NEW CAR DETAILING

The purchase of a new car is a big investment and the best time to apply protection is when the vehicle is new. Don’t wait until you have micro-scratches and swirls in the paint that require additional work via a paint correction to remove these defects before deciding to have your vehicle professionally detailed. The clear coat (top coat) on your new vehicle is very thin (only the thickness of a Post-It Note). You should preserve this clear coat because it contains ultraviolet blockers (UV blockers) that preserve the paint’s glossy finish and protects the underlying color coat from chips and deep scratches. A professionally applied paint sealant or ceramic coating will enhance the appearance of your vehicle and will increase its value when compared to a vehicle that has been neglected. Simply washing the car without keeping a layer of protection on the paint will not preserve the clear coat.

Computer-controlled paint systems are now used by all major automakers. The robots spray a very even coating and this means less paint is needed to provide a good-looking finish on your vehicle. Automakers have a strong incentive to reduce the amount of paint used on each car because the paint is very expensive. I have been measuring the paint thickness on vehicles for several years and the paint has become much thinner in the past five years. Advances in water-based paints allow the robots to apply thinner coats and still produce an eye-catching appearance that’s important to consumers. Thinner paint requires proper cleaning and decontamination along with a durable layer of protection on the exterior surfaces.

Our high-desert altitude exposes the paint on all vehicles to intense ultraviolet radiation. These UV rays will dull the clear coat through a process known as oxidation. Northern Nevada is also experiencing high levels of particulates in the air. The particulate readings are very high during wildfire season and on windy days that stir up particulate matter that lands onto vehicles when they are outside. Without an effective layer of protection on your car, these particulates will bond to the paint and they cannot be fully removed with a standard car wash. If you run your fingertips gently over the paint on a neglected vehicle you will feel the roughness of these particles embedded in the clear coat. Over time these contaminants will weaken the clear coat and degrade the appearance of a car. A neglected vehicle will experience faster depreciation than a well-cared-for vehicle.

HERE IS A LIST OF NEW CAR PROTECTION SERVICES THAT I OFFER RANKED BY THEIR IMPORTANCE:

1. Paint: Paint sealants provide about nine months of durable protection. Professional ceramic paint coatings can provide up to five years of protection but require annual maintenance to achieve multi-year protection.
2. Exterior plastic trim: Ceramic trim coatings are used to protect plastics and provide 1 to 2 years of protection from fading, cracking, and discoloration.
3. Wheels: A high-temperature coating specifically designed for wheels delivers up to 1-year of protection. Wheels get hot while driving and brake dust sticks to hot wheels and can be difficult to remove. Ceramic coated wheels will easily clean up with car shampoo and a soft brush. Cleaning wheels with strong chemicals can damage the finish on your expensive wheels.
4. Leather or Fabric Seats: If you bring food or beverages into your vehicle you should consider having a leather or fabric coating applied to the seats. One spill can stain or discolor a beautiful interior. After the protection is applied it makes cleaning up any spills quick and easy.

Matte Paint is being offered as an option by Audi, BMW, Dodge, Hyundai and Tesla. Some auto makers, like BMW, call their matte paint “frozen paint”. Matte or Frozen Paint needs special products designed to protect the matte surface. I recommend a Matte Paint Coating be applied as soon as possible to new vehicles with matte paint. Unlike standard glossy paint, matte paint cannot be machine polished. That means scuffs, swirls or scratches cannot be removed without altering the texture of the matte surface. Attempting to remove these defects often results in a shiny spot that stands out like a sore thumb on the car.

The answer to this question is simple. Call Top Gloss Detail for a free evaluation where I will recommend detailing services based on where your vehicle is kept and your plans for how long and how often you will be driving your new car.