Benefits of Exterior Detailing
We all have looked at our old cars and wondered what it would take to make them look as good as they did when we first purchased them. While a clean car interior is good for your health and satisfaction, a shiny car exterior is good for your safety and earning aesthetic points. We all want to drive a car that turns heads driving down a street, and keeping your car bright and shiny is the first step in that direction.
Car gloss and shine is maintained
Protection from sun and scratches
Headlight safety
Exterior Detailing Services
Having a shiny and glossy car exterior makes your car stand out. Not only that, your car remains protected from surface scratches, paint fading, and drop in value. If your car has scratches on the paint, water spots, swirl marks, or faded headlight lenses, you need the finest auto detailers like River Islands Car Salon to take care of you.
We have four different exterior detailing services for you. Each service is meticulously designed to take care of your car exterior needs.
Remove swirl marks, water etching, and scratches and restore the deep gloss and shine of a car
Restore the clarity and shine of blurred headlight lenses and see better during the night
Buffing and Paint Correction
As the name suggests, paint correction is the process of restoring the gloss and shine of a car’s surface which has been marred by swirl marks, scratches, and water etching. This can be achieved by eliminating the aforementioned deformities by using the latest refinishing tools and nanotechnology abrasives.
Some owners think that paint correction is literally painting over imperfections. It’s a more complex process than that. It can be looked at as a specialized form of buffing and polishing.
There are different buffing levels and mobile car paint touch-up processes for every car’s needs. It can range from a simple paint and gloss correction to repairing severe defects to achieve optimal results. Whatever it is, the goal of paint correction is to restore the gloss and shine your car once had when you first bought it, or perhaps something close to that.
Paint Correction Process
Paint correction is done through the use of specific tools and equipment, including a machine polisher that applies polish to the paintwork. The type of polish used by most professionals will vary depending on the severity of your swirl marks and scratches. The goal is for you to leave with a smooth, flawless finish that’s ready for waxing or sealing.
A paint correction will restore your car’s paintwork to its original condition by making it as smooth and shiny as possible. This means that the process is aimed at removing swirls and scratches from the surface of your vehicle, in order to improve its overall look.
Paint correction aka “buffing” has 3 levels:
Level 1. Paint Enhancement
This removes 10% – 50% of the swirl marks and defects. This is the least aggressive method and has the quickest time to complete. This service can take from 2-3 hours on a whole exterior of a 4-door sedan. This method is best for clients who need good paint improvement while not spending a ton of money.
Level 2. 1-Step Paint Correction
This removes 50% – 70% of swirls and defects. This is a medium-aggressive approach and can take 5-7 hours on a whole exterior of a 4-door sedan. This is best for clients who have light scratches that need removal.
Level 3. 2-Step Paint Correction
This removes 70% – 95% of swirls and defects. This is the most aggressive method because of two cutting pads, compounds, and polish. This service is best for clients who have very noticeable swirls and defects. It is for people who need a significant improvement on their paint. This service may take 7-9 hrs for the whole exterior of a regular-sized sedan.
Now that you know the 3 levels to our car buffing and paint correction service, let us walk you through our process:
1
First, we clean the wheels and then rinse the car, section by section.
2
Then, we wash the car by using clean microfiber wash mitts and ph-neutral soap in a bucket of distilled water.
3
After that, we clay the surface to remove contaminants and embedded bugs while the car is soapy.
4
We also apply the iron remover to remove iron particles. Let it dwell for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
5
After that, we rinse the entire car and then wipe it dry.
6
We then pull the car inside the garage to prep for paint enhancement or paint correction. We also assess the paint using a bright LED flashlight to see areas that need swirl marks and defect removal.
7
We will start machine polishing to remove defects and swirl marks. The pads, compounds, and arm speed are dependent on the budget and needs of the client.
8
After polishing, we will apply wax and grease remover to clean the area. We will inspect if the swirl marks and defects are still visible. If visible we will do a second pass (If the client wants a 2-step paint correction.)
9
After the paint is clean and no more compound residue, we will apply a sealant or a wax to protect the paint.
10
We will dress tires, clean the glass and do some final touch-ups before turning the car to the client.
Before and After Shots
Headlight Restoration
Over time, your car’s headlights will degrade due to the sun’s UV rays, heating, road debris, and changes in weather. These factors can affect not only how your car looks but most importantly, its function. Foggy and ineffective headlights can impact your visibility on the road, especially when passing through tunnels or during inclement weather. It would also be difficult for other drivers to see you with dimmed headlights which can lead to accidents and mishaps.
You don’t have to purchase new headlight lenses when you can have them professionally restored by our expert mobile car detailers. This service is not just a simple cleaning of the headlight but a complete and long-lasting restoration.
Headlight Restoration Process
The headlight restoration experts at River Islands Car Salon only use professional-grade materials to remove the outer layers of oxidation and grimes on your lenses and take out any damaged components of your headlights. The headlights will then be thoroughly cleaned and polished so they get their brightness back. To get a clear idea of our entire headlight restoration process, take a look at how we do it:
1
Wash the headlights and the surrounding areas then wipe dry.
2
Tape the surrounding paint and trim surfaces to avoid scratching.
3
Wet sand the headlights with 5 levels of sandpaper.
4
Wash and clean the residue.
5
Start machine polishing by using a cutting pad and polishing pad to make the headlights as clear as possible.
6
Clean and wipe the area using diluted alcohol.
7
Apply the first layer of clear coat then wait for 5-10 minutes. Then apply the second layer and let it dry for 12-24 hours. We recommend not using your headlights and park your car under the shade for at least 24 hours.
Before and After Shots
Car Wash and Wax
Your car picks up a lot of dust, dirt, droppings, salt, and grime whenever you go out for a ride. When these accumulate over time, they chip away at your vehicle’s paint which exposes the sheet metal beneath. Once this is exposed, rust will start to form and it can be tough and expensive to get rid of.
To prevent any of these from happening and to keep rust from settling, a nice car wash is necessary. It eliminates the deposits and environmental debris left on your car’s body to keep them from harming its paint. Car wash mainly focuses on the upkeep of your car’s exterior.
After giving your car a nice and thorough bath, that’s when car wax enters the picture. Wax serves as a protective layer for your car’s paint. It blocks out debris and UV rays from the sun from making contact with your paint. This will help protect and preserve your car’s body.
Premium Car Wash and Wax
Our premium car wash and wax service is for ceramic coated vehicles. It will bring back the gloss of your ceramic coat. We will wash, remove bugs, and apply a high-quality wax or ceramic booster for your ceramic-coated vehicles.
Superior Car Wash and Wax
Our superior car wash and wax service is for non-ceramic-coated vehicles. It will bring back the gloss of your paint coat. We will wash, remove bugs, and apply a high-quality wax booster for your paint finished vehicles.
Premium Car Wash Process
1
Clean wheels with a pH-neutral wheel cleaner and wheel brushes.
2
Rinse your car, section by section. Then we will apply bug removal chemical to remove dried bugs on your paint.
3
Then, we will rinse and wash your car with ph-neutral soap in a bucket of distilled water. Then we will scrub the paint with 100% clean and fresh microfiber towels to avoid scratches.
4
Then we will rinse and wipe dry using large microfiber towels. We will apply wax or ceramic booster spray to make your car shiny again.
5
We will wipe and clean your exterior windows so you can see the road better.
6
Finally, we will apply tire dressing to complete the look of your waxed car. We will go over again to see if we missed some spots.
Before and After Shots
Superior Car Wash Process
1
Clean wheels with a pH-neutral wheel cleaner and wheel brushes.
2
Rinse your car, section by section. Then we will apply bug removal chemical to remove dried bugs on your paint.
3
We will wash the car using pH-neutral soap in a bucket of distilled water. Then clay the surface and find areas where it needs the most attention.
4
We will rinse again and dry your vehicle with microfiber towels. We also use a blower to dry out the water, particularly on the side mirrors, door handles, and trunk.
5
We will remove any old waxes and then apply a high-quality wax and/or a sealant by spraying it or using a soft foam applicator. Then we wipe and buff out the excess so that you can see the gloss and shine.
6
We wipe and clean the interior and exterior windows so you’ll have a crystal clear vision of the road.
7
Finally, we apply tire dressing to make your tires look new. Then we do a final touch-up on the paint and windows, to make sure your car is spotless.
Before and After Shots
Other Detailing Services
We also offer a variety of other car detailing services such as pet hair removal, stain removal, interior cleaning, etc. Discover more services on the interior services and full detail services pages. Exterior detailing services are best paired with full interior cleaning services.