So... What is a complete detail?

C

CharlesW

The Rainmaker
In the discussion in a recent thread, it seems like a complete detail is different things to different people.
What's your idea of a complete detail?

To me, it consists of:
1. Wash. (Duh)
2. Clean and dress tires and wheel wells as needed.
3. Clay if needed.
4. Cleaner/polish as needed. This could often be at least a two step process depending on paint condition. Other times, it might be a one step cleaner/polish.
5. Apply wax or sealant.
6. Windows cleaned inside and out.
7. Interior vacuumed and scrubbed as needed.
8. Carpeted mats cleaned, carpet vacuumed and spot cleaned.
9. Vinyl and leather cleaned and treated with some type of conditioner
10. Trunk cleaned and vacuumed. I'm guessing this might not apply to all customer cars.
11. Wipe down door sills and jambs as well as door edges and bottoms.
12. Wipe down trunk and underhood painted areas.

For the professionals, extra services at extra cost:
1. Clean the engine compartment. This can be iffy at times and not every one wants to do engines.
2. Shampoo carpets.

The first 12 steps probably take me 4 to 6 hours on the few cars I do. I work slow, but steady and since they are freebies, I'm not in a big hurry. I do think I could do my personal cars in about 1/2 that time, but they are never in bad shape to start with.

The engine compartment could add 20 to 45 minutes and since I have never used an extractor to shampoo carpets, I can only guess that it would be 30 to 45 minutes plus drying time.

It's quite possible I have missed something so feel free to comment.

What do some of the rest of you consider a complete or full detail to consist of?
 
I will just copy and paste from the other thread.

That includes complete clean, shampoo, and protect the interior, wash, clay, seal the exterior paint, treat trim, clean and detail wheels, apply wheel wax, dress tires, vacuum trunk, clean all jambs, and degrease and dress engine bay.

There is a ton of work involved in my full detail.
 
Premium said:
I will just copy and paste from the other thread.

That includes complete clean, shampoo, and protect the interior, wash, clay, seal the exterior paint, treat trim, clean and detail wheels, apply wheel wax, dress tires, vacuum trunk, clean all jambs, and degrease and dress engine bay.

There is a ton of work involved in my full detail.
Click to expand...
So on each "full detail" you:
Shampoo the interior. Using an extractor?
Clay, but don't use a polish or paint cleaner prior to your LSP.
Clean the engine compartment.

I'm guessing that the windows are cleaned in the wash process.
 
I'd say for a complete detail, what you have is an accurate description. On my personal vehicle, I'd probably add an undercarriage cleaning to the other 14 steps.
 
1. spray wheel cleaner on wheels,tires and wells (I found that PB APC works better)
2. treat exterior trim with trim restorer(if no paint correction)(if doing paint correction this step in done later)
3. thoroughly wash exterior,wheels and wells
4. clay bar wiping dry as I clay
5. fully clean and dress interior(dash,console,door panels,all interior plastic,clean vents and spot clean headliner)
6. clean interior glass
7. vacuum carpets and seats(brush crud from seams in leather at this time)
8. clean seats with APC(if leather I treat with leather stuff at this time)
9. soak any carpet stains with APC(entire carpet)
10. spray APC on carpets and scrub with brushes on cyclo(one section at a time)
11. re-vacuum(pulling any missed debris from beside seat tracks with a tubing brush and wiping tracks and bolt covers at this time)
12. run pass on exterior paint with cyclo with PWS(if no paint correction is being done)if correcting paint I tape up at this time and run cut and finish pass and polish exterior glass
13. dress wheel wells and tires
14. untape entire car,wipe clean any excess polish and treat exterior trim with Trim restorer(if paint corrected)
15. hand clean wheels with towel dampened with bug squash and coat with wheel sealant
16. clean door jams,door edges,underside of doors and door seals with APC
17. treat door seals with trim restorer
18. apply sealant to paint(wiping off paint sealant haze and wheel sealant haze at this time
19. return to customers home the next day to spray and wipe and apply a coat of natty's
20. Get paid:yay
 
CharlesW said:
So on each "full detail" you:
Shampoo the interior. Using an extractor?
Clay, but don't use a polish or paint cleaner prior to your LSP.
Clean the engine compartment.

I'm guessing that the windows are cleaned in the wash process.
Click to expand...

Yes, I use an extractor.

No, I generally do not use a paint cleaner for newer vehicles. If the paint needs to be cleaned prior to LSP I will add that step in, but it takes extra time so I charge accordingly.

Yes, in my full detail the engine and its compartment is cleaned and dressed. (Sometimes I don't dress the engine. I always ask the owner if they would like me to)

Of course the windows are cleaned inside and out. I generally clean the interior windows as my last step in the interior and the exterior windows as the very last thing I do on the exterior after using a detail spray on the paint.
 
Exterior
1.Hand Wash Vehicle
2.Door Jambs cleaned
3.Polymer Clay Bar
4.Light Machine Polish
5.Carnauba Wax (machine applied)
6.Windows (exterior)
7.Clean/Dress Wheel Wells
8.Clean Entire Rim
9.Clean/Dress Tires
Interior
1.Empty All Loose Property(Seat Pockets, Trunk, Door Pockets, Kid Seats)
2.Steam Mats (Pressure Wash If Needed) Scrape, Vacuum And Line
3.Headliner ( Foam Cleaner Only)
4.Clean Door Panels (Pockets & Shoe Scuffs)
5.Clean Dash Board (Blow Out Cracks And Crevices)
6.Center Console Including Ash Trays And Cup Holders(Blow Out Cracks)
7.Steam Seats(Blow Out Creases)
8.Dress And Condition Console, Dash Board, Door Panels, And Seats(Leather Only)
9.Blow Out And Steam Under And Between Seats(Including Tracks)
10.Vacuum Floors
11.Steam Carpets
12.Clean Door Jambs
13.Condition Door Seals
14.Vacuum Trunk(Steam If Needed)
15.Clean All Glass(Vanity Mirrors, Moon Roof, Interior Windows Including Rolling The Window Down 8” And Cleaning The Tops)
When services are combined into a full detail, engine and scratch removal is included, average time for detail 3 hours.
 
Scratches are removed with rotory, and all other work(polishing) is done with a PC. I think it is time for me to upgrade to a Flex.
 
List looks pretty good, but you must get easier cars than me! No way I can turn a car around in that kind of time. I've done details 2 days this weekend, and in both cases it's taken 10-12 hours. Both cars were in rough shape though and needed a lot of work. I've needed the Megs aggressive clay for both.

I need to find a more effective way of doing the interior. I am pleased with my exterior details, but the interior work is leaving a LOT to be desired. A new shop-vac coming this week will be a huge step in the right direction.

I guess I am curious if the "full detail" quoted offers any kind of paint correction. I found today that my exterior process was wash, clay, determine polish steps, polish (did Megs UC/SSR1/Wolfgang Sealant, or Megs UC/Wolfgang Sealant) on all panels. The compounding on every panel took FOREVER. I also restored the headlights on this one. First time taking a rear spoiler off too.

(Yes I was well paid for the detail today!)
 
What I do for a complete detail depends on the car. If it has tons of swirls that need to be addressed, they're addressed. If not, then it simply took less to "completely" detail that car and would then cost less. Same goes for the interior. The cars I do should ultimately look the same when done, only the initial condition determines how huch the "complete detail" will cost. The average complete detail for me takes between 6 and 8 hours. Wish I could work faster, but it always takes me too long.
 
southerndetail said:
I could spend sooo much longer on these cars just can't convince them to spend any longer.
Click to expand...

I guess that I am mobile and do it in their driveway they are comfortable with the time I am taking, I quote the time estemate and the price then if I want to work a slower pace that is my time. I don't charge them more than the quote unless they come out adding stuff that they want done.
 
I am a notorious perfectionist. Without help, 10 to 12 hours is a good detail. I may start asking to keep them overnight if necessary.
 
Bunky said:
What is tyour time split between exterior and interior?

How do you dry the paint? Blower?
Click to expand...

My time is dependant on the vehicle, a mini van with a trashed interior will get more time spent inside, then I will just one step the outside. If I have a black beemer with swirls, and a cleanish interior I will spend the majority of the time on the exterior. The only thing I dry on my details are the windows(since they seem to almost always bead), after I have properly cleaned the paint all of the water should sheet off. In the mean time I will be attacking the interior, leaving the outside to dry and virtually drip free by the time I'm ready to polish it.
 
I am just amazed you can do all on your list in an average of 3 hrs even if it is "average". I can just imagine getting out all the equipment and setting it all up can take a lot of time.
 
I have equipped my van to be ultra efficient, setting up breaking down are my least favorite part of the detail, so through out the years I have made adjustments to make it as easy as possible. I would really like to film my self during a detail, but I have a hard enough time taking before and after pics.
 
southerndetail said:
My time is dependant on the vehicle, a mini van with a trashed interior will get more time spent inside, then I will just one step the outside. If I have a black beemer with swirls, and a cleanish interior I will spend the majority of the time on the exterior. The only thing I dry on my details are the windows(since they seem to almost always bead), after I have properly cleaned the paint all of the water should sheet off. In the mean time I will be attacking the interior, leaving the outside to dry and virtually drip free by the time I'm ready to polish it.
Click to expand...

I doubt you could get away with "drip drying" here or anywhere else with hard water.
 
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