Detailing has different meanings to different people. Some view it simply as a thorough valet. However, detailing is much more than that. It is a skilled, time and labour intensive service that involves multi-stage professional machine polishing of the clearcoat layer using micro-abrasives to remove defects and to refine the paint finish to a level that in many cases is better than when the vehicle was new. All other areas of the vehicle from chassis, engine, and interior all receive the same painstaking attention. At Bellissimoto, we provide our clients with the absolute best finish and surface protection available.
Swirls or spider webs on the surface of the car are thousands of micro-scratches that have a negative impact on the overall appearance. They are more noticeable on darker coloured vehicles, and can easily be seen in direct sunlight or under street lights at night.
While there are many causes of swirls, the biggest culprit is improper washing and drying techniques. They can be avoided for the most part once you learn how to properly wash and dry a vehicle, as well as which materials to use. One trip to the automatic car wash (also referred to as swirl-o-matics), or a quick wipe down with the wrong kind of towel can quickly destroy 15 hours of machine polishing. Even if the local car wash or dealership offers a hand-wash, it doesn’t mean that they are using proper methods or materials, and in many cases can do more harm than good. It is very important to us that we educate our clients and their regular detailers on how to maintain the new finish we have just provided. We will spend time on education after the detail is completed, and even provide a detailed set of care instructions to help you maintain a clean and swirl-free finish.
The only way to properly and permanently correct swirls and other light defects is to level and refine the finish with either a rotary or random orbital polisher (we use both) combined with a variety of abrasive polishes. If the defects are moderate to heavy, it will first require a leveling of the surface through more aggressive compounds, followed by finely polishing or jewelling with a finer combination of polishes and pads to bring out the absolute best in clarity, depth, and shine. The defects are corrected by actually removing an extremely small amount of clear coat and creating a perfectly level surface. This process takes time and advanced skills, and will yield amazing, and permanent results.
A “quick fix” that is commonly used by many dealerships and inexpensive detailing services is to apply glazes that use fillers to temporarily hide the defects. The car may look good, but it will return back to normal after just a few weeks. We only use quality products and handmade waxes that have no silicones or fillers.
It depends greatly on the level of service that you choose. While we have services that take as few as 3 or 4 hours, we also have services that can take 60+ hours to complete. We like to meet each client for a consultation first to inspect their vehicle, determine its needs, and to discuss with them which services best apply to their needs and budget.
The simple answer is yes! Two things can be accomplished by having your brand new car professionally detailed. First of all, most vehicles are delivered from the dealership with swirls and light marring either from the factory, or from the dealer’s in-house valeters. We’ve seen many very expensive luxury vehicles and exotics arrive this way too. Even with light defects, the finish only represents 85% – 90% of its true gloss potential. By proper machine polishing, the finish of your brand new car can be taken to a whole new level.
Secondly, you should start with proper surface preservation and protection when the vehicle is brand new. These are services that the factory or dealer simply can’t provide. A new car detail, using quality products, will ensure that your vehicle remains beautiful as the day you bought it, and stays properly protected from the elements.