safe from door dings, shopping carts, and people who don’t care if they cannot see their reflection perfectly on every surface of their vehicle. You keep it in a garage under a cover and any chance of bad weather you take your daily driver on the road instead. Your car is perfect or close to perfect and you want it maintained at its current level. Maybe you know your car isn’t at perfect but you want to take it to that level. No problem.
PROTECT: By the application of a wax, sealant, coating, or aftermarket product specifically formulated to bond to whatever surface you are trying to enhance and preserve.
CORRECT: There is a visible imperfection that distorts an even uniform look of any surface on the vehicle interior or exterior. This could be a scratch, stain, water spot, crack, dirt, etc. The role of the detailer is to take all of these imperfections and remove or make them as invisible to the naked if possible. In some cases there is nothing that can be done. A good detailer knows when he can help and when he cannot help.