SEASONAL CAR CARE TIPS AND MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

A vehicle doesn’t stand a chance unless it has been professionally treated to protect it against the harsh elements. Regular maintenance should be followed throughout the year. Educated decisions save you money, help prevent a loss in value, help vehicles sell faster, provide a healthier environment and reduce costly repairs. Each season brings about new challenges but a well protected vehicle has a fighting chance.

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

• Wash every 2 weeks
• Exterior detail every 30 days – 90 days
• Vacuum every 2 weeks
• Shampoo and detail interior every 30 – 90 days
• Have paint chips touched up as you notice them
• Seal the paint with wax every 60 – 90 days

FALL & WINTER CAR CARE

Canadian winters can be harsh taking their toll on the many surfaces of your vehicle. Protective barriers should be applied to your paint, tires, glass, plastic, carpet, upholstery, vinyl, rubber, plastic and metal to arm it against seasonal elements such as salt, gravel, ice and snow.

Regular washing & waxing will help protect your vehicle’s exterior from road salt, gravel and ice that can produce scratches on your car and allow moisture to penetrate the painted surfaces. After repeated expansion and contraction from thawing and freezing; the paint eventually weakens causing cracks and allowing ultraviolet light as well as environmental pollution to penetrate the top paint or clear coat. This leads to what is known as oxidation – a dull or hazy appearance.

All colors of paint are susceptible to oxidation. Red, black and dark color paints are at greater risk though because these color pigments tend to absorb more UV than light colors. Once oxidation has set in the method of correction can be both time consuming and costly. The process involves having to decontaminate and remove the top layer of paint through a compounding process and high speed polishing. In severe cases wet sanding is required.

Exterior Detailing

To prevent etching, erosion, cracking, fading and corrosion additional exterior detailing should include proper cleaning and protective treatments to tires, paint, rims, wheel wells, chrome, glass, plastic, vinyl and rubber surfaces.

Interior Detailing

Interior detailing should be added to your car care maintenance to reduce damage and erosion that can occur to carpets, vinyl and upholstery. During the winter high levels of moisture are accumulated in the vehicle causing mold and mildew – creating an unhealthy environment and deterioration of the surfaces. Regular shampooing, vacuuming and treatment the various surfaces with protective coatings protect the interior of your car from moisture, salt, allergens and debris.

SPRING & SUMMER CAR CARE

Preparing your care for warm weather conditions is just as important as the preparation for cold climate conditions. Spring and summer car care is essential in the protection against extreme heat, environmental pollution (industrial fallout), acid rain, hail, bird droppings, humidity, road dust, debris, sap, bugs, road paint and road oil. Spring & summer car care should follow the same schedule of winter maintenance to prevent rust, peeling, flaking, cracking, fading, etching and erosion. Do not forget to include your convertible roof in your spring and summer car care regimen. Special attention should also be given to your leather and vinyl interiors.

Selecting a professional detailer is not an easy task. It’s unsettling but true – many may call themselves professionals but they do not stand up to or beyond the industry standards and lack customer commitment. When contracting the services of a professional detailer it should be approached no differently than if you were hiring a contractor for your house.

A vehicle is the second largest investment for most people – a major asset. So you don’t want amateur detailers performing work on it. You want a detailer that is a true professional. Someone who possess knowledge about the chemicals, equipment and the various surfaces of each vehicle. A person who constantly updates their professional skills, education and training to keep pace with the ever changing technology. Your car care guardian should be committed to customer satisfaction and a superior craftsman. Here are a few tips to help you when looking for that diamond in the rough.

Educate yourself

Gain as much information and knowledge as you can about car care prior to consulting any auto detailing services.

Ask around town

Inquire with friends, family, co-workers and automotive dealerships to find out who is the best automotive detailer in or close to town. Automotive dealerships are your best bet – they are in the business and know the value of a fine detailer.

Ask questions

Once you have expanded your knowledge you will be able to ask questions. Find out what options are available to you, ask what the differences are between their service and the competitors, ask about their customer satisfaction policy, prices, the benefits and how they define themselves as a professional.

View a car before and after

Ask the detailer if you may see a car prior to being detailed and again after the work has been completed. Do not go by photos. Ask to see the real deal. It may be a little time consuming because you will have to go to the shop twice but it is well worth it.

Ask for references

Don’t be afraid to ask a detailer prior to contracting them for several references. If they are unwilling to provide any – stay clear. A true professional has excellent references and is more than willing to provide them upon request.

Follow through

Before committing to any services follow through on the references. Ask the reference if they were satisfied with the work performed, what type of service they purchased, if they have had any problems – if so, was it rectified in a timely and favorable way. Ask when the work was performed – if it was just performed ask if you can see it.

Make a decision

It’s now time to make an intelligent decision based on your knowledge. Remember, basing your decision on pricing alone is not enough. Auto detailing is protection for your asset. In general, prices reflect the quality of workmanship. Lower quotes usually mean lower – chemical quality, care, client satisfaction, craftsmanship and overall knowledge, training and education. A true professional does not reduce prices to compete because the quality of work provided supersedes that of the competitors and is above the industry standards.

Diamond Detailing Automotive Reconditioning Technicians are trained, professional detailers dedicated to art & science of automotive protection. Our professional skills are a result of our professional training, certification and devotion to continued education.

Simply knowing how to make a car sparkle is not enough. True professional detailers possess knowledge about the chemicals, equipment and the various surfaces of each vehicle. We constantly update our skills to keep pace with the ever changing technology – so that we remain the best in our field.

Our key to client satisfaction goes beyond that of providing a service. It is the responsibility of a bona fide professional detailer to educate clients on why it is a wise move to invest in quality, to teach proper care car maintenance and explain the many benefits of automotive detailing, We want our clients to have the highest expectations and to understand the difference between our services and that of the competitors.

Why are Diamond Detailing prices higher than the competitors?

Diamond Detailing Technicians do charge a premium price for their expertise because they are knowledgeable, experienced and trained to perform showroom diamond detailing. If you have been quoted less somewhere else you will find that the work done on your vehicle will reflect that price and will most likely fall short of a professional detail. You really do get the quality of work you pay for. A professional detail takes several man hours to complete. In some cases, a detailing specialist may ask to keep the vehicle several days if the work is extensive. A Diamond Detailer does not put a time limit on quality.

Another factor that must not be overlooked when considering prices is the chemical quality. Diamond Detailing uses the highest quality of professional grade chemicals that have been proven successful. We understand that the quality of the chemicals used on your vehicle are just as important as the workmanship that is performed. Quality products make a world of difference. A complete restoration can look good – but if the products that were used are low-grade it defeats the purpose because they have not provided complete protection against the elements.

Experts agree that it is a combination of the amount of time, care, equipment knowledge, chemicals, skills and training that define and separate the amateurs from the true professionals. It’s unsettling but true – many may call themselves professionals but they do not stand up to or beyond the industry standards and they lack customer commitment. We take pride in our workmanship and want our customers to be able to do the same. That’s the Diamond Detailing Difference.

Selecting a professional detailer is not an easy task. It’s unsettling but true – many may call themselves professionals but they do not stand up to or beyond the industry standards and lack customer commitment. When contracting the services of a professional detailer it should be approached no differently than if you were hiring a contractor for your house.

A vehicle is the second largest investment for most people – a major asset. So you don’t want amateur detailers performing work on it. You want a detailer that is a true professional. Someone who possess knowledge about the chemicals, equipment and the various surfaces of each vehicle.

A person who constantly updates their professional skills, education and training to keep pace with the ever changing technology. Your car care guardian should be committed to customer satisfaction and a superior craftsman. Here are a few tips to help you when looking for that diamond in the rough.

Educate yourself

Gain as much information and knowledge as you can about car care prior to consulting any auto detailing services.

Ask around town

Inquire with friends, family, co-workers and automotive dealerships to find out who is the best automotive detailer in or close to town. Automotive dealerships are your best bet – they are in the business and know the value of a fine detailer.

Ask questions

Once you have expanded your knowledge you will be able to ask questions. Find out what options are available to you, ask what the differences are between their service and the competitors, ask about their customer satisfaction policy, prices, the benefits and how they define themselves as a professional.

View a car before and after

Ask the detailer if you may see a car prior to being detailed and again after the work has been completed. Do not go by photos. Ask to see the real deal. It may be a little time consuming because you will have to go to the shop twice but it is well worth it.

Ask for references

Don’t be afraid to ask a detailer prior to contracting them for several references. If they are unwilling to provide any – stay clear. A true professional has excellent references and is more than willing to provide them upon request.

Follow through

Before committing to any services follow through on the references. Ask the reference if they were satisfied with the work performed, what type of service they purchased, if they have had any problems – if so, was it rectified in a timely and favorable way. Ask when the work was performed – if it was just performed ask if you can see it.

Make a decision

It’s now time to make an intelligent decision based on your knowledge. Remember, basing your decision on pricing alone is not enough. Auto detailing is protection for your asset. In general, prices reflect the quality of workmanship. Lower quotes usually mean lower – chemical quality, care, client satisfaction, craftsmanship and overall knowledge, training and education. A true professional does not reduce prices to compete because the quality of work provided supersedes that of the competitors and is above the industry standards.

Home hand car wash – Commercial car wash – Automotive detailing
Proper Car Care and car washing tips

While regular do-it-yourself car washes may eliminate the build-up of debris it does not preserve the value of your vehicle unless you are a professional, who knows how to treat and protect every surface of the car without damaging. In fact, many people who decide to do a hand car wash at home have learned a hard and expensive lesson because of their choices.

The second choice for car care would be the commercial car wash. All commercial car washes can cause damage but it is agreed that the no-touch systems are indeed better than brush car washes. However, they too have their disadvantages and can damage your vehicle over time.

The last alternative and wisest is to take your vehicle to a true professional automobile detailer. Both Kelley Blue Book and Automotive Dealerships agree that the best car care comes from professional automotive detailing technicians. A professional restoration technician pampers your vehicle with gentle care. Finding a true professional is the key. Many may claim they are professionals but lack the skills, education, knowledge, chemicals, experience and equipment to really be considered a true professional. When seeking the services of a professional detailer ask questions, educate yourself and get references.

Your decision should be well thought out and meet your expectations. You need to ask yourself – Do I understand the importance vehicle appearance has on resale value? Do I want to get the most money out of my investment when I sell it? Do I want many years of enjoyable driving? Am I prepared to risk having to perform major repairs such as a new paint job, body work or other costly repairs because I am trying to save money now. Used car owners may believe that if the appearance of their vehicle is not in like showroom condition that detailing is a waste of money. They couldn’t be more wrong. Restoring and rejuvenating the appearance of a used vehicle benefits the owner at resale time. Educate yourself and protect your investment. Familiarize yourself with the different types of car care services and what the advantages or disadvantages are.

Hand Car Wash At Home

Hand-washing a vehicle is always the safest method but only if it is done right. University of Munich in association with Mercedes-Benz performed a study more than 10 years ago and found that a single home car wash using detergent, low pressure water volume and equipment used in the average home washing can leave scratches as deep as 1/10 of the paints total thickness – which is about 5000 th’s of an inch (about the thickness of a piece of paper). A recent study by the University of Texas confirms the findings and indicated that the scientific study showed that hand car washing produced so many scratches they could not be counted.

Before attempting to wash a car you should have professional training, understand the systematic procedures and be knowledgeable about the surfaces you are cleaning. If you lack these vital elements – take your car to a professional detailer. The benefits of auto detailing are plentiful. Do not try to save money because it will cost you money in the long run. The appearance and mechanical condition say it all when it comes time to sell it.

Many people believe that they are protecting their investment as best they can; when they get out their wash bucket, mitts, sponges, dish soap and garden hose. Not, true! Car washing may sound simple but it is a science. Proper care must be taken to protect the surface of your vehicle otherwise the paint will become scratched and damaged.

Professional detailers do not use over the counter, retail products – they use professional grade and OEM products which are designed for use with special equipment. Vehicles are composed of different materials – what may be okay for one is not always the case with another. Despite the claims – the majority of retail products and equipment do not perform well and are not suited to all vehicles. Do not wash a car with household cleaners like dishwashing detergent, hand soap, or laundry soap – they are not formulated for automobiles and can strip off protective coatings.

Buying the right equipment involves everything from wash buckets, mitts, high-pressure washers, sponges and clothes. To prevent damage, equipment should be high quality professional grade not retail equipment. Washing a vehicle with a garden hose doesn’t provide adequate removal of debris and can allow soap residue to remain on the vehicle. High-pressure washers use less water and provide a much cleaner result.

Washing and detailing a car properly is time consuming so be prepared. If you plan on performing a full detail you should allot yourself about 4-6 hours or possibly longer if you are inexperienced. The weather is another important key factor when washing your car. If it is hot and sunny; place the vehicle in a cool and shady area before starting to wash or wax.

Commercial Car Washes

Commercial car washes are more environmentally friendly – typical water usage from a home car wash uses about 148 gallons while a commercial car wash uses about only 35 gallons. Many commercial car washes collect and recycle the water. However, some facilities do not treat the water enough to remove some of the elements like salt which could cause rust damage to your vehicle.

They are quick and economical but could end up costing you money in the future.

Do clean the under the clean or allow for proper cleaning techniques in the crevices of the vehicle.

The clothes, brushes, rollers, heaters and chemicals can create damage on your vehicle.

Rotating brush washes are designed to be adjusted to the size of the vehicle going through. If it is set for washing compact cars it may apply to much pressure causing scratches to full-sized vehicles.

Bristles and clothes may not be fully cleaned prior to the last vehicle therefore your vehicle is being washed with contaminants.

Most automatic system are not
equipped to handle wide wheels, body cladding and aerodynamics in which case damage can result.

No touch car washes are perhaps the safest of all commercial type car washes but they do not eliminate possible damage.

High pressure sprayers may be too high – causing paint surface deterioration.

No touch washes use harsh detergents, chemicals & acid pre-soaks; which strip the wax or sealants from the paint of your car and dry out your clear coat. Paint surface damage such as tiny scratches, spider-webbing effects, erosion and corrosion can be visible or invisible to the naked eye. This is a common problem associated with commercial car washes and home car washes.

Automatic car washes can not provide the proper protection that your vehicle requires. A vehicle needs to be properly prepared before applying sealants, waxes and protective coatings – meaning that each surface needs to be decontaminated accordingly. Environmental elements such as: rail dust, road dust, brake dust, industrial fallout and acid rain; etch the surface of the paint allowing erosion and corrosion to set in.

Car wash facilities do not follow the proper procedures necessary to eliminate these elements therefore you’re sealing in dirt, debris and impurities into the paint.

Spray on protection sealants and waxes used in automatic car washes do not provide proper protection to your vehicle because they aren’t designed to treat each of the different surfaces of the vehicle. In addition, they are not being distributed evenly – leaving your vehicle unprotected in some areas.

The hot wax sprays usually consist of silicone dispersed in hot water which may actually harm painted surfaces, trim, rubber, metal, plastic, vinyl tops and glass.

Professional Detailing Services

There are a few types of detailing services available.

Express detailing services

Most of the true professional detailers or automotive reconditioning technicians will agree that express detailing services are not the same as “professional detailing services”. Some professional detailer’s do offer this service; but take the time to explain that while this service may enhance the appearance of the vehicle, it doesn’t provide complete protection to the various surfaces to care for your investment or restore the vehicle to that like new showroom condition.

Express detailing can be an economical solution for maintaining vehicles that have been fully detailed on a regular basis by a professional. With exception to the professional detailer’s who offer this service – most express detailing services are not designed, equipped or trained to handle heavy interior cleaning or extensive exterior care. An express detail is usually completed in under an hour in comparison to a full or complete detail which ranges between 4-6 hours, sometimes more.

Full Service Detailing & Professional Detailing Services

Anyone can call themselves a “professional automotive detailer” it doesn’t mean that they are. Here are some tips to help you recognize a true detailing professional from those that aren’t.

A true professional detailer or automotive reconditioning/restoration technician has:

Gained knowledge through training, experience and continues their education process to keep up with technology.

They use proven systems of protection, high quality professional grade chemicals and equipment.

They pay attention to detail, provide quality workmanship that is within or above industry standards.

A professional detailer is committed to customer satisfaction and consumer education.

A skilled professional generally charges more than those claiming to be professionals and will not lower their prices because they perform quality care car protection services.

Understands both the art & science of reconditioning vehicles

Anyone who falls short of this should not be considered a professional detailer. Professional workmanship is the result of professional training! Lower prices mean that the workmanship or quality of products is poorer which will reflect on the vehicle’s value.

Benefits of professional detailing services :

• Prevent damage that can deprecate your vehicle’s value
• Reduces costly repairs such as paint jobs and bodywork
• Preserve the value and life-span of your vehicle
• Creates a professional appearance and makes a statement about your lifestyle
• Provides a healthier environment reducing illness and allergy symptoms
• Are highly recognized in the automotive industry as a means to preventative maintenance
• Can restore, rejuvenate and recondition vehicles that have been neglected bringing them back to as like new condition as possible – helping you to net more money when selling them.
• Can keep new cars looking like they are in showroom condition

The only disadvantage to professional detailing is the cost. However, if you are an intelligent consumer who is unwilling to jeopardize the value of your vehicle – investing in a skilled or true professional detailing technician is the only solution to complete protection for your vehicle. Saving money on car care is not possible – you can pay now or pay later.

More tips on choosing a detailer Click Here