Detailing /Valeting....What’s the difference
Washing and drying a vehicle, and maybe waxing with a budget wax. That’s valeting. These cost from as little as £5. Top Marks Detailing’s full detail will take 8 hours or more, depending on the size and state of the vehicle and can sometimes take up to 2 days. My full ‘detail’ is an 18 stage process which includes all the difficult and mucky places to reach, such as engine bay, wheel arches etc. the inside is cleaned, and hovered out thoroughly. The end result speaks for itself, your vehicle will look and feel newer than new.
What wax?
Only the finest wax is used, which gives your vehicle the ultimate in protection. My wax has a high carnauba content, which repels water brilliantly. Any water on the vehicle will ‘bead’ and not rest on the actual paintwork and will leave your paintwork brilliantly shiny.
Waterless washing?
I can guarantee your paintwork will be as scratch free as possible, without compromising the paint levels. Waterless washing just drags dirt, grime, and grit over the paint to clean it, which is why I will never offer a water free wash.
What will I get for my money, as you’re quite expensive?
Budget washing lasts approx 2 weeks. These just cover swirl marks with fillers. Once I have detailed your vehicle, and removed any swirls, the advice I give for future cleaning will prevent swirl re-appearing. Your car will probably be the second most expensive thing you’ll buy, and so it’s worth keeping it in tip top condition
Can I just have a normal wash?
Absolutely, yes. I will give your vehicle the same attention to detail in a wash and dry, and this can be done in a couple of hours, and you will be surprised at the cost.
How do I keep my vehicle in top condition?
To prevent swirls, great care should be taken. Car washes, dealer washes and local hand washes should be avoided at all cost. You should pre rinse with a hosepipe, use the two bucket method with a lambs wool wash mitt and waffle weave towel to dry. This will minimise any further paint defects.
Can I polish bumpers and plastics? How do you polish difficult to reach spots?
Yes. More care should be taken as plastic heats up more quickly, so the level of defect removal will be minimised, as it is when working close to badges, moulding or lettering. The polisher cannot access these awkward spots, however, if they can be removed prior to polishing, this will eradicate the problem.
Will machine polishing reduce the paint thickness?
Yes. Most vehicles have on average between 110-130 microns, of which 2-5 microns of paint will be removed per detail. A paint thickness gauge is used, so that a safe amount of paint can be removed. Sometimes, if the paint is too thin, some defects will not be able to be removed.