FAQ's

Can I just drive my car through an automatic car wash?

In the industry, these are known as swirl-o-matics, for obvious reasons. So the answer is no, just ask yourself how many times a day do they wash the big cloth strips that run over your paintwork. Furthermore, there might be a hundred people that came in that day, where does all that dirt go? Does anyone there really care about the outcome of your vehicle? Is the kid drying my car concerned about leaving swirls and is he/she really using the same towel on the wheels?

What is Detailing?

Everybody has there own version of what “Detailing” is. Some of the people you see washing cars on the corner view it a just a cleaning of all the visible surfaces on an automobile. In my eyes there is only one way to detail, and that’s the right way, using the latest products, techniques, and technology to perfect an automobile down to its last screw on the seat rail. Knowing how to use abrasives and the latest polishing techniques to remove defects in the paint, interior, plastics, leather, etc. Basically, refining a vehicle and jewelling it to a better than new condition is the only way I know how to detail.

Why should I get my car detailed?

There are many reasons to have your car detailed professionally. One of the most important to my clients is to project a professional image, especially for business owners or anybody that takes clients to lunch or to the golf course, your vehicle says a lot about the way you run things. This is an important maintenance step that is often overlooked. Not detailing would be like not changing your oil or just letting your brake pads wear into the rotors, it will cost you more in the long run. Unprotected paint will fail, fade, oxidize, and lose its shine if you don’t treat it like other preventative maintenance parts. Plastics and leather will fade and crack if not protected with the proper UV protectants and conditioners. It is a proven fact and my own experience that a highly detailed car will have a dramatic resale value, and on Exotic cars this can be extraordinary. Your vehicle is most likely the second biggest investment you will ever make, and should be treated as such.

Your place or Mine?

We understand that many car owners simply can't drop off their cars to have detailed or restored whether it be scheduling conflicts or you have a show car that's not moved until the day of the show, and even then, it's most likely transported. I prefer detailing at my shop because the detailing process is done in a controlled environment(i.e. proper lighting for inspection of paintwork and all defects, climate controlled for polishing a car correctly, and allowing the polishes break down like their meant to, and all the right tools from a commercial air compressor and steamer to the smallest of dedicated detail brushes). This environment allows me to be as meticulous as possible and come as close to perfection as one could possibly get. If you don't want to drive, that's not a problem, I try to make all my client's lives more convenient, and I offer free pick up and delivery. If you can drive it over and don't have a ride back I will be happy to drive you back and then pick you up upon completion of the detail. A loaner car can also be provided free of charge if the car you're dropping off is your only transportation. We do have a fully self contained mobile unit with power and water to come to you, and this is common on Maintenance Details and less in-depth details. So it's basically up to you, we are set up to be fixed and mobile, but many details take 12 hours up to 7 or more days, and in a situation like that, my shop is usually preferable.

Wax is what gives my car the glossy look, why polish it?

This is probably the most misunderstood concept in auto care with today’s consumers. Like I’ve said in my previous statements, that’s in part due to the manufacturers of the products confusing the consumer. Many brands at your local auto parts have the title “polish” when they’re really a wax and vice versa. The truth is wax or sealant is a protectant, and have no cutting ability. 97% of the look your car has is the condition of the paint before wax or sealant. Wax gives your car a warm, wet look, and typically lasts 1-2 months depending on driving conditions. Sealants are known for their ability to give off a reflective, mirror look and are know for having more durability: typically 4-6 months. All the wax or sealant in the world will not make a bit of difference if the paintwork is in bad condition, that’s where polishing comes in. Depending on your expectations and the amount of polishing steps involved in a detail, your cars paint can actually feel and look better than when you bought it. The reason for this is even when cars are brand new they often have flaws and the paintwork can be improved.

The local Detail Shop down the street cost a lot less, why not just use them, the cars are usually shiny when I drive by?

On average Showroom Auto Detailing reconditions 4-6 cars per week. On less in depth details that are mobile we sometimes use two people, but any in-house work is performed solely by Mike, ensuring quality control is not an issue. From top to bottom, your vehicle is detailed by a Master Detailer, and his only goal is to get your car as perfect as possible. Mike has developed a no nonsense way of doing business, and on every detail his goal is to establish a one on one relationship with the client, and cater to the clients goals and expectations for their pride and joy. Many "fly by night" detailers will wash and wax your car and not even think twice about the contamination he or she may be sealing in your paint. Michael is straight forward and knows what your car needs, or what it doesn't need. As the saying go's, you really do get what you pay for. These places are usually all high volume and see a lot of cars per day, which means you get all the dirt from previous cars. How many times have you seen someone change towels from one car to another. We always use the softest microfiber towels and treat your car like it's one of our own. Car Washes typically have young kids just looking for a paycheck and have no real professionals on hand to inspect your paint, and most likely they wouldn't even know what a micro-polish was if you were to ask them. How many times have you left one of these places only to have water running out of your mirrors and out the back of your SUV or truck, leaving you with water spots? They just simply don't have the time to cater to each car with passion, and if you have a black car, it's even worse.

I just bought a new car, why do I need to get it detailed?

Actually, this is one of the best reasons to have your car detailed. Not only do dealers not know how to properly protect your car to stand up to the elements just think how long your car has been subjected to harsh elements and contamination through the delivery process and sitting at the dealership collecting fallout. If it was sitting on the Showroom floor you can rest assured it was wiped down with incorrect towels many times daily and washed many times by somebody in make-ready that really isn’t concerned about leaving a swirl free finish. The car would definitely benefit from the clay bar contamination removal and a couple of layers of a world class sealant. The leather, vinyl, upholstery, and rubber seals also need to be protected by a good UV protectant to hold up to the harshest of driving conditions and UV rays from the day you buy it. The best way to take delivery on a new car is to tell the dealership to leave it wrapped in the cellophane and all the plastic still on the seats and interior. Let them know you don’t want it touched, polished, or washed and take it to a professional for the prep. The dealers will also try their best to sell you an overpriced sealant and will likely give you a line like, “You will never have to wax your car again with our Top of the Line Polymer Sealant”. They will want to charge you over a thousand dollars for an inferior sealant that actually needs temperatures in the 4000 degree range to even bond to the paint, so you’re actually wasting your money so they can increase their bottom line.

How long does it take you to perform a Full Detail?

Most of my Full Details take around 8-12 hours. My Maintenance Detail and All-in-One Polish Detail typically takes 4-6 hours.

What are swirls, and how do I get rid of them?

Swirls, commonly referred to as spiderwebbing, are basically thousands of tiny micro-scratches that are sometimes only visible in direct sunlight, but on darker colored cars can be noticeable in any light. These defects are a nuisance to your cars paint and are most often caused by improper washing and drying methods. Scratches and swirls diffuse light and leave the finish looking dull. Like I have referred to before, car washes and dealers are the biggest culprits when it comes to swirls in your clear coat or single stage paint. Many people, usually by product manufacturers misleading advertisements, have the assumption that swirls can be taken out by a good wax job, but this is just not true. The only way to correct the problem is by employing the right polishes, which have abrasive properties, along with a random orbital buffer or high speed buffer. In more severe cases, a leveling of the paint with an aggressive compound followed by one to five finer polishes to jewel the paint and bring back its luster. Most detail shops out there use polishes with filling properties, yet this is only a quick fix. Your car will look good until the fillers wear off and then you’re left with the same problem. When we rid your vehicle of swirls, they’re actually gone We use no fillers or glazes, only the best polishes and compounds are used and we are always researching and testing which polishes work best on certain clear coats, because many are harder than others. Many detailers can’t possibly achieve the desired result with a limited variety of products.

What is a Clay Bar and why do I need the process?

A clay bar is just that, a pliable piece of clay used to remove bonded contaminants that work their way into your cars clear coat over time. Common contaminants include paint overspray, industrial fallout, rail dust, brake dust, pollution, tar, and bird droppings. The contaminants bond to your cars paint and can lead to premature clear coat failure if not removed. Normal washing cannot remove what a clay bar process can. After you wash your car run your hand over your paint, if it doesn’t feel like smooth glass, it’s time for a clay bar. The reason that the clay bar is included in many of my packages is simple: waxing or sealing a car that hasn’t been clay barred will not suffice, because you don’t want to seal in all the contaminants on your car. This step is also vital before the polishing sessions begin.

How do I go about making an appointment?

I try to make it as convenient as I can for my clients and cater to their every need because most live very busy lifestyles and always have something going on or an event to get to. Feel free to call anytime, 24 hours a day. I've had clients call at 4 p.m. in the afternoon and need a car finished by the next morning to go to a Classic Car Auction, and we worked through the night to accomplish the detail. Email is the quickest way to expedite your request for an appointment. The reason being is that I always do the in depth work and paint correction myself, thus quality control is not an issue and you can be assured nothing less than perfection. I often have many types of equipment running and am always busy on a car, but I check my email on my cell phone every hour and get back to you right away. So, in summary, phone calls are always welcome, but email is the fastest and easiest way to get in touch.

   

We proudly serve the Greater Houston and surrounding areas, including Sugarland, Missouri City, Katy, The Woodlands, Clear Lake, League City, South Shore Harbor, Kemah, Deer Park, LaPorte, Shore Acres, Nassau Bay, Friendswood, North Shore, Taylor Lake Village, Lake Houston, Mont Belvieu, Humble, Huffman, Pearland, Atascocita, Kingwood, Bear Creek, Pasadena and everywhere in between. Showroom has serviced vehicles as far as Austin and Corpus Christi to San Antonio.

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